What was going on?


    The three Williams brothers were stunned into silence, unable to process what they''d just heard.


    Meanwhile, the color drained from Aurora''s face.


    Leonard''s words felt like a vicious p, stinging her cheek with a burning shame.


    Jonathan was the first to recover. "Leonard, besides this condition, do you have any others?"


    Israel also snapped out of his shock, a sneer forming on his lips.


    "Leonard, you''ve got some nerve! Are you trying to pull a fast one? Get something for nothing?


    "Let me tell you, if you think you can marry Aurora without paying a price, you''re dreaming!"


    Even now, Israel was convinced Leonard was just ying hard to get, threatening to cut ties with Aurora as a way to force them to agree to the marriage.


    Leonard ignored Israelpletely and said to Jonathan, "No, that''s it."


    Jonathan, much like Israel, was deeply suspicious.


    He racked his brain, trying to figure out Leonard''s ulterior motive.


    He cautioned, "Leonard, if you sign this contract, there''s no going back."


    Leonard''s face showed no trace of hesitation or doubt.


    "Of course."


    Jonathan opened his mouth to say something more.


    But the words died on his lips.


    What was there to say?


    Warn Leonard not to think he could ckmail them into achieving his goal?


    But what exactly was his goal?


    If he wanted to marry Aurora, he could have just said so. Why go through all this trouble?


    Besides, Leonard had never been one for subtlety.


    The atmosphere grew thick with tension. No one knew how to react.


    Finally, Coleman spoke up.


    "We need to discuss this before we can give you an answer."


    Leonard said, "No problem. You discuss it. I''ll take a walk in the garden.


    "Just let me know when you''ve reached a decision."


    The Williams family was speechless.


    What was Leonard''s strange obsession with their garden?


    Coleman, however, understood Leonard''s underlying message.


    He wanted an answer today.


    Coleman nced at Skyler and Jonathan, who both gave slight nods.


    Coleman said, "Alright. I''ll have the butler show you to the garden again."


    Leonard didn''t object and left with the butler shortly after.


    Once Leonard was gone, the Williams family descended into contemtion.


    Israel said, "What do you think


    up to?


    e''s willing to give up the


    els


    percent of hispany just to cut ties with Aurora?


    "Leonard is a man full of tricks. Is he just biding his time, setting a trap for us somewhere?"


    Israel couldn''t believe Leonard would willingly sever his connection with Aurora.


    And he wasn''t the only one. Ste found it just as incredible.


    She remembered how much she had endured for Rachel Pearce, swallowing her pride rather than getting a divorce.


    It wasn''t just because she couldn''t


    let go of Keen O''Brien, half of it was


    ause she couldn''t l


    go of all the


    years she had invested.


    bet


    Often, people can''t give up on someone they love not because the love is so strong but because they cant let go of their sunk costs


    Leonard had done so much for Aurora. Could he really just walk away from it all?


    It would mean that all his years of devotion had been for nothing.


    Leonard''s sacrifices for Aurora were at least as great, if not greater, than what she had given for Keen and Haynes O''Brien.


    It had taken her a long and painful struggle to finally make her decision.


    Would a ruthless man like Leonard really give up that easily?


    The Williams family began specting about Leonard''s true motives.


    Only Aurora remained silent.


    Her face was still deathly pale.