But gradually, those whispers grew louder.
Posts started appearing more frequently on Kayla's profile, each one hinting that she was trying to win over a CEO's attention.
Lucas frowned as he skimd through one of the posts, a strange unease settling in his chest.
'Why does this feel… familiar?'
And then, slowly, the truth began to surface.
The CEO they were talking about…was him.
Lucas clenched his jaw, and with a strained breath, he muttered,
"I desperately hope it isn't her."
Even as the words left his lips, his shoulders stiffened, and he tried to keep as much distance as possible.
'Just stay away… maybe she'll get the ssage,' he thought.
Unfortunately, that delivery woman seed utterly oblivious, or perhaps simply unwilling to take the hint.
She would "coincidentally" bump into him in hallways, and she would laugh in a way that made it seem as though they shared so private affection.
At tis, she even staged scenes that painted them as lovers, her gaze clinging to him with a possessiveness that made his skin crawl.
When Lucas witnessed this escalation, sothing inside him finally snapped.
Pulling out his phone, he muttered, "Enough is enough," before calling the police.
There was no wavering in his decision, no trace of rcy in his expression as he watched her being taken away.
Inside the bars, her composure crumbled.
Her face twisted with fury as she shouted,
"Do you even know who I am? You'll regret this!"
Her hands gripped the cold iron bars so tightly that her knuckles turned white, yet her threats dissolved into desperate sobs when no one responded.
It was then, for the first ti, that realization struck her like a chilling gust crawling down her spine. 'Every action… has consequences…'
"I... I'll apologize… I swear I'll apologize to Lucas… just let out…" she pleaded, her voice trembling, her earlier arrogance nowhere to be found.
Yet no one spared her a glance.
'When I invaded others' lives… did I ever think I'd end up here?'
anwhile, Lucas exhaled deeply, as though a heavy burden had finally been lifted from his chest.
Jules stood beside him, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction as she raised her thumb and said, "Good call, Lucas."
Lucas blinked, a quiet realization dawning on him.
'So even if she doesn't show it… she really doesn't like anyone getting close to ,' he thought, glancing at Jules.
She had always encouraged him, reassuring him that everything would be fine, yet now he could see it clearly... the subtle jealousy she tried so hard to hide.
Still, instead of feeling suffocated, he felt a strange warmth.
'Right… I'm already doing my best to take care of her. So she is trying not to pressure …'
A faint smile tugged at his lips as he added inwardly, 'My wife really is the best.'
Elsewhere, Aurora was living a life so comfortable that it almost felt surreal.
Her days were wrapped in warmth and care, her family treating her as though she were sothing precious and irreplaceable.
Every morning, the aroma of freshly prepared snacks greeted her, her favorite dishes laid out before her without her having to lift a finger.
At dinner, the table was always filled with als tailored perfectly to her taste, and even her lunches were thoughtfully packed.
At night, they would sotis sit and play gas.
Aurora watched them quietly.
"How great it would be if we had so tradition that could allow us to co together and chat on a specific day... just a family day."
Her requests were not ignored. Instead, they gave birth to a new tradition within the Waters family.
Every week, either on Saturday or Sunday, everyone would take a day off and stay ho together.
They would gather in the living room, sitting close as they shared stories about their daily lives.
Sotis they cooked together, the kitchen filled with the rich aroma of spices and laughter, while other tis they played gas, their competitive spirits bringing out playful argunts and cheerful smiles.
Aurora, watching them, couldn't help but smile softly.
During these gatherings, they didn't just share happy monts.
They spoke of their insecurities too... the fears they had buried deep within themselves.
One by one, they opened up, their voices hesitant at first but gradually growing steadier as they were t with understanding and encouragent.
They even began discussing important matters together, from household needs to future vacations, making decisions collectively through family votes.
Over ti, this habit beca so ingrained that almost every decision was made as a family.
Even Aurora, who once wanted to rush through her graduation, found herself pausing. When she brought up her plan, her family gently responded.
"If you want to skip a grade, you can," Lucas said, his tone soft yet thoughtful, "but rember… university days won't co back. One day, you might look back and wish you had taken more ti to enjoy it."
Aurora lowered her gaze slightly, her fingers curling unconsciously.
After a brief silence, she admitted, "Even if I wanted that… there's one thing I can't ignore."
She hesitated before continuing, her voice quieter now, "I don't have any friends at university."
The room fell silent.
"It's not like I didn't try," she added, a faint bitterness slipping into her tone.
"But being labeled a genius… it creates barriers. So people approach just to get noticed, others treat like I'm childish… and no one really sees as a friend."
She forced a small smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "The only real friend I have left is Mia."
"Sotis Mia and Selena invite over, and I go," she continued, her voice softening, "but most of the ti… I'm alone."
Hearing this, the family's hearts tightened painfully.
One by one, they moved closer, offering words of comfort, their presence warm and reassuring.
Aurora simply smiled faintly, accepting it all in silence.
After a long discussion, they reached a decision.
"We can't let this continue," one of them said firmly. "If this environnt isn't good for you… Then it's better to graduate early."
Aurora's eyes lit up instantly. "Really?" she asked, unable to hide her excitent.
"Yes," they replied.
That very day, she began preparing, purchasing stacks of books for her second and third-year studies.
When her family saw the towering pile she brought ho, they froze in disbelief.
"Are you… Planning to do a PhD as well?" Olivia joked, staring at the mountain of books.
Aurora blinked at them, montarily speechless before shaking her head.
Without wasting another second, she imrsed herself in her studies, her focus unwavering.
However, while peace settled over her life, elsewhere, trouble was quietly brewing.
Mary's mother had learned about her daughter's newfound prosperity.
The mont the news reached her, her expression twisted with greed and resentnt.
"That ungrateful girl…" Her eyes burned with a mix of anger and calculation. 'After everything I did… she dares to live a good life without ?'
"She was my best 'product'," she sneered bitterly.
"Who would've thought she'd run away from such a perfect match… and even go as far as to disown her own mother for decades?"
A cold smile slowly crept onto her lips.
"Oh, Mary…" she whispered, her voice dripping with malice, "let's see how long your happiness lasts."
For days, she had been trying to contact Mary, going through every possible lead among all the children she had once controlled.
Out of all of them, her expectations had always been the highest for Mary.
'With that face… with that charm… she was always my finest investnt,' Laura thought.
Now that she had finally managed to get hold of Mary's contact and whereabouts, the urge to reach her imdiately burned inside her like an itch she could no longer ignore.
So she went.
Arriving outside the university where Mary worked, Laura lowered herself onto a cold tal bench near the entrance.
'Co out… just co out already,' she muttered inwardly, her gaze fixed on the gate.
Soon enough, Mary appeared.
She stepped out with a stack of books held neatly in her arms, a bright, unguarded smile lighting up her face as she walked toward her car.
There was a lightness in her steps, a peace that Laura imdiately noticed and resented.
'So she really is living well…' Laura's eyes darkened slightly.
Without wasting a second, Laura rushed forward and blocked Mary's path.
Mary halted abruptly, her brows knitting together as she looked at the haggard woman standing before her.
Instinctively, she frowned. 'A beggar?' she thought, her grip on her books tightening slightly.
Without a word, she sidestepped, intending to walk past and continue toward her car.
That single action ignited sothing violent inside Laura.
"How dare you?" Laura snapped, her voice sharp and trembling with rage.
Before Mary could react, Laura lunged forward and grabbed her wrist tightly, her fingers digging in with a force that bordered on painful desperation.
Mary winced as a sharp pain shot through her arm.
She shoved Laura away with all her strength, causing the woman to stumble backward and collapse onto the ground with a dull thud.
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