Chapter 171
We built a huge castle with blocks together, had a "battle" in the ball pit, and rode the bumper cars. Our laughter filled the sky above the amusement park.
After we'd tried most of the rides, Aura pointed at the slowly rotating Ferris wheel in the center of the park, decorated with colorful lights: "Daddy, Mommy, I want to ride that tall circle!"
"Okay, I'll take you on the Ferris wheel." James picked her up.
The three of us got into a cabin.
The cabin slowly rose, and the city view gradually spread out beneath us.
Aura excitedly pressed against the glass, pointing at the shrinking rides below: "Mommy, look! That slide got so small! Like my mini toys!"
"Yes, because we're very, very high up." I held her close, also looking out the window.
James sat across from us, but his gaze fell on Aura and me, his eyes gentle.
The cabin rose higher and higher, gradually approaching the top.
Just then, Aura suddenly turned around, threw herself into my arms, and planted a loud kiss on my cheek: "Mommy, kiss!"
Then she turned and threw herself at James, kissing him on the cheek too: "Daddy, kiss!"
After kissing us both, she looked at me, then at James, her big eyes sparkling, and suddenly said: "Daddy and Mommy need to kiss too! On TV, when people ride the Ferris wheel to the very top, they always kiss! That way they'll stay together forever and ever!"
James and I both froze.
The cabin happened to reach the highest point at that moment, pausing slightly.
Aura looked at us expectantly, her little face full of anticipation.
James's gaze moved from Aura's face to mine. His eyes were deep, like a bottomless pit trying to pull me in.
The air seemed to freeze, with only the faint mechanical sounds of the Ferris wheel and our breathing.
Maybe I was caught up in the atmosphere, or maybe I didn't want to disappoint Aura—I actually didn't look away immediately, but met his gaze directly.
Then I saw James lean slightly toward me.
His breath drew near, carrying that familiar crisp scent. My heart skipped a beat in that instant, and my fingers curled up unconsciously.
A gentle, fleeting kiss landed on the corner of my lips.
So light, so quick, it felt almost like an illusion.
"Now the three of us can stay together forever and ever!" Aura clapped her hands happily, breaking the subtle, ambiguous atmosphere.
James had already sat back in his seat, as if nothing had happened, though his ears seemed to have a barely noticeable hint of red.
He cleared his throat softly and ruffled Aura's hair: "Daddy and Mommy will always stay by Aura's side."
I quickly turned away, looking at the rapidly descending scenery outside, my cheeks burning, my heart pounding wildly and erratically in my chest.
Just now... he kissed me...
Although this wasn't the first time James and I had been intimate—we'd even been more intimate than this—this was the first time we'd been this close since our divorce, and in front of Aura no less.
I didn't know if I was embarrassed or what, but my face was burning hot, and my heart was beating fast and loud.
The Ferris wheel slowly descended until it reached the ground, but the heat in my cheeks still hadn't completely faded.
As we walked out holding Aura's hand, I didn't even dare look James in the eye.
On the way back, Aura, tired from playing, fell asleep in her car seat. Without her voice, the car was very quiet.
I stared at the rapidly retreating street scenes outside the window, but my mind kept replaying that moment at the top of the Ferris wheel. My fingers unconsciously brushed across the corner of my lips.
This can't continue, Sophia.
I sternly warned myself.
You and James are already divorced. It's only because of Indigo that you came back to the country and had this brief interaction with him.
Don't forget why you divorced him and went abroad in the first place.
I took a deep breath and firmly suppressed that flutter of emotion I shouldn't have.
After returning from the amusement park, I kept reminding myself that I needed to keep my distance from James.
Some things I couldn't bear to go through a second time.
So I deliberately started keeping myself busy.
The studio had some design drafts that needed final approval, and I proactively reached out to two new clients to discuss design requirements, filling my schedule completely.
When spending time with Aura, if he was present, I would minimize direct communication with him, keeping the conversation focused only on Aura.
Someone as perceptive as James couldn't possibly notice my avoidance.
Several times, I felt his frustrated gaze lingering on me.
But he said nothing, didn't ask questions, didn't try to break through the distance I was creating.
This unspoken silence made the atmosphere at home somewhat awkward.
Aura seemed to sense something, too.
Once, she pulled my hand and asked: "Mommy, you haven't talked much with Daddy these past few days. Did Daddy make you angry?"
I crouched down and hugged her: "No, Daddy didn't make Mommy angry. Mommy's just been too busy with work."
"Mommy, if you're busy, you don't have to spend time with Aura on purpose. Aura is fine." Aura was so understanding and considerate.
"When Mommy finishes her work, you'll take Aura out to play with Daddy again, okay?"
There was hope in her eyes.
My nose tingled, and I could only hold her tighter: "Okay, after I finish this busy period."
I knew my avoidance was wrong, but at this stage, this was the only method I had.
But I never imagined that because of this, I would almost lose Aura.
The tragedy happened on Wednesday afternoon.
That day, James had an important meeting that lasted all day.
I also needed to be out all day for work.
I wasn't comfortable leaving Aura alone at home and wanted to take her with me, but Indigo said she would watch Aura.
Aura was also very understanding: "Mommy, don't take Aura when you go to make money. Aura will disturb Mommy, and then Mommy won't make money, and Aura won't have food to eat."
She even rubbed her eyes and fake-cried a couple of times.
I laughed and pinched her cheek: "Then be good at home and listen to Great-grandma. Mommy will try to come back early to have dinner with you."
Aura nodded: "Don't worry, Mommy. Aura is the best-behaved."
Indigo also smiled and said, "Don't worry about leaving Aura with me. If I can't handle it, there are so many other people in the house. Nothing will go wrong."
"Just call me if anything comes up." After saying this, I left for work with peace of mind.
By the time I rushed back home from the studio, it was already past five in the afternoon.
As soon as I entered, I felt something was wrong with the atmosphere in the house.
The servants stood in a row, each looking devastated, as if something terrible had happened. The unease in my heart grew stronger and stronger.
"What's going on? Why is everyone standing here?"
Noah came up to me with a pale face, his voice trembling: "Ms. Brown, something terrible has happened! Aura... Aura is missing!"