Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Aurelia arrived early at the Civil Affairs Bureau, finishing her bread just as Linda unexpectedly showed up.

“Ms. Linda, what brings you here?” Aurelia inquired.

Linda smiled as she spoke, “I couldn’t bear to miss such a significant

With that, she reached into her bag and handed Aurelia a carefully wrapped gift, emphasizing the importance of the occasion.

“Aurelia, going forward, Leslie will lean on you quite a bit. Consider this a small gesture of a mother–in–law’s affection,” Linda conveyed, her eyes radiating warmth.

Perplexed, Aurelia opened the gift to find a five hundred–thousand–dollar cheque.

She looked at Linda with disbelief, saying, “This is too much. That’s not necessary.”

Linda stopped Aurelia from returning the check. She smiled and said, “It’s not too much. You deserve it.”

“Me… Deserving?”

Aurelia widened her eyes. Lately, she had been bombarded with words like, “You’re about to be an orphan, who would want you? Who would still like you? Who would protect you?”

Her boyfriend of three years betrayed her, and even the caregiver bullied her.

She had thought she was about to be abandoned by the world, but at this moment, she felt a long–lost warmth.

Aurelia, who had been holding back for a long time, teared up.

There were too many words in her mind, but she didn’t know where to start.

“Ms. Linda, thank you.”

“Silly child, I know you’re going through a tough time. I understand you may be reluctant to ask me for help. Soon, we’ll be a family, and you don’t have to pretend to be tough in front of me. Accept it with peace of mind,” Linda said, gently patting Aurelia’s head.

Aurelia felt a warm sensation in her chest.

No matter how much they gave, those who truly loved you never seemed enough, while those who didn’t love you felt like they took too much.

Such an example was the Martinez family.

Unwilling to give and wanting even more from her.

As Linda spoke, she suddenly leaned closer to Aurelia’s face.

“You’re getting married today, and you’re not wearing makeup?” she asked.

Aurelia shook her head and asked, “Isn’t makeup not allowed for ID photos?”

Linda chuckled heartily, “Why are you such an honest child? Something as important as a lifetime commitment can’t be taken so casually. Luckily, I brought some makeup. I’ll give you

a makeup look that enhances your natural beauty.”

Upon hearing this, Aurelia couldn’t suppress a wry smile. Linda was familiar with the concept of pseudo–natural makeup

Before Aurelia could refuse, Linda’s foundation had already been applied to her face. She had no choice but to let Linda do her makeup.

A few minutes later, Linda looked at Aurelia with satisfaction.

“Aurelia, you’re naturally beautiful. Why don’t you dress up more often?”

“Ms. Linda, you don’t have to comfort me.”

Aurelia thought of Linda’s words as mere consolation.

She wasn’t considered particularly beautiful, at least not in her own eyes.

During her college days, some people had complimented her on her looks, but things changed after getting together with Seth.

He often commented on her lack of skill in applying makeup. As her workload increased, she gradually abandoned the practice, at most opting for a touch of lipstick for a hint of color.

“Really, you…” Linda was about to speak when a black Volkswagen pulled up, interrupting her.

Aurelia was captivated by the figure stepping out of the car.

It was Leslie.

He exuded a casual, laid–back vibe, dressed in a black shirt and trousers with a couple of buttons undone at the collar.

As he ascended the steps, a gentle breeze tousled his smooth hair, and his deep, handsome features gleamed in the morning sunlight.

Perhaps she had been staring for too long as Leslie turned his head and caught her gaze, causing Aurelia to freeze momentarily.

Feeling somewhat self–conscious, she quickly lowered her head and nervously tugged at her messy hair.

Leslie’s gaze lingered on Aurelia’s face, showing no sign of withdrawal.

Was she the same woman from yesterday?

Aurelia’s complexion was unusually fair, with only a few freckles as imperfections.

With some makeup on, Aurelia’s face lit up with a gentle, rosy glow in the sunlight, presenting a delicate allure that starkly contrasted with her pale and weary appearance from the previous

day.

As Leslie approached, his eyes caught the sight of the fifty–thousand check in Aurelia’s hand, and his expression turned abruptly cold.

So, she was asking for money so soon?

Aurelia was nudged by Linda and approached to greet him. “Hi, Leslie…”

“I need to get back to f

straight into the hall.

office for a meeting. Hurry up,” Leslie interrupted and walked.

It seemed Leslie truly harbored no favorable feelings toward her. Even his casual acknowledgment felt dismissive.

However, Aurelia refrained from saying anything for Linda’s sake and followed Leslie into the building.

The

number of couples getting married that day was sparse.

Filling out forms and taking photos, the entire process took around twenty minutes.

Aurelia received the marriage certificate and looked at the photo on it.

For a few seconds, her mind went blank before she could believe she had indeed gotten married.

It must be acknowledged that Leslie appeared exceptionally photogenic.

Surprisingly, she didn’t look bad either. She hadn’t expected the civil affairs bureau’s camera to capture her in such a flattering light.

Linda happily approached to admire the couple’s marriage certificate.

“Such a beautiful couple. My judgment is indeed impeccable.”

After a round of compliments, Linda took a key from her bag and handed it to Aurelia in front of Leslie.

“Aurelia, this is the key to Leslie’s apartment. Move in today, cultivate your relationship, and let me have my grandchildren soon.”

“Ms. Linda!” Aurelia hesitated, feeling too embarrassed to look at Leslie.

“Still calling me ‘Miss‘? Call me Mom,” Linda chuckled.

Mom, don’t tease me like this.”

Aurelia felt awkward.

“Alright, I was just joking. I’m not the kind of mother–in–law who pressures her daughter–in- law to have two kids in three years. But since you’re already married, are you planning to live separately? What do you think, Aurelia?”

Linda looked at Aurelia earnestly, almost pleading for her to agree to cohabitation.

Thinking about Linda’s kindness to her, Aurelia couldn’t bear to refuse.

Moreover, they had the marriage certificate now, and legally married couples living separately wouldn’t make sense.

She also couldn’t just take the money without fulfilling her responsibilities.

Aurelia was thinking about taking things one step at a time.

“Okay, I’ll move in today.”

As she said this, she felt a cold and piercing gaze and turned to look at Leslie.

She looked back.

What’s he looking at?

Was he having second thoughts about Aurelia moving in and planning to discuss it with Linda?

Leslie raised an eyebrow in mild surprise.

Few dared to scrutinize him so boldly. She indeed had quite the audacity. Was she so eager to move into his home?

“Thinking about moving in so eagerly?” Leslie squinted.

He then withdrew his gaze and said coldly, “I’m heading back to the office.”

Linda, displeased, caught hold of him.

“Will the company collapse without you?”

Leslie nodded indifferently. “Yes.”

Linda fumed. This family was bound to fall apart sooner or later.

She extended her hand and, in one swift motion, pushed Aurelia into Leslie’s embrace.

Aurelia bumped against Leslie’s chest. The scent of tobacco mixed with a sudden chill enveloped her.

Taken aback, she tried to retreat, but her well–worn three–year–old heels failed her on the slick surface.

She began to fall backward, and Leslie extended his long arm just in time, catching her around

the waist.

They found themselves involuntarily pressed together.

“Click, click.”

The camera in Linda’s hands captured the moment, her face beaming with a mischievous joy.

“What a pity, a kiss would have made it even better. How about…”

“Mom?”

Leslie’s deep voice intervened, stopping Linda from further inappropriate remarks.

After steadying Aurelia, he curled his fingers, still carrying the lingering warmth.

He wondered if a woman’s waist was really this slender.

Embarrassed, Aurelia took a step back, expressing gratitude to Leslie.

Even though he disliked her, he didn’t just watch as she fell awkwardly.

Amidst the bustling crowd, just the thought of such a spectacle made her feel utterly embarrassed.

Linda watched the two of them. She covered her mouth with a smile and gestured towards Leslie.

“As a husband, shouldn’t you quickly send your wife to work?”

Husband? Wife?

Leslie and Aurelia paused, exchanging puzzled glances.

It was an unexpected situation.

Aurelia promptly declined, “No need. My office is quite close. I can manage on my own.”

She hurried away.

Leslie watched her retreating figure without much expression, feeling confused.

Leslie believed Aurelia had chosen the wrong target for her feigned surrender tactic.

No longer concerned with Aurelia, Leslie turned to Linda.

“Mom, I’ll have the driver pick you up.”

“No need. I’m going to do some shopping. You go back to the office. But I warn you, don’t bully Aurelia,” Linda said with a warning tone.

After her caution, she put on her sunglasses and happily went shopping.

Leslie got into his car and drove away.