“He must’ve gone after Miss Walton for her money–what else?”
“Exactly. The guy looks like a kept man, one of those pretty–faced types<b>.</b><b>” </b>
“Men like that never amount to anything. Wherever they go, it’s always on someone else’s dime.”
The more Aurora read, the more she trembled with anger.
The viciousness and assumptions were unbearable.
By the time she scrolled to the end, she didn’t even have the strength to tap on eachment to see who had written them. Her fingers hovered, then fell still.
Lucas watched her quietly, heart aching at the sight of her distress.
He reached over and gently pulled her into his arms, wrapping her close. “Enough. I told you, don’t mind what people online say. I don’t care<b>, </b><b>so </b>you shouldn’t either.
“As long as we live our life well, that’s what matters<b>.</b>”
Aurora listened, and while she nodded, part of her still couldn’t stop caring. It wasn’t easy to ignore cruel words when they were aimed at someone she loved.
She nced at Lucas‘ calm smile, her lips tightening into a silent line.
If the roles were reversed, she knew she wouldn’t have been soposed. But Lucas hadn’t said a single word of me, hadn’t shown the slightest frustration.
He must be holding it in so she wouldn’t feel pressured.
Aurora, quietly<b>, </b>gave him that excuse in her heart.
Still, just because he stayed silent didn’t mean she could act like nothing had happened. She couldn’t pretend this was all fine.
This mess had started because of her scandal with Julian. If that hadn’t happened, no one would’ve bothered digging into Lucas‘ life to begin with.
That thought made her chest tighten with guilt.
She never imagined Lucas would stand <b>by </b>her <b>so </b>firmly. Yet back then, she’d been the one to push him away.
Thinking back on it now<b>, </b>she couldn’t help but feel ashamed. Even a little disgusted with the version of herself who hadn’t recognized his sincerity.
If she had just seen it earlier<b>, </b>maybe none of this would have happened.
She looked at Lucas again<b>, </b>this time with eyes full of remorse.
Even her voice<b>, </b>when she finally spoke<b>, </b>was softer and gentler than usual.
That subtle shift in Aurora’s tone didn’t <b>escape </b>Lucas’s notice.
“Rora, I really mean it. I’m fine<b>. </b>You don’t need to <b>let </b>any of this get to <b>you</b><b>. </b><b>If </b><b>you </b>do<b>, </b><b>it </b>only gives those people more satisfaction.”
He kept his voice light, as if none <b>of </b>it mattered. “<b>I </b>can handle anything. As long <b>as </b><b>you’re </b>happy<b>, </b><b>as </b>long as <b>you </b><b>don’t </b><b>let </b>those <b>voices </b>drag you down<b>, </b>then <b>I </b>have even less reason <b>to </b><b>care</b><b>. </b>The <b>rest</b><b>, </b>we <b>can </b>take it one step at a time.”
“Alright. I get it.”
Aurora nodded<b>, </b>as <b>if </b>she had taken his words to heart.
<b>But </b>in truth, she hadn’t<b>. </b>
She already had her own n forming in her mind.
There was no <b>way </b>she would let the situation online continue spiraling unchecked.
<b>It </b><b>wasn’t </b>just about her anymore–Lucas had been dragged into this <b>because </b><b>of </b>her, and she couldn’t just <b>sit </b>back and do nothing.
The <b>guilt </b>weighed heavily.
<b>Even </b>after she arrived at the office<b>, </b>she couldn’t stop thinking about it. <b>Her </b>thoughts <b>kept </b>circling back to the same <b>ce</b>.
When her assistant came in to deliver the morning report, Aurora was still staring at herputer screen<b>, </b><b>not </b>really seeing <b>it</b><b>. </b>
Her gaze <b>was </b>distant, <b>her </b>expression unfocused<b>, </bpletely out of character.
*Miss Walton<b>, </b>are you alright? You <b>seem</b>… distracted.”
Tan couldn’t help but ask <b>Aurora </b>had never looked so preupied before.