The two of them chatted cheerfully as they walked toward Aurora’s car. A bodyguard suddenly appeared, holding an umbrella he must have bought nearby. “Miss Aurora, I’m sorry you got caught in the rain.”
“It’s fine. No one expected a sudden downpour,” Aurora replied indifferently.
The bodyguards eyed the man standing beside Aurora curiously. Aurora waved them off. “This gentleman was kind enough to share his umbrella with me. I’ve offered to give him a ride. You can head back.”
“Yes, Miss Aurora.”
Aurora gestured for Julian to get into the car. “Where do you live, sir?”
Julian provided an address, which happened to be the apartment Aurora had once lived in herself. She muttered under her breath, “Why does that sound so familiar?”
“What did you say?” Julian asked.
“Nothing. I’m just not great with directions. Let me check the GPS.” Aurora set the route and was about to start driving when she noticed the torrential rain outside, obscuring her view.
“The rain’s too heavy right now. Driving in this weather could be dangerous. Why don’t we wait until it lets up?” Julian suggested. The rain was so intense that the windshield wipers couldn’t keep up, clearing the glass one moment only for it to be drenched the next.
“Good idea. What’s with this ridiculous weather? Rain out of nowhere-so annoying.” Aurora frowned, clearly irritated.
Julian, however, felt secretly delighted. He thought perhaps fate was giving them a little help. “Yes, it really came out of nowhere,” he agreed.
With nothing else to do, Aurora opened a small cake box. “You don’t mind if I eat something, do you?”
“Of course not. Please, go ahead. But it’s so late-Miss, haven’t you had dinner yet?” Julian glanced at the time. It was well past dinner, and the thought of Aurora skipping a meal tugged at his heart.
“I did eat. But there were some unpleasant people at the dinner, so I didn’t eat much. That’s why I bought some dessert on my way back,” Aurora said, her words muffled as she took a bite of cake.
With Mio’s face showing up, how could she possibly eat properly? Just seeing him put her in a foul mood. She’d barely touched her food before leaving.
Julian watched her as she ate. Her cheeks puffed like a little squirrel’s, making her look irresistibly adorable. “What kind of people do you dislike?” he asked, continuing the conversation.
“Ugh, people who are not just arrogant but also downright malicious,” Aurora replied without hesitation, not even realizing how readily she was answering Julian’s questions.
Though she didn’t remember Julian, her body instinctively trusted him. This was how they used to interact, so from the start, she felt an inexplicable sense of closeness.
Julian knew exactly who she was referring to-Mio, of course.
As he watched her polish off one piece of cake and reach for another, this one matcha-flavored, he couldn’t help but notice her increased appetite. Back then, she would barely finish one piece of cake during afternoon tea, sometimes not even that. Now, she ate with an ease that made Julian’s gaze soften, as if he were watching a cherished child.
Noticing his stare, Aurora felt a little self-conscious. She had planned to give him a ride home, yet here she was, engrossed in her own dessert. “Ahem, um, would you like some?” she offered, attempting to ease the awkwardness.
“I’ve already had dinner. I couldn’t eat another bite,” Julian replied gently. Truthfully, he wasn’t much of a fan of sweets, but he had learned to enjoy them because Aurora loved them.
“Alright then,” Aurora said, nodding. She finished the matcha cake and carefully cleaned up the trash. Just as she was about to put it away, Julian reached out and brushed a crumb from the corner of her mouth.
The moment his fingers touched her skin, Aurora’s heart raced, and a soft blush spread across her cheeks. “I-I can do it myself,” she stammered, hurriedly grabbing a napkin to wipe her mouth.
Seeing her flustered reaction, Julian found her even more endearing. His little bunny.
“The rain’s letting up. Let’s go,” Aurora said quickly, eager to escape the strange, lingering atmosphere in the car. Julian didn’t reply, simply watching her profile in silence.
The car moved steadily down the wide road. Julian, knowing Aurora well, soon broke the tension, and they fell into an easy conversation. They chatted about everything under the sun, Aurora’s mood soaring as she discovered how perfectly their interests aligned.
When they finally reached his building, Aurora felt a twinge of reluctance. Julian felt it even more.
“Here we are, sir,” Aurora announced.
“Yes. It’s still early. If you don’t mind, Miss, would you like to come up for a cup of coffee?” Julian invited her warmly, hoping for a little more time with her.
Though Aurora found him charming, she wasn’t so taken that she’d follow a man to his home without reason. “No, thank you. I should head back,” she replied politely.
Julian felt a pang of disappointment but quickly reassured himself. Given their current situation, the long conversation they’d shared was already a gift. He didn’t want to push his luck, lest she think he was some kind of shady character.
“Alright, then. Be careful on your way home,” he said with a courteous smile.
“Mm, goodbye.”
“Goodbye.” Julian watched her car drive away. *Little Bunny, we’ll meet again soon,* he thought.
As Aurora drove off, she touched her chest, where her heart was still thudding. What was wrong with her? She didn’t even know his name, yet her heart had raced just from being near him.
Shaking her head, she pushed the thoughts aside. She had more important things to focus on-like finding her child’s father. She couldn’t afford to let herself fall for someone else.
Back at the mansion, her life of luxury awaited. Aurora treated herself to a long, relaxing bath. She had planned to research Radiant Horizons afterward, but when she glanced at the clock, it was nearly ten.
Her routine had become almost like that of a retiree-early to bed, early to rise. Partly for her child, and partly because staying up late left her groggy and miserable the next day. She’d tried it once and vowed never again.
Obediently, she turned off the lights and crawled into bed. That night, Aurora had a beautiful dream. She was in a colorful amusement park, riding a horse that soared into the sky. Behind her was a man with a broad, warm chest. His embrace felt so safe, so comforting.
She wanted desperately to see his face, but every time she turned, it was as if a veil covered it, leaving it blurred and indistinct. She could only hear his soothing voice and feel the radiant warmth of his presence, like sunlight on her skin.
When she woke the next morning, her lips were still curved in a smile. The dream had been so wonderful that she wished she could stay in it forever.
“Who is he?” Aurora murmured, nibbling on her finger distractedly. “If only I could see his face.” She had a feeling he was her child’s father, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t recall his features.