Chapter 95: Unexpected Injury
Jennifer covered her face with a napkin and said, "Sorry, I need to go touch up my makeup."
Aurora stood up too, with a friendly expression on her face. "I'll go with you."
Jennifer knew Aurora didn't like her and that this friendliness was just an act, but she couldn't refuse. She had no choice but to let Aurora help her walk to the restroom.
Watching the two of them walk away together, Ryan nodded with satisfaction. "Looks like they really get along well. This is the first time I've seen Aurora so warm."
Francis's eyelid twitched. He didn't want to explain his past with Aurora to Ryan, so he just let Ryan keep misunderstanding.
As soon as they entered the restroom, Aurora let go of Jennifer's hand. Jennifer frowned slightly but said nothing, and started touching up her makeup in the mirror. Aurora stood to the side, coldly watching Jennifer in the mirror, then suddenly snorted. "Haven't you seen the entertainment news lately?"
Jennifer's hand paused while drawing her lip line. She looked up and met Aurora's eyes in the mirror, then quickly looked away. Her tone was flat. "I have. So what?" Jennifer knew Aurora was referring to the rumors about her and Francis. If Jennifer were really Francis's girlfriend, she should be fighting and arguing with him. But Jennifer wasn't—she was just Francis's regular sex partner, and what he thought was none of her business. Right now, she just wanted to keep the peace and get through this meal smoothly. If Francis wanted to show off their relationship in front of Aurora, she'd cooperate.
Aurora laughed coldly. "You're pretty good at putting up with things. I underestimated you. But yeah, to stay by his side this long, you can't be as simple as you look on the surface."
Jennifer finished applying her lipstick, closed her makeup bag, and turned around. "Actually, you don't need to see me as an enemy. What I think doesn't matter—what matters is what Francis thinks. If he cares about you, I'm naturally not an obstacle."
Aurora's expression darkened. Was Jennifer challenging her? These past few days, Aurora had approached Francis several times, and his attitude had been neither close nor distant, even somewhat aloof. Aurora had deliberately contacted the media to spread rumors about them, and Francis hadn't stopped it, making it hard for her to figure out what he was thinking. Ryan's introduction today was unexpected, but it also gave her a chance to show Francis that she was much better than Jennifer! But Francis seemed blind, ignoring all her hints and instead being gentle and caring toward Jennifer, acting like he really loved her. Jennifer was so clumsy—what did Francis even like about her?
Seeing Aurora stay silent, Jennifer started walking out. "I'm leaving."
Aurora frowned and followed her. Back at the table, both wore appropriate smiles, as if they really got along well. Both were respectful toward Ryan and didn't want to argue in front of him. Near the end of the meal, at Ryan's suggestion, Jennifer even added Aurora's contact information.
Finally, Ryan raised his glass. "I really enjoyed this meal. Being with you, young people, makes me feel young again." Francis and the others clinked glasses with him, and the atmosphere was harmonious.
As they were saying goodbye, Jennifer couldn't help but ask to take a photo with Ryan, and Ryan cheerfully agreed. Jennifer handed her phone to Francis, her eyes pleading with him to take a good picture, then switched seats with Aurora. She leaned slightly toward Ryan, smiling brightly. But Francis's photography skills were average, and Jennifer's face was getting tired from smiling before he even pressed the shutter. Her tone became a bit whiny. "Aren't you done yet? My face is getting stiff."
Francis tossed the phone onto the table. "I can't take photos." Aurora, sitting next to him, couldn't help but laugh. Ryan shook his head helplessly and said to Aurora, "You take it then."
Aurora picked up Jennifer's phone with a strange smile and took several photos of Jennifer and Ryan. While taking the photos, she suddenly noticed that Jennifer and Ryan's faces looked somewhat similar when placed together, especially the curve where the eyebrows met the nose—they were almost identical! A thought flashed through her mind. She knew Ryan had a daughter in the country—could this daughter be Jennifer? No way. Ryan could only be on her side. He couldn't be closer to Jennifer! Thinking this, she frowned.
Seeing Aurora's expression, Jennifer thought the photos didn't turn out well and asked anxiously, "How did they turn out? Do I look natural? Let me see." She reached out for the phone.
Aurora was still comparing their features when she accidentally dropped the phone onto the table, knocking over a glass. The sound of shattering glass rang out, accompanied by a woman's scream. Aurora clutched her calf and cried out in pain. Flying glass shards had cut her bare leg.
Jennifer gasped, too concerned to worry about her phone and photos. "What happened?"
But Francis was even more anxious than Jennifer. His expression changed immediately, and he crouched down to check Aurora's wound. Several small cuts marked her smooth calf, with blood slowly seeping out. He pulled out a clean handkerchief to bandage it, his tone gentle and comforting. "It's okay, it's not serious."
Aurora's eyes welled up with tears, and she pouted somewhat pitifully. "But it really hurts." Her hand gripped his sleeve a bit harder, as if she couldn't bear the pain.
Ryan also stood up and asked with concern, "Aurora, should we take you to the hospital?"
Aurora frowned. "Mr. Mitchell, I remember you said you have another appointment tonight. I can manage on my own."
Francis picked Aurora up in his arms, looking anxious. "Mr. Mitchell, you go ahead. I'll take her to the hospital." Then he glanced at Jennifer. "You—"
Aurora suddenly cried out in pain, then buried her head in Francis's shoulder and said softly, "I know Jennifer didn't mean it. I just didn't hold it steady."
Jennifer blinked, not knowing what to say. What Aurora said was true, but saying it now made it seem like Jennifer had deliberately not caught the phone and caused her injury. But Aurora was indeed hurt and had shown forgiveness. If Jennifer tried to explain, it would make her look petty.
Francis sighed. "Jennifer, can you get home by yourself?"
Jennifer looked at Aurora, buried in Francis's arms, her tone calm. "I can. You should take her to the hospital quickly. Such beautiful legs—don't let them scar."
Hearing this, Aurora's leg trembled, as if she was really scared. Francis's arms tightened around her. Francis left carrying Aurora, and only then did Jennifer pick up her phone. The upper left corner of the screen was covered in cracks, but it still turned on. Ryan asked, "Jennifer, do you need me to give you a ride home?"
Jennifer smiled. "No need, Mr. Mitchell. You go ahead. I happen to have a friend nearby who can pick me up."
Ryan left, too, and Jennifer sat alone at the cleaned table, staring out the window at the increasingly heavy rain.