The Barnet family could never present anything ordinary or cheap-anyone could figure that out without a second thought. Still, Aurora couldn’t help but laugh at how casual they were about it.
“Why did you just slip it onto my hand like that?” Aurora asked helplessly. She hadn’t even had the chance to say thank you.
Julian leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. “This was meant for my future granddaughter-in-law anyway. You’re already my wife, so just accept it without worry.”
“Hmph, we haven’t even registered yet. Who said I’m your wife?” Aurora teased back.
“Little Bunny,” Maxwell interjected with a serious tone, “you’re already carrying two little bunnies for my grandson. You can’t just leave him. Where would we find those kids and their mother then?”
Aurora had been somewhat nervous around Maxwell. After all, he was Julian’s grandfather, and Joaquin hadn’t been very fond of her when they first met.
But to her surprise, Maxwell was just a big kid at heart. He erased all her worries in an instant.
“Julian treats me so well, I wouldn’t run away,” Aurora quickly explained.
“Good, as long as you’re not running. Little Bunny, from now on, you can call me Grandpa, just like Julian does,” Maxwell said warmly.
“Grandpa…” The word felt unfamiliar to Aurora, as she didn’t even know who her own grandfather was. Yet, it also brought her a sense of warmth.
“Good girl. Come on, don’t just stand there. Let’s eat. I had the chef prepare some dishes you might like. I’m not sure if they’ll suit your taste, though,” Maxwell said, pulling Aurora to sit beside him.
Deep down, Maxwell felt the most guilt toward Julian. After the tragedy with Julian’s mother, the boy had grown cold and distant, refusing any help from the Barnet family.
It wasn’t until Julian met Aurora that he began to change. No matter what kind of person Aurora was, as long as Julian liked her, they would cherish her.
But Aurora wasn’t just someone Julian liked-she was a remarkable and lovable young woman. Maxwell adored her and couldn’t bring himself to dislike her even a little.
Everyone gradually gathered around the dining table. Maxwell glanced at his watch. “Where’s Irene? Why isn’t she here yet?”
“Who knows what she’s up to now?” someone replied.
“Did she come back alone?” Maxwell asked cautiously. As an elder, he naturally hoped to see all his children and grandchildren happily settled with good partners.
Irene was the eldest among the younger generation, but her love life had been the most tumultuous.
Maxwell didn’t want to interfere in their personal affairs, yet deep down, he wished for Irene’s happiness.
“Probably,” Rebecca said uncertainly. Irene had been seeing Nick lately, but it didn’t seem like the right time to introduce him to the family. Their relationship had only just started to stabilize.
“Hmph, I heard that guy came to New York and didn’t even bother to visit us?” Maxwell snorted, though he secretly hoped Irene would bring Nick home.
“I’ll talk to her about it later,” Rebecca offered.
Just then, Irene came rushing in. “Sorry I’m late, traffic was bad,” she said, slightly out of breath.
“You’re a grown woman now. Can’t you act a bit more composed?” Clara said, feigning disdain. But in truth, Irene was the one she felt the most guilt toward.
Back when Clara was searching for Julian’s mother, she had gone into early labor. A mix-up at the hospital led to Irene being separated from the family for years.
Irene had endured countless hardships in Clothville, growing up far from her family. Clara, who was used to appearing cold and strict in her high-ranking corporate role, couldn’t help but feel heartache for Irene.
Despite her true feelings, Clara maintained her icy demeanor.
“Mom, I know, you don’t have to keep saying it,” Irene replied, brushing it off with a smile. She knew her mother’s personality too well to take her words to heart.
“Alright, let’s not make a fuss. Tonight is Little Bunny’s first time dining with the family. Let’s all raise a glass to her,” Maxwell intervened, smoothing things over.
“Little Bunny can’t drink alcohol since she’s pregnant. She’ll have orange juice instead,” Julian said, pouring Aurora a warm glass of juice.
“Alright,” everyone agreed.
That evening, Aurora felt an unprecedented sense of joy. For years, she had lacked familial warmth, but Julian had filled that void.
He gave her a loving family, and with them, she finally felt at home. Despite not drinking a drop of alcohol, she felt as though she was intoxicated.
Later that night, Aurora and Julian decided to stay at the Barnet family home. Aurora wandered into the garden for some fresh air. Compared to the R family’s estate, she found the Barnet family’s European-style decor much more appealing.
The garden was filled with flowers, many of which she couldn’t even name.
As she strolled through the garden, she noticed Rebecca sitting alone, lost in thought.
“Rebecca, what are you doing out here by yourself?” Aurora asked, crouching beside her.
“Aurora, aren’t you worried about Julian? If he doesn’t see you for a while, he’ll start panicking,” Rebecca said with a small laugh.
“I just needed some air. Are you feeling down?” Aurora asked, her sharp instincts sensing Rebecca’s low spirits.
“No, I’m fine.”
“Don’t lie to me. I can tell you’re not okay. Come on, tell me what’s bothering you. Maybe I can help,” Aurora said, her tone gentle yet firm, like an older sister offering comfort-even though she was a few years younger than Rebecca.
“Aurora, what does it feel like to love someone?” Rebecca asked hesitantly.
“I knew it! This must be about your love life. Your family is perfect, and your career is thriving. What else could it be? It’s about Mio, isn’t it?”
“Aurora, don’t make fun of me,” Rebecca said, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.
“I would never! When we signed the contract that day, I could tell something was off about the way he looked at you. So, tell me, what’s going on between you two?”
Rebecca hugged her knees and began to speak, her voice soft but steady:
“I’ve known about Mio for a long time. He’s a terrible person.
He’ll seduce women just to achieve his goals. I had a friend who loved him deeply, but in the end, he used her as a stepping stone.
At the time, I couldn’t believe someone could be so awful. Then, when Julian wanted to help you, I found out about your competition with Mio. I volunteered to approach him myself.
I wanted to do to him what he did to my friend-to make him fall for me, only to break his heart.
The plan went perfectly. I won. But instead of feeling happy, I felt miserable.
Because… being with him made me happy.
Then I learned why he turned out the way he did, and I couldn’t bring myself to hate him anymore. Instead, I felt overwhelming guilt.
Aurora, do you think I’ve fallen in love with him? How could I love someone like him?”
Rebecca shook her head, as if trying to dismiss the thought. She couldn’t believe she had fallen for Mio.
Aurora looked at her troubled expression. It was clear-Rebecca had fallen for him. There was no mistaking it.
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