Over the past couple of years, Mabelâs favorite thing to watch was not the melodramatic TV series but variety shows. The more unrealistic it was, the more she loved to watch. Aurelia got along well with Mabel. Their relationship was harmonious. Matthew watched as Aurelia engrossed in a conversation with Mabel about variety show celebrities, his gaze deepening. He had been standing off to the side for a while, so they failed to notice him. It was Mabel who first noticed Matthew. Immediately, she raised her eyebrows and asked, âWhen did you arrive? You scared me to death, sneaking in without a sound.â Aurelia looked toward Matthew, her smile instantly fading from her face. She politely nodded at him. âIâve just arrived.â Matthew watched as Aureliaâs expressions changed faster than flipping through a book. He remembered the sweet smile she wore when she was just with Mabel and suddenly felt as if he had overlooked something. But still, he couldnât pinpoint what exactly had been overlooked. âYou just got your marriage certificate with Auri today. Why are you still working so late? The company employs so many people, yet they still keep you busy until this late hour. I think itâs time for a change of staff in your company! Hurry back to Starry Sea Mansion with Auri and treat her well, understand?â Mabel rolled her eyes at Matthew, wondering how her adorable and sweet-
talking grandson from his childhood had grown up to be so annoying. He isnât cute anymore. Auri is the cute one! Auri is willing to watch variety show with me! Matthew simply hummed in response, not saying much else. Mabel shot another glare. âMarrying Auri is a blessing youâve accumulated over several lifetimes! You better cherish her properly.â This time, Matthew furrowed his brows. He wanted to know what kind of spell Aurelia had cast on Mabel. âGrandma, Iâve already prepared the medicinal foot soak for you. Make sure to soak your feet before bed,â Aurelia said, somewhat worried. She feared Mabel might forget to soak her feet while engrossed in her variety show. Mabel nodded her head vigorously, âAll right! All right,! Iâll do as you say, Auri. Iâll soak my feet right now.â Matthew was rendered speechless. The road was clear of traffic, and half an hour later, they arrived at Starry Sea Mansion. The two didnât speak much on their way home. Upon entering the house, Matthew noticed a small suitcase by the door. Such a small suitcase? On top of the suitcase, there were items placed, resembling a rolled-up painting, which exuded a hint of antiquity. âThere are four rooms on the second floor. I occupy one of them. You can choose one for yourself,â
Matthew said to Aurelia after changing into his slippers. Although they had gotten married and were technically husband and wife, he had no intention of touching her within the next three years. Moreover, after receiving the certificate that day, he learned about her actions from Gordon. He felt that her intentions were somewhat malicious. Aurelia responded with an affirmation and also slipped on her slippers. After that, she ascended the stairs, carrying her suitcase. Behind her, Matthew pointed to one of the rooms and said, âThis is my room.â âAll right.â Aurelia walked inside, choosing a room that was one room away from Matthewâs room. She understood clearly that Matthew didnât want to have any involvement with her. It was better for them to maintain some distance. She also didnât want to cause any unnecessary misunderstandings. Matthew was somewhat surprised to see Aureliaâs cold and distant attitude toward him. Before entering the room, Aurelia said to Matthew, âItâs getting late. Iâm going to rest now.
Goodnight, Mr. Quigley.â Following that, Matthew heard the sound of a door closing. Matthewâs cold eyebrows arched. Coming back to his senses, he realized he might have paid too much attention to her that day. As long as she can make Grandma happy, her presence is beneficial. The rest of the matters arenât important anymore. An hour later, after Aurelia had unpacked and arranged everything from her suitcase, she went to take a shower. After drying her hair, she lay on the bed and picked up her phone. The phone, set to silent, displayed over ninety-nine missed calls, and her WhatsApp was flooded with unread messages.
Since her reincarnation, her whirlwind marriage with Matthew, and her encounter with Mabel, she then lay in bed with a somewhat surreal sense of disorientation. At the top of the notification list was Curtis, who, even then, was still sending her WhatsApp messages. Then came Luna, Gideon, and Melanie. She opened the WhatsApp messages from Mabel that were among the few she had received. Mabel sent a photo of her soaking her feet and a voice message. She clicked on the voice message, and Mabelâs voice rang out. âAuri, I listened to you and soaked my feet. It feels so comfortable. Auri, donât reply to me.
I think Iâm feeling sleepy and will go to bed now. Oh, and if Matthew bullies you, just tell me. I will sort him out!â A warm feeling surged through Aureliaâs heart. She then tapped on the phone with her slender fingers, replying: Thank you, Grandma. She even sent Mabel a goodnight GIF. Afterward, she opened Curtisâ WhatsApp. A series of voice messages, one after another, appeared.
From the time they met in high school until then, he understood her very well. The emoticons sent were all sorts of grievances, pleading for a hug. The text messages that came through were heart-wrenching, reading: My dear wife, I donât know where I went wrong, but if Iâve upset you, then itâs my fault. Please donât ignore me, my dear. Take pity on me, speak to me, my love.
Aurelia didnât bother listening to the voice messages, fearing that she might vomit from what she heard. Just as she was about to exit and open the messages to see what Luna had said, Curtisâ call came through again. She answered the call. âAuri, why have you been ignoring me all day? Ever since you said we should break up, Iâve been distraught and unable to eat. You know I canât live without you. Are you angry with me? Is it because I advised you to apologize to your parents? Auri, I only have your best interests at heart. Itâs important for you to return to your parents and get along well with them...â Curtis said. Aurelia reminisced about her previous life, where she was constantly obsessed with pleasing Gideon and the others. That had a significant connection with Curtis as well. She then let out a cold laugh and said, âCurtis.â âWhatâs wrong, my dear? I knew you couldnât bear to see me upset.â On the other end of the phone, Curtis held his mobile, a hint of smugness lifting his eyebrows. No one understands Aurelia better than I do. Sheâs completely under my control! âThere are so many worthwhile things to learn in this world, yet you insist on behaving disgracefully! Unless you want the police to pay a visit to your workplace and invite you for a chat, return my hundred thousand within ten minutes,â Aurelia said coldly and hung up the phone. That despicable couple should be locked away! However, I must get him to return my money! A few days ago, Curtis mentioned that his family urgently needed money. Without asking for any reason, she transferred the money Phyllis had given her over the years, along with the hundred thousand she had saved from working diligently throughout her university years. Prior to that, Aurelia wanted to give her money to Phyllis. It was only after she became bedridden that she found out he had been using her money to buy clothes and skincare products for Melanie. Curtis stared at the disconnected call, his handsome face filled with surprise. Has Aurelia lost her mind?
Return her money? Iâve already agreed to go shopping with Melanie on Saturday, and I wasnât even sure if a hundred thousand would be enough. Have I been spoiling Aurelia too much lately? Have I given her the wrong impression that she could break up with me whenever she wanted as if I was hopelessly in love with her? In less than two days, she would be the one to apologize to me voluntarily. When that time comes, sheâll still do as I say! With that in mind, he immediately opened Melanieâs WhatsApp chat and texted: Mel, donât forget that weâll meet at Gate 1 of Merryborne Mall tomorrow at noon.