Chapter 229

Chapter 229

After a brief rest, Joshua and his group hit the road again.

As Dorian led her by the hand toward the car, Aurora spotted a figure hiding in the bushes.

She knew those were the people who had come to pick her up.

Michael had told her that if someone approached, she shouldn't shout or scream—they would safely take her out of the country. Back to his side, and then Joshua and Ella would never have to worry about her illness again.

To keep Joshua and Ella from being separated, Aurora felt this was the only thing she could do.

"Aurora, what are you looking at?" Dorian noticed Aurora staring out the car window and waved his hand in front of her eyes.

Aurora snapped back to reality and shook her head. "Nothing, I just think it's beautiful here. I want to spend a few more days here with Mom, Dad, and you."

This might be her last time with her family. She had to treasure it.

She worried that once she left, she'd never come back, never see Joshua and Ella again.

Aurora forced a smile and made a request: "Dad, Mom, can we take lots of pictures?"

Ella stroked her hair and smiled too. "Of course, we'll take as many as Aurora wants."

Aurora continued, "I want to take a family photo."

"Okay, whatever you want."

"Dorian, we need to take one together too." Aurora turned to her brother beside her.

Dorian was a boy who never liked taking photos. But since it was Aurora's request, he reluctantly nodded.

Even though they were still in the car, Aurora had already pulled out Joshua's phone and started filming along the way.

To keep the kids happy, Ella and Joshua were very cooperative. When the camera turned to them, they would smile and wave.

After recording Joshua, Ella, and Dorian, Aurora handed the phone to Joshua, saying, "Dad, point the camera at me. I have a few things I want to say too."

Joshua did as she asked.

Aurora looked at the camera, her face breaking into a bright smile.

"Hi Dad, Mom, and Dorian. I'm really happy today because with you all by my side, I feel like a beloved little princess."

"I'm afraid you might forget me, so I want to record how cute I am right now. Later, if you miss me, you can watch this video."

Hearing Aurora's words, Joshua and Ella exchanged glances, both sensing something was off. Ella corrected her: "Aurora, what silly things are you saying? You'll be with Mom and Dad forever. How could we possibly forget you?"

Joshua chimed in, "Don't say things like that. Our family will never be separated."

Aurora smiled and said, "I'm just saying 'what if'—what if one day I'm not here anymore?"

"There's no 'what if.'" Ella took the phone and pulled Aurora into a tight embrace.

"Mom will never let you leave my side. You have to promise me too—don't run off, okay?"

They all thought Aurora was saying these things because she knew she might not live past ten. Hearing such unlucky words from a seven-year-old made them feel heartbroken and sad.

Aurora stopped talking and just leaned against Ella, her small hand gently stroking Ella's slightly rounded belly.

She thought she probably wouldn't get to see this baby being born.

Michael's people had already arrived. Maybe in a few days, she'd be taken away.

She only hoped that after she left, Joshua and Ella wouldn't be too sad.

After several more hours of driving, they arrived at Ella's hometown as darkness fell.

The old house that had been empty for over a decade was completely run-down and uninhabitable, surrounded by knee-high weeds.

Looking at the desolate scene before her, Ella felt a pang of sadness.

Since her grandfather had passed away and been buried in the city cemetery, she hadn't been back. But the surroundings still gave her a long-lost sense of familiarity.

Aurora and Dorian got out of the car and asked curiously, "Mom, is this where you grew up?"

Ella touched their heads, wanting to lead them through the grass to see the old house.

But Joshua stopped her. "Better not go over there yet. Snakes like to hide in the grass this time of year. Wait until we clear the area and make sure it's safe."

He knew Ella had deep feelings for this old house. Though it wasn't livable now, with a bit of cleaning, they could probably stay here temporarily.

Joshua called over the two drivers who had come with them—one to clear a flat area nearby for setting up tents, the other to go to the nearby village to find help. He believed that five hundred dollars per person would be enough to get the villagers to help out.

Ella remembered her previous snake bite experience and became more cautious. Especially now that she was pregnant and couldn't take many medications, she could only follow Joshua's arrangements.

Apart from the area around their house being quite desolate, there were other villagers living not far away, and the road to the village was wide and well-maintained.

In front of the house was a crystal-clear stream, with fields of various crops growing around it.

Ella took Aurora and Dorian to greet the neighbors she used to know, waiting for Joshua and the others to get the place ready.

When the villagers heard that Ella had gotten married and brought her husband and children back to fix up the old house, they were all very welcoming. Almost every household sent someone to help.

By eight o'clock that evening, the house had been cleaned up enough to live in.

The villagers also brought vegetables they'd grown themselves, telling them to come get whatever they needed.

Every villager seemed so warm and hospitable.

This made even Aurora exclaim, "Mom, the people here are so nice. If I get the chance, I'd really like to come here every summer."

Too bad she probably wouldn't get another chance.

Earlier, while following Ella around the village, she'd spotted those two hiding people again. They must be looking for the right moment to take her away.

Aurora didn't know if what she was doing was right, but she really didn't want Joshua and Ella to keep worrying and being sad about her illness.

Ella held Aurora's hand as they walked into the house. "If you and Dorian like it, we'll come every year. I'll find someone to build a new house next door."

Inside, Joshua immediately came over, handed her a chair, and said, "You guys sit and rest for a bit. I'm cooking—it'll be ready soon."

The villagers had not only brought food but also dishes and utensils. Of course, Joshua had paid for everything.

Ella looked around the house. In just a short time, it had been made quite comfortable. Watching Joshua wearing an apron, skillfully cooking at the simple stove, she couldn't help but feel impressed.

"You guys work fast—you got this place so clean and comfortable in just two hours."

Aurora and Dorian found this country house fascinating and ran around looking for traces of Ella's childhood.

Joshua kept busy while turning back to Ella, "Well, there were a lot of people. They all wanted to see you, so when they heard you were back, they rushed over to help and check me out."

When the villagers came earlier and learned Joshua was Ella's husband, a group of them surrounded him, asking questions, which made him a bit embarrassed.

Come to think of it, he felt a bit ashamed—he and Ella had been together for so long, and this was his first time accompanying her back to her hometown. He'd definitely have to bring her back more often.

Ella walked over to the stove to help Joshua add firewood. "Why would they want to check you out?"

Joshua smiled, "To see what kind of man you brought back, of course."

The villagers had nothing but praise for him. A few aunties even touched his arms and shoulders, saying he looked good, was tall, had fair skin—completely different from country folk like them. They seemed to have no sense of boundaries, and this direct physical contact made him feel a bit uncomfortable.

Ella told him, "Actually, the villagers aren't all as simple as you might think. They're very practical too, and they care a lot about benefits."

Just from that expensive car they'd driven and parked at the village entrance, anyone with a bit of knowledge could tell that Ella had done well for herself. That's why the villagers were being so welcoming.

Joshua nodded, "I know."

He pointed at the house, "Why do you think this place got cleaned up so fast? Why did they bring so much stuff? I paid for it. All this stuff cost tens of thousands of dollars."

Ella laughed. That pile of food and utensils had cost tens of thousands of dollars. Joshua really didn't blink when spending money. People who didn't know better would think he was some rich fool.

Soon the food was ready, and Ella called Aurora and Dorian over to eat.

Dorian came to the table holding a yellowed old photo and asked, "Mom, who is this? I found it in a book."

Ella took one look and tossed the photo aside. "Nobody."

Aurora picked up the photo again and handed it to Joshua. "They both look so good. Dad, look—isn't this boy really handsome?"

Joshua took the photo and looked at it.

He immediately recognized the girl of about ten in the photo as young Ella. But who was the boy next to her?

He looked at Ella: "Who is this?"

Ella snatched the photo and threw it straight into the stove fire. "Nobody. Let's eat."

The more she acted this way, the more curious Aurora, Dorian, and Joshua became.

The background in the photo looked quite fancy. Ella was wearing a pretty dress. But when she was young, living with just her grandfather, their conditions shouldn't have been that good. The boy in the photo was dressed even better.

Was he a childhood friend? But he'd never known Ella had any childhood sweethearts.

Joshua stared at her and asked again, "Just tell us—I won't mind."

"Let's eat. I have to say, your cooking is really good." Ella tried to change the subject, refusing to say anything.

Dorian, beside them, spoke up slowly, "If I'm not wrong, the person in the photo should be Uncle Michael."

He did look a bit like him. Michael liked Mom so much—maybe they'd known each other since childhood.

Ella's expression changed slightly, looking a bit guilty.

Only then did Joshua realize, staring at her for confirmation: "Is it really Michael?"

This time, Ella didn't avoid it and admitted it.

Joshua suddenly felt an inexplicable sadness and fell silent, saying nothing more.

He really hadn't expected that Ella and someone like Michael had known each other since childhood. No wonder Michael was so obsessed with her, trying every way to get her by his side. Now he finally understood.

"Mom, since you and Uncle Michael have known each other since you were kids, why did you separate later, and how did you end up with Dad?" Aurora asked while eating her noodles, looking at Ella with innocent, curious eyes.