Chapter 293: It Was You

Aurora Ross's POV:

I pressed my ear against the door for what felt like forever, but there was nothing. Not a peep.

With a heavy sigh, I turned and flopped onto the bed.

Even though I hadn't been back in ages, the room was spotless, and the bedspread looked brand new.

It even had a cute stuffed animal design.

Every little detail showed my parents' love and how much they missed me.

The more I saw, the more it hurt.

I clenched my teeth and cursed Eder under my breath.

That old jerk left such a mess after he died.

I didn't know how long I lay there, almost drifting off, when someone finally knocked on the door.

I snapped awake and hurried to open it.

Richard stood there, looking all kinds of conflicted. "Dinner's ready."

Following Richard downstairs, I glanced around but didn't see Alex.

I was smart enough not to ask and just took my seat.

The dinner table was tense.

Richard tried to lighten the mood.

But besides my responses, Sophia was cold, just eating in silence.

Sophia was pissed.

Richard and I were both a bit on edge.

This atmosphere wasn't exactly conducive to family bonding, so Richard started talking about work.

Richard said, "Since you're back, there's a project at the company that needs you to negotiate. If we land this deal, our profits for the year will be solid. I really believe in their proposal."

"Which company?"

Richard replied, "Future City."

Well, that was a coincidence.

Richard continued, "They're just starting, but they have great potential. Other companies want to collaborate with them too, but our offer isn't the most competitive."

He sighed. "Honestly, it's going to be tough to close the deal."

I shook my head. "What's there to worry about? Send me the files, and I'll contact Banks to finalize it."

Richard went silent.

Sophia looked up at me, too.

Richard said, "Are you going to ask Alex for help again?"

Realizing they misunderstood, I quickly shook my head.

"No, no!" I scratched my cheek. "Future City... is mine."

Richard's eyes widened in shock. "Are you joking?"

"I'm not joking. I've wanted to start my own brand for a long time. When the old Future City was about to go bankrupt, I arranged to acquire it."

"Otherwise, why do you think I authorized my work to Future City?"

Seeing I wasn't joking, Sophia and Richard were stunned for a long time.

I felt a bit embarrassed under their gaze.

Richard spoke, "No wonder you sent designers to Future City before..."

Since he often worked at the company, he noticed I was in contact with Future City.

That's why he wanted me to handle the negotiations.

But he thought it was just a design collaboration, not that Future City was mine.

"Aurora, you make me so proud."

Sophia wanted to say something, but was still angry, so she stayed silent, though her expression softened.

I took a bite of my food.

If my parents were this surprised about Future City, what would they think if they knew I suddenly had a ton of other businesses?

I looked at them.

"Actually, I'm already a billionaire."

Sophia finally smiled, but it was a mocking smile, like she was humoring a child.

Even if I told them, they wouldn't believe me.

By the end of the meal, the atmosphere had improved a lot.

I was really curious about what Alex had said to my parents to make them so calm now.

Back in my room, I immediately called Alex, but all I got was, "I'm not telling you."

When he says he's not telling, he really won't tell.

Even my pleading didn't work.

But at least life was getting back on track.

Until Richard and Sophia were watching TV and saw that the Phillips Group had a new leader, with my photo on the screen.

They both looked at me.

I awkwardly smiled. "I told you already."

Richard asked, "Alex gave you his position? No, even if he wanted to, the board would have to approve."

"How did he get the board to agree?"

I thought for a moment and then said, "Probably because the board couldn't interfere with this decision."

"After all, I'm the majority shareholder."

Majority shareholder... a position even Alex hadn't reached.

They looked at me in shock. "How did you manage that?"

Honestly, I wasn't sure either.

I could only tell the truth.

"When Eder died, he left all his businesses to me. I don't know what he was thinking."

Sophia was shocked. "Eder?"

"The one who sent you those photos, Eder Phillips."

Sophia was silent. It was too strange. All of this was too strange.

Eder had always tormented their daughter. Why would he leave his assets to her?

Sophia and Richard exchanged glances, unsure what to say.

I understood their reaction.

When I found out Eder left his assets to me, I felt the same way.

I checked the time and stood up.

"I have to go out for a bit."

Richard asked, "Are you going to see Alex?"

His wary tone made me a bit helpless. "Not Alex, I have plans with other friends."

I wasn't lying.

There was something I still needed to resolve.

...

The café door opened, gently shaking the bell hanging above it.

Sunlight streamed through the window onto my seat, making me squint. The scene felt so familiar.

"Aurora."

A gentle voice flowed like spring water past my ears.

I turned from the street view outside to look at the person sitting in front of me—Louis.

He wore a white suit, his handsome face calm.

Those usually captivating eyes were slightly lowered, not meeting mine.

He simply said, "It's been a long time."

I nodded. "Yeah, it has."

"How have you been lately?"

"What do you think?"

This question made him fall silent.

I slowly stirred my coffee, turning the delicate pattern into chaotic white lines.

"You're the one who exposed that photo, right?"

Without any transition, I asked directly.

"You already know the answer."

"Yeah, but I still want to hear it from you."

I looked at him, at this friend who had been with me for seven years.

"If you say it wasn't you, I'll believe you."

Louis slowly smiled, but it was a bitter smile. Then he laughed softly, as if he couldn't control it.

I quietly watched, waiting for his answer.

Until he slowly said, "It was me."

I couldn't describe my feelings at that moment.

I just stated it simply.

"That night, you invited me to see jewelry. When a child bumped into me, I instinctively protected my stomach. You noticed, so you started urging me to get married that night."

"But you didn't really want me to get married. You knew Alex couldn't give me marriage at that time, so you deliberately made me push him, ask him, making me realize I could only be kept like a mistress by his side, and you knew I couldn't accept that."

"Then you released the intimate photos of me and Alex, provoking Eder to act, trying to completely sever my ties with Alex."

"That night after we left the amusement park, Eder's people found me so quickly because you told them, right?"

That night, I had only replied to a few friends' messages, including Louis asking about my weekend plans.

As I said this, his lips kept a faint smile. "You've always been smart."

I slowly turned my face away, my vision blurred, but I held back my tears.

"I'm not as smart as you. I just touched my stomach, and you knew I was pregnant. On our way out of Future City, you had already planned all this."

Louis shook his head.

"How could I just assume you were pregnant from touching your stomach? I wouldn't do anything to hurt you without being sure."

His voice was gentle.

"Aurora, you know, as long as I'm around, I won't let you go home alone."

"Especially at night."

I never expected the reason for exposing my pregnancy to be this.

Because he worried about me, he secretly followed me.

Because he loved me, he hurt me.