Chapter 78

Chapter 78

Actually, the circles she dealt with at work were much more elite - those kinds of circles weren't right for Mia.

Whenever she came back to this little home, Aurora would feel like time slowed down.

So slow that the two of them were still the same as before, and Mia still worried about small things.

"What party are you going to? With Simon?"

Mia brought out the reheated soup.

Aurora took a sip and said with a smile, "I'm going to a party hosted by someone else. Actually, you met him last time - that Mr. Coldridge we ran into at the hospital."

But Mia's hand involuntarily trembled, and the empty bowl she'd just picked up fell to the floor.

The noise startled Aurora too. "Mom, what's wrong!"

Noticing her mother's distraction, she quickly pressed Mia into a chair, told her not to move, and went to get cleaning supplies herself.

"How did you suddenly drop the bowl?"

Aurora asked casually without thinking much of it, cleaned up the floor, and sat back down for dinner.

But Mia became absent-minded, sitting there looking at Aurora, then lowering her head, seeming like she wanted to say something but couldn't.

After a while, Aurora noticed Mia's strange behavior. She put down her utensils and bit her lip gently, then asked with a serious expression, "Mom, is there something you want to tell me?"

Ever since she mentioned seeing Mr. Radcliffe at the hospital, Mia had been acting off.

Something felt strange about it. Aurora asked tentatively, "Do you remember that Mr. Radcliffe, or did you know him before?"

"Not really know him, just heard you mention him, so I have some impression..."

Mia managed to brush the matter aside, but her mind was on something else.

Even after Aurora finished eating and got up to clear the table, Mia still didn't say what she wanted to say.

The next morning, Aurora prepared to go buy a dress for the party.

She hadn't bought herself new clothes in a long time. Now, using this party as an excuse, she was in the rare mood to go shopping.

Aurora took the initiative to ask Sophia out, and the two met at the mall entrance.

Sophia arrived late, still on the phone as she waved at Aurora. "I know, I already told you, let me handle this..."

"I just went on a business trip last week, and you're calling me again this week? Come on, I didn't even take time off during all those holidays..."

When her friend got closer, Aurora heard the content of her call and quietly waited for Sophia to finish.

Aurora said with a smile, "Why do you seem even busier than before? Are you sure your current job is better than the last one?"

"It's exactly because it's better than before that I've gotten busier than before. You're a genius venture capital queen - don't you understand this?"

Sophia nudged Aurora with her elbow and asked about her recent situation at Summit Capital. "I heard Mr. Harrington is quite good-looking, and he's single too."

"Mr. Harrington is indeed a good person, but why are you asking? Don't tell me you're trying to play matchmaker again like before?"

Aurora was already wary of her friend's inquiries.

Sophia pouted. "What's wrong with that? I'm just thinking that since you're determined to divorce Simon anyway, it doesn't hurt to leave yourself some options."

Hearing this, Aurora smiled noncommittally, but as the two started walking forward, they saw a family with unfriendly looks.

Isabella was holding another lady's arm, the two of them shopping. They hadn't expected to run into Aurora here.

"What a coincidence, Aurora."

Isabella said as she walked up, but neither her expression nor her movements showed any pleasant surprise.

Aurora felt annoyed as soon as she saw her - to be exact, she felt this way about anyone related to Blair.

She grabbed Sophia's hand to walk past them.

Isabella called out to her, "Do you think avoiding things will solve all your problems?"

"Aurora, I heard you're planning to divorce Simon, but you carefully documented all his expenses during your marriage. What gives you the right to take back the money Blair spent?"

Hearing this, Aurora suddenly stopped and turned around, pulling Sophia with her.

"What do you mean by that?"

Aurora used all her strength to remain polite.

Isabella snorted coldly. "What do I mean? Let me tell you, Blair is special to Mr. Coldridge - she told me so herself."

"I admit it's wrong that your husband spent money on another woman during your marriage... that's marital property, but the one who isn't loved is the real third party - you've heard that saying, right?"

Sophia beside her couldn't take it anymore. She rolled up her sleeves and rushed forward to argue with Isabella. "What nonsense are you spouting, you old woman?"

"You must watch too many soap operas. You have the nerve to say this to Simon's wife? And you're saying it on behalf of your daughter - aren't you ashamed?"

Isabella only bullied Aurora because of her gentle nature and reluctance to argue. She hadn't expected to run into someone tough today.

She took a step back, clearly intimidated. "I wasn't talking to you, what's your problem?"

"What's my problem?"

Sophia pulled Aurora over. "This is my good friend, what do you think?"

"You're making things difficult for my good friend right in front of me - shouldn't I tell you off?"

Isabella didn't dare provoke Sophia, so she picked on the weak and stared at Aurora instead. "Anyway, you shouldn't ask him for money!"

"Mr. Coldridge was already rich before you married him. And you? You have no family background, no connections - what makes you think your money should be split equally! All that praise from the outside world is fake - you didn't actually believe it, did you!"

Sophia really couldn't take it anymore and moved to slap Isabella, but was stopped.

"That's enough, Sophia, don't bother with her."

Hearing Aurora say this, Isabella's face immediately showed a triumphant smile. "Good that you know you married up. Let me tell you, even if you divorce Mr. Coldridge, don't go after the money Blair used..."

Before she could finish, Aurora interrupted her. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Ember, you're wrong."

"You coming to find me today just reminded me - Blair did spend my and my husband's marital property. And my husband seems to have quietly given your family quite a few projects under the guise of supporting Blair..."

"These projects don't mean much to us, but we don't want to support ungrateful people. So I'll consider taking back all the projects given to the Ember family."

Isabella's face went pale. "What gives you the right to do that!"

"I don't need any reason - I just need to act cute with Grandpa and that's enough."

Aurora smiled smugly. "You know this too, right? Yosef dotes on me like his own granddaughter."