Chapter 97
A week later.
The day Aurora was buried happened to be the day Joshua and Scarlett got engaged.
Ella stood in the misty, rain-soaked cemetery, holding Aurora's urn, when she received a message from Scarlett.
"Ella, we were friends after all. Today Joshua and I are getting engaged—aren't you coming?"
Several photos were attached.
They showed Joshua and Scarlett in formal attire, holding hands, looking as loving as soulmates finally united.
Ella's eyes stung with tears, and hatred seemed to explode through every part of her body.
Her Aurora was dead.
Yet the killer could still walk free, marry the man she wanted, and live such a glamorous life.
Ella suppressed the rage in her heart, put away her phone, gently touched Aurora's urn, and then placed it in the earth.
"Aurora, rest here in peace. After Mom finishes what she needs to do, she'll come visit you often."
She would make Scarlett pay.
And Joshua too.
Cold-blooded, heartless, blind, and foolish.
One day, he would regret choosing Scarlett.
Ella still couldn't accept that her lovely Aurora had left her like this.
After placing Aurora's urn down, unable to control her grief any longer, she collapsed on the ground, crying uncontrollably.
Dorian was heartbroken too.
Thinking about how Aurora was gone forever, tears streamed down his face.
Zachary held an umbrella over them, crouching beside them, letting the mother and son cry freely.
After today, they would all have to pull themselves together.
Work hard to find evidence and make those who hurt Aurora pay the price.
Meanwhile, at a six-star hotel.
At the engagement ceremony with Scarlett, Joshua was distracted and restless.
He knew very well that he didn't love Scarlett.
Getting engaged to her was only to make her let Ella go and not pursue criminal charges against her.
It was also because four years ago, when he was drunk, he had slept with her and felt responsible.
So as soon as the engagement ceremony ended, he made an excuse about having something to do and left early.
Leaving the elders from both families in the hotel, looking at each other awkwardly.
Scarlett, in her high heels, lifted her expensive dress and followed him out of the banquet hall, grabbing Joshua.
"Joshua, no matter how urgent your business is, you should at least see the elders off before leaving. What will my parents think?"
Joshua remembered that today was the day Aurora was buried.
Ella must be very sad.
No matter how much he resented what Ella had done before, he still wanted to go to the cemetery.
He coldly pulled Scarlett's hand away.
"You wanted me to get engaged to you right away, and I agreed. Scarlett, I just divorced Ella not long ago. Give me some time."
Joshua left without looking back.
Scarlett stamped her feet in anger. She wanted to chase after him, but Mason's mocking voice came from behind.
"You think just because you threatened him with Ella to marry you, he's yours? Scarlett, you need to face the facts. A man who loves you will come to you on his own, not ignore you even when you desperately try to get close to him."
Anyone could see that Joshua had feelings for Ella.
Otherwise, why would he care about the two children she had?
To keep Ella out of prison, Joshua even agreed to Scarlett's unreasonable demands.
Yet this foolish woman would rather deceive herself than accept reality.
"Mason, I believe that with time, Joshua's heart will come back to me. You don't need to worry about it."
Thinking about how she and Joshua were now engaged.
Marriage was a done deal. Soon she would be Joshua's wife, and no one could shake that.
At this moment, Scarlett showed no regard for Mason's feelings for her, coldly turning back to the banquet hall.
She had to win over Jasper and Ava.
Now that Aiden was gone, to secure her position in the Thomas family, she had to please her future in-laws first.
With the status of Joshua's wife, she wouldn't have to live under the identity of the Lewis family's adopted daughter anymore.
Mason watched Scarlett's retreating figure, a dull ache in his chest.
This was the woman he had loved and thought about constantly.
Since childhood, he had hidden it from his parents, giving her the best of everything, sending her abroad to study, grooming her to become Emerald City's top socialite.
In the end, he got nothing.
Mason laughed bitterly.
Laughing at his own foolishness.
How could he have fallen in love with such a cold-hearted, callous woman?
Joshua had Brian drive him to the cemetery.
By the time he arrived, it was afternoon.
The cemetery was shrouded in drizzle and thick fog.
Visibility was very low, but he could still hear a child's piercing cries.
That was Dorian's voice.
Joshua followed the sound and saw the family of three crouching in front of a tombstone, holding an umbrella while burning paper money for Aurora.
Joshua's whole body stiffened. He didn't want to go over, afraid of disturbing their family of three.
And afraid that Ella wouldn't want to see him again.
But Ella still saw him.
She remained calm. After spending the whole day at the cemetery with Aurora, it was time for them to go back.
Ella looked at Zachary. From crying too long, her voice was extremely hoarse.
"Can you take Dorian back for me?"
Zachary also noticed Joshua's presence. Not understanding what Ella wanted to do, he asked, "You want to leave with him?"
Ella didn't deny it, speaking her thoughts, "He's engaged to Scarlett now. If I want Scarlett to reveal her true nature and slip up, I need to take away what she cares about most."
As long as she provoked Scarlett, Scarlett would definitely strike again.
But this time, she wouldn't let Scarlett succeed.
How could Zachary not know that Ella wanted to use herself as bait?
He was a bit worried. "You're not falling in love with Joshua, are you?"
Joshua might be older, but he had charm.
Otherwise, Scarlett wouldn't be so eager to marry him.
Ella's pale face showed no emotion whatsoever.
"I only want to avenge Grandpa and Aurora. Once Scarlett is in prison, I'll take Dorian back to Eldoria with you."
Ella's meaning was clear. She just wanted to use Joshua and couldn't possibly develop any feelings for him.
Zachary understood.
Scarlett was cautious in her actions, leaving no trace at all.
Perhaps only by using herself as bait could Ella achieve her goal.
He agreed, picking up Dorian and coaxing him, "Dorian, let's go home first."
Because of Aurora's death, Dorian had completely changed again, becoming dazed and listless, no longer as lively as before.
When Zachary took him away, he didn't resist.
He just looked at Ella and called out tearfully, "Mom, I'll wait for you to come home."
After watching Zachary leave with Dorian, Ella got up and walked toward Joshua.
Standing in front of him, she looked fragile and broken, utterly pitiful.
She almost fainted.
Joshua reached out to steady her, asking with concern, "Are you okay? Why didn't you leave with them?"
Ella didn't answer directly. Instead, she deliberately threw herself into his arms, hugging him and crying, "Joshua, Aurora will never come back. She's left me. I'm in so much pain. Can you hold me?"