Chapter 174
Aura didn't quite understand, but she could sense that Cecilia seemed very sad. She tugged at Cecilia's finger: "Why are you suddenly sad?"
"You saved me, they'll definitely treat you really, really well. If you have any troubles, you can tell them."
Cecilia held Aura's little hand in return, tears falling: "I know, I'm happy, not sad. Don't worry."
Aura nodded: "My dad and mom are both very capable people. If you have any difficulties, you must speak up. They'll definitely help you solve them."
After Aura talked with her for a while, we took Aura and left.
Over the next few days, the people James sent out intensified their investigation, but found no leads.
Yosef had vanished into thin air. The trail went cold after he took Aura beyond the surveillance camera range.
Cecilia was also investigated, and there was nothing suspicious in her bank transactions.
Everything looked like an accident.
During Cecilia's hospital stay, Hestia came to make a scene twice, loudly cursing us, the Smith family, for leaving our lifesaver lying alone in the hospital with no compassion.
James had security "escort" her out directly.
Meanwhile, Cecilia behaved unusually quiet and "sensible."
She never contacted us on her own initiative. Occasionally, when Aura had the nanny call her, she would only gently ask about Aura, reminding her to listen to her mom and dad. She never mentioned her own injuries and showed no intention of leveraging her favor for personal gain.
This made me wonder if we had wrongly accused her.
But my instinct told me it wasn't that simple.
Sure enough, a couple of days later, while chatting with me, Aura suddenly said: "Mom, today when I called Cecilia, she asked me if you and Dad often fight."
"She also asked if you two sleep together at night, and how you usually get along."
My heart jumped, but I kept my expression calm: "What did you tell her?"
"I said Dad and Mom never fight, but you sleep in separate rooms." Aura tried hard to recall, "Cecilia also said, if Mom and Dad sleep in separate rooms, does that mean you don't get along? I said I don't know. Sometimes Mom sleeps with me, and Dad sleeps alone."
I stroked Aura's head, but my heart sank.
Cecilia had started probing Aura about my relationship with James.
She wanted to know what our relationship was really like, probably to make it easier for her to make her move later.
I told James about this.
His eyes turned cold: "Whatever she's trying to do, I won't let her succeed."
"How about this - I'll go to the hospital to take care of her, stay by her side, and watch her. Maybe I can find something out."
James shook his head in disagreement: "Cecilia can even harm herself; who knows what she might do to you."
"It's too dangerous. I can't let you take that risk."
"I'll protect myself, don't worry."
"Even if you don't think about yourself or me, at least think about Aura. If something happens to you, what about Aura?" The usually composed James became emotional.
I was stunned: "I'm not going alone. Won't you protect me?"
James was also stunned, then nodded: "Of course I will."
I'm going to the hospital to care for Cecilia was finally decided.
I came to Cecilia's hospital room carrying flowers and fruit.
Seeing me come alone, a flash of surprise crossed her face, quickly replaced by a gentle smile: "Ms. Brown, what brings you here? Please sit down."
"You're busy with work and taking care of Aura, you don't need to make a special trip to see me."
"It's only right." I put the things down and sat in the chair by the bed. "Ms. Thorne got injured saving Aura. In every sense, I should come take care of you. I was busy comforting the child before and neglected this. I'm sorry."
"Ms. Brown, please don't say that!" Cecilia waved her hands repeatedly, looking flustered. "What I did wasn't anything major; you don't need to do this."
We exchanged insincere pleasantries for a bit.
I looked at her and cut straight to the point: "Ms. Thorne, I've been thinking - having a nurse care for you during your hospital stay isn't quite personal enough. How about I come to the hospital to take care of you during this time, until you recover? It would be a small gesture from James and me."
Cecilia clearly hadn't expected me to suggest this. She froze for a moment, a flash of wariness quickly passing through her eyes, soon replaced by a flattered expression: "How could I! Ms. Brown, that's too much trouble for you! Really, it's not necessary! I think the nurse takes good care of me..."
I smiled: "It's no trouble. Aura goes to work with her dad now. I can do my work anywhere, and my schedule is pretty flexible right now. I can definitely manage taking care of you."
I insisted, "Ms. Thorne got injured because of Aura. If I don't do anything, I really can't feel at ease."
"Unless it's inconvenient for Ms. Thorne to have me care for you?"
Cecilia and I locked eyes for a few seconds, as if weighing her options. Finally, she broke into a grateful, slightly shy smile: "Then... then thank you, Ms. Brown."
"Actually, being alone in the hospital, sometimes it does get pretty boring. Having Ms. Brown here to chat with would be nice."
She agreed.
So, over the next few days, I came to the hospital every day during the daytime. But Cecilia just ate and slept, slept and ate, occasionally reading or listening to music, with no unusual activity.
She would chat with me: "Ms. Brown, I really envy you, having such an excellent husband as Mr. Smith, and such an adorable daughter as Aura."
Once, looking out the window, she said wistfully: "Sometimes I think, if I could have a partner like Mr. Smith, a child like Aura... but sadly, I don't have that blessing."
I kept my head down, peeling an apple, responding coolly: "Fate can't be forced."
"Yes, it can't be forced." She withdrew her gaze, looking at me with utterly sincere eyes. "So, Ms. Brown, is there really no possibility between you and Mr. Smith? I can tell Mr. Smith still has feelings for you."
"And Aura so desperately wants a complete family. Won't you really consider remarrying Mr. Smith?"
My hands paused, and I looked up at her.
"That's between him and me." I handed her the peeled apple, my tone calm. "No need for Ms. Thorne to worry about it."
Cecilia took the apple and smiled: "I spoke out of turn. Don't mind me, Ms. Brown. I just... Hope you, Mr. Smith, and Aura are all doing well."
Over the following days, Cecilia didn't bring up such topics again.
But today, she suddenly said she wanted some hot water.
I got up to get water from the dispenser. The water dispenser was against the wall. Just as I filled the cup and turned around carrying it back, Cecilia suddenly threw off her blanket and walked toward me.
She let out a soft cry, her body unstable, stumbling in my direction. Her hands flailed wildly, hitting right against the cup I was holding.