Chapter 14
1 didn’t press her.
On a matter of life and death, I knew Eleanor wouldn’t lie to me.
And knowing her, if she wasn’t talking, it meant someone had told her not to.
So why force NZ
“Eleanor, will you take me to see Grandma?”
Grandma had been truly terrified.
When we got to her room, she was still asleep, mumbling. “Aurora, run, don’t hit Aurora.”
Tears streamed down my face. I rested my head on her blanket and sobbed, my whole body shaking.
Eleanor stood by my side, looking like she wanted to say something, but in the end, she remained silent.
It wasn’t until the day I was discharged.
After a great deal of hesitation, she handed me a letter.
This is from Gideon. He asked me to give it to you.”
I didn’t argue. I just took it.
‘Aurora, are you really not going back to the Durand house?”
No. Without my mom, it stopped being my home a long time ago. I’m going to take Grandma abroad with me.”
Grandma contacted a master designer overseas who’s agreed to take me on as an apprentice. Besides, a change of scenery will be good for her.”
Eleanor didn’t try to stop me. She just pulled me into a gentle hug.
My dear Aurora, I’ll support you in whatever you do. But don’t you forget that you still have me back in Chicago. You haven’t lost everything. You have to
romise you’ll come back!”
nodded quickly. Looking into her gentle eyes, I felt as if my usually carefree best friend had grown up overnight.
In the plane, I draped a blanket over my sleeping grandma before pulling the unusually thick letter from my bag.
is I unfolded it, I realized this wasn’t Gideon’s handwriting.
or all his carelessness, he had beautiful handwriting–strong, elegant, and fluid.
ut the writing in this letter was shaky and crooked, like that of a small child with weak muscles.
t took me a great deal of effort to decipher the words.
Aurora, I just realized it’s been almost ten years since I last wrote you a letter.]
It’s ironic. When we were kids watching those historical dramas, I always dreamed of growing up and writing our marriage vows by hand. A devoted couple, rowing old together. It seemed so perfect, so full of hope. Aurora, I’m so sorry.]
I think, somewhere along the way, I forgot the promise I made when I was just a boy. ‘Love‘ is an easy word to say, and a young boy’s vows are never short on assion, but please, believe me when I say that the fifteen–year–old Gideon was sincere.]
I always used to think we were inevitable, so I didn’t have to pay attention to the little things. I loved you, and I thought that was enough.J
So, Aurora, I am sorry. I’m sorry to the you of these past ten years, and I’m sorry to the fifteen–year–old boy I used to be. I see now that I was terribly,
inforgivably wrong. But how lucky I am, that on the day we were destined to part, in the heart of that fire, I found again the courage and the heart I had to love you when I was fifteen.]
Aurora, I wish you happiness. I wish you strength. I wish you a brilliant future. And I wish that you never again meet a lover as foolish as I was. Goodbye,
23:02 O
Dear Brother You Picked the Wrong Cistry on Bat
Chapter 14
Aurora]
Tucked inside the letter was a stock transfer agreement, already damp with tears I hadn’t realized I’d shed.
A closer look revealed it was from Felix.
He hadn’t written a single word, just transferred 70% of his company shares to me.
The truth was, I didn’t need the money.
I may have been neglected emotionally over the years, but the inheritance my mother left me was more than enough to live comfortably for the rest of my life.
But since he offered, I took it. It was all my father’s money in the end, anyway.
Eleanor was right. You’d have to be an idiot to turn down free money.
Gently wiping the tears from my face, I turned to look out the window.
sunlight pierced through the roiling sea of clouds, bathing everything in a brilliant light.
I rested a hand on my chest and leaned my head gently against Grandma’s shoulder.
Half–asleep, she began to pat my back gently, as if soothing a child.
And I suddenly felt that this was more than enough.
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.