Lana froze, stunned that Aurora hadpletely ignored her. She had so much she wanted to say but couldn''t seem to get it out.


    "Alright, I''ll have Mrs. Woolf make something for you. If you''re tired, go back to sleep. You''ve been in the car for so long; you must be exhausted," Justin said as he escorted Aurora back to her room and closed the door behind her.


    Aurora climbed back into bed and let out a yawn. Lately, she''d been sleeping so much that it felt like she could doze off anywhere, anytime.


    "I''m sorry for letting you endure that," Justin said, feeling guilty about Lana''s earlier outburst. It was his choice to bring Aurora here, and yet she was the one suffering for


    it.


    "You don''t love her?"


    "If I did, would I be standing here like this? Whether or not you showed up, she was never the person I wanted," Justin said with a helpless sigh.


    "So this time, you''re using me to make her give uppletely, to stop her from waiting for you," Aurora said bluntly, hitting the nail on the head.


    Justin met her sharp gaze. She was incredibly perceptive. "I''m sorry. I''m not using you-I really wanted to bring you here to see my hometown and to offer blessings for your baby.


    As for Lana... yes, part of me hoped this would help her move on. We''ve known each other since we were kids, but I''ve never felt anything romantic toward her. She''s already 25, which is consideredte for marriage in the vige."


    Justin was a good man-Aurora had never denied that. His principle of not leading someone on without love was clear.


    "It''s fine. I understand her feelings and don''t me her," Aurora said. She knew she had no right to interfere with someone else''s emotions.


    "That''s good to hear. Rest well," Justin said as he turned to leave. Aurora watched his tall figure retreating. If it weren''t her standing here, he probably would''ve had a beautiful family by now.


    Aurora slept until the evening. Stretchingzily, she got out of bed and mused that if she kept eating and sleeping like this, she''d soon turn into a pig. Would Julian even recognize her then?


    Thinking of Julian made her heart ache. She kept telling herself that they would meet again eventually, but the image of him chasing after the car as she left still lingered in her mind, making her eyes sting.


    She gently caressed her belly. "Baby, we''ll see Daddy soon. Mommy misses him, and Daddy will find us."


    Justin came to call her for dinner. Hearing her voice from outside the door, he paused mid-knock. The slight nasal tone in her voice tugged at his heart.


    The more time he spent with Aurora, the more he realized he couldn''t enter her world or her heart. She was kind, but she could also be cruel.


    In that moment, doubt crept into his mind. Was this really the right thing to do? When the baby was born and asked where their father was, what would he say?


    As the child grew older, they might resent him as a thief who had torn their parents apart. Aurora wouldn''t be happy, the child wouldn''t be happy, and he himself would forever feel the weight of guilt.


    But letting go... that felt impossible.


    After a while, when the room had gone quiet, he finally knocked. "Aurora, are you awake? If you are, dinner is ready."


    "Okay,ing," she replied.


    Aurora quickly opened the door, her calm demeanor back in ce. "Let''s go," she said.


    Both of them acted as if nothing had happened. At dinner, Mrs. Woolf was enthusiastic, introducing Aurora to various dishes, many made from wild vegetables foraged from the mountains or handmade local specialties.


    Aurora ate heartily, finishing an entire bowl. "Mrs. Woolf, your cooking is amazing!"


    "I was worried you wouldn''t like it. You''re used to eating the best food," Mrs. Woolf replied.


    "Not at all! Every food has its own unique vor. Mrs. Woolf, would you take a walk with meter? If I keep sitting around like this, I''ll turn into a pig."


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience—all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you!


    "A little weight wouldn''t hurt. You''re too thin as it is. Besides, walking is good for the baby and will help with the deliveryter. I''ll take you around the vige."


    "Great! I''ve been wanting to explore. I''m full now-let''s go right away," Aurora said, springing to her feet.


    "You''re so impulsive! Alright, alright, let''s go," Mrs. Woolf said, unable to refuse her. Though she had no children of her own, she treated Justin and the others with special


    care.


    Aurora wasn''t just beautiful but also unpretentious, with a hint of girlish yfulness that made her likable.


    "I''ll stay here and clean up. I''ll join youter," Justin said, unbothered by the idea of a man doing housework.


    "Alright."


    Aurora linked arms with Mrs. Woolf as they stepped outside. The mountain air was cool and damp in the evening, but it was refreshing and crisp.


    "Let''s walk by the river," Mrs. Woolf suggested.


    "I don''t know the area, so I''ll follow your lead."


    Along the way, many vigers cast curious nces at Aurora. Word of Lana''s earlier outburst at Justin''s house had already spread, and people were eager to catch a glimpse of this new arrival.


    Some looked on with curiosity, while others whispered gossip.


    "Ignore them. They''re just nosy," Mrs. Woolf said, clearly having overheard some unpleasantments.


    "I know," Aurora replied calmly. She wasn''t fragile-she had weathered storms these people couldn''t even imagine. A bit of gossip wasn''t enough to upset her.


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! After a few more steps, Aurora suddenly spotted someone familiar. Her expression shifted. Meeting an acquaintance here of all ces felt like a miracle.


    It was Alison!


    Aurora remembered how, just before the Lunar New Year, Alison had sent her a cryptic text message and then vanished. No one knew where she had gone.


    Aurora hadter heard that Alison had aborted her child, rejected Eric''spensation, and stepped aside for Paul and Kimberly.


    And now, here she was, in this remote vige! Alison lookedpletely different, her previous bold makeup reced with a simpler, more natural look.


    For the first time, Aurora felt a glimmer of hope. Alison could deliver a message to Julian. This time, she had to be discreet.


    Alison, carrying arge backpack and dressed like a tourist, appeared to be here for the Petal Fest.


    In the blink of an eye, Alison disappeared into a distinctive stilt house. Thankfully, she hadn''t seen Aurora, so Mrs. Woolf wouldn''t suspect anything.


    "Aurora, what are you looking at?"


    "Mrs. Woolf, that stilt house ahead is so beautiful, with itsnterns. Whose home is it?" Aurora asked, pretending not to know.


    "Oh, that''s the vige inn. Over the years, some people have discovered our vige ande here to visit, so someone built a guesthouse."


    "No wonder. It looks so different from the other houses-so big and beautiful."


    "If you likenterns, I''ll have Justin hang some for you," Mrs. Woolf offered.


    "No, no, I was just curious. By the way, when does the Petal Fest start? Justin mentioned it earlier."


    "The evening after tomorrow. Why do you ask?"