Chapter <b>393 </b>
Was she just overthinking things or had Lucas never actually put his past to <b>rest</b>?
Aurora couldn’t tell.
But in front of the two men, she buried those doubts deep down.
She drew a steady breath, her expression calm as she turned to Lucas with a gentle smile. “Alright, I hear you. Don’t worry<b>, </b>I’ll keep my emotions in check.”
With that<b>, </b>she led them toward her car.
Halfway through the drive, Leonard suddenly spoke up. “Wait<b>, </b>can we pull over for a moment?”
Aurora shot him a puzzled look. “What’s wrong? Why the sudden stop?”
Leonard smiled. “<b>I </b>can’t show up to visit Madam <b>Grace </b>empty–handed. I should at least bring a small gift.”
Aurora immediately understood.
She hadn’t expected it from him, but it was a thoughtful gesture.
Before she could say anything, Lucas cut in. “We’re already halfway there. Where exactly are you nning <b>to </b>shop right now?”
Leonard’s tone didn’t waver. “Even <b>so</b><b>, </b><b>I </b><b>can’t </b>go in empty<b>–</b>handed.”
Lucas let out a quiet scoff. “You’re not the only one who thought of that. I had <b>no </b>intention of showing up unprepared either.<b>” </b>
He leaned back in his seat. <b>“</b>I’ve already arranged everything. My <b>assistant </b>will deliver it straight to the hospital lobby. It’ll <b>be </b>waiting when we arrive.”
Aurora blinked, eyes widening slightly. “You did? When did you even have time <b>to </b>prepare anything?”
Sitting in the front passenger seat, Lucas reached over and gently ruffled her hair. “The moment I got the address<b>, </b><b>I </b>made the call.”
“I didn’t <b>want </b>to scramble for somethingst minute. That kind of rush usually means picking <b>out </b>something generic, and I didn’t want to risk bringing your mom something she wouldn’t like.”
<b>Aurora </b>couldn’t help but <b>feel </b><b>a </b>surge of warmth.
She hadn’t expected this <b>level </b>of thoughtfulness<b>. </b>
In such a short <b>span </b>of time, Lucas had not only nned it all out but had done <b>so </b>with care–and with Grace’s <b>preferences </b>in mind.
Compared to that, Leonard’s <b>spontaneity</b>, while sweet, clearly fell short.
Aurora drew <b>in </b><b>a </b>deep breath<b>. </b>“Alright, Leonard, no need to get anything. Since he already prepared something, we’ll just bring <b>it </b>in <b>together</b><b>, </b>all <b>three </b><b>of </b><b>us</b><b>.</b><b>” </b>
<b>“</b>But…”
Leonard opened his mouth <b>to </b><b>protest</b><b>, </b>but <b>Lucas </b>cut him off before he could <b>get </b>another word out.
“No buts. <b>If </b>you’re only thinking about gifts now<b>, </b><b>what’s </b>the point? Just <b>use </b>mine<b>,</b><b>” </b>
Leonard nced at Aurora, <b>saw </b>the anxious look on her face<b>, </b>and swallowed the rest of his argument.
She was clearly <b>eager </b><b>to </b><b>get </b>to the hospital–he couldn’t justify holding her up.
So<b>, </b>in the end, <b>he </b>let <b>it </b>go, though <b>a </b>tight knot of frustration sat in his <b>chest</b>.
Lucas, <b>meanwhile</b><b>, </b>was quietly pleased.
<b>Still </b>too green to y this game with me.
<b>This </b><b>was </b>his moment to shine in front of his wife<b>, </b>and there was no <b>way </b>he was going to waste it.
From the instant <b>he </b>had the address, he’d already decided what to buy and he had it all arranged on the way over<b>, </b>the moment he learned about Grace’s condition.
<b>He’d </b>even nned for the worst: if they hadn’t found Grace’s location<b>, </b><b>he </b><b>was </b>ready to pull <b>every </b>string he had through his ownpany’swork
in <b>the </b>end, though<b>, </b>it hadn’t been necessary. Aurora had handled it on her own.
And while part of him was a little disappointed he didn’t get to show off more<b>, </b>Lucas didn’t mind.
This result suited him just fine<b>. </b>
<b>He’d </b>always known Aurora was strong and capable.
Her solving the issue herself only made him respect her more<b>. </b>