Chapter 7

Chapter 7

“Aurelia, have you moved in with Leslie? I called because I was afraid Leslie might have scared you away,” Linda half–jokingly remarked.

“Mom, I promised you, and I won’t go back on my word. Don’t worry. I’ll go back and pack up right away.”

Aurelia could sense Linda’s keen interest in her marriage to Leslie.

She didn’t want to disappoint the person who had saved her life. However, she wasn’t sure what Leslie thought about their marriage.

“Okay, be careful on the way. If anything happens, just look for Leslie,” Linda said as she finally smiled.

“Okay.”

After hanging up the phone, Aurelia dismissed the idea of buying something to eat and decided to take a taxi home.

The evening hadn’t set in, and she had to act swiftly.

Upon reaching home, she started packing her bags.

Besides daily necessities, she had only a few sets of work clothes and casual wear. After packing a large and a small suitcase, she looked around her home.

A family photo from several years ago still hung on the wall. She was held in her parents‘ arms, and they all smiled with squinted eyes.

Unfortunately, those carefree days were gone.

She walked to the table and touched her father’s memorial tablet.

“Dad, rest assured, I will save Mom and take care of our home.”

“Oh, by the way, Dad, I’m married now. Not to Seth. So, you don’t need to give him your blessings anymore. It’s not worth it. My husband is a… handsome programmer. Don’t worry. He’s not bald. He’s quite decent.”

As she finished speaking, her phone rang again. It was an unfamiliar number.

After a moment of hesitation, she answered, only to hear Seth’s reproachful voice.

“Aurelia, you actually blocked me? Are you feeling guilty?”

Hearing this, Aurelia rolled her eyes.

“Seth, I made myself clear yesterday. We no longer have any connection.”

“Aurelia, come on, isn’t it just about the hundred thousand dollars? I have my own challenges, too. I’m the only child in my family and bear the weight of everything. If I hand over the money to you, what about my parents?” Seth explained.

“That’s why I don’t want it anymore. I’m hanging up. Don’t call me again.”

“Aurelia, what happened at the social event was just a misunderstanding. What I said was out of anger. I do have feelings for you. You know that, right?” Seth softly coaxed.

Aurelia tightened her grip on the phone, irritated by his voice, wanting to get rid of him quickly.

“Seth, I don’t know that. How about you transfer the car ownership to me, and I’ll believe you.

“Aurelia! Are you deliberately doing this? Do you think I can’t find someone else without you? Just wait and see!”

When Seth had to make a significant sacrifice, he reacted explosively, displaying heightened sensitivity to the situation.

Previously, she thought love shouldn’t be about gains and losses, but now she realized she was the only one adhering to this principle.

Aurelia didn’t want to hear him babble, so she hung up and blocked the number.

At the same time, footsteps approached behind her. Turning around, she saw Leslie push open. the half–closed door.

“Why are you here?” She asked in surprise.

“My mom told me to pick you up.‘

Leslie’s voice was calm, devoid of any emotion.

“Wait a moment, I’ll go check the windows and gas,” Aurelia said.

After saying that, she entered the kitchen. She had claimed it was to check things, but in reality, she wanted to compose herself.

She didn’t want others to witness her in a chaotic state.

In the room, Leslie’s gaze coldly scanned the house.

The decor was a bit dated, but this house was small yet valuable as it was in a good school. district.

Despite living in such a place, Aurelia still seemed unsatisfied, her mind preoccupied with thoughts of money.

Had Leslie not overheard Aurelia asking her ex–boyfriend for a car, he wouldn’t have believed that a woman could be such a gold digger–asking for money and a car.

He couldn’t help but admire how well she played her role before him and his mother.

At that moment, Aurelia emerged from the kitchen, reaching out to grab her two suitcases.

“Alright, let’s go,” she said.

“Okay,” Leslie responded coolly. Turning, he saw her struggling with the suitcases and extended his hand to take them.

Even though he disliked her, as a grown man, he saw no need to make things difficult for a woman deliberately.

Aurelia watched as he took the suitcases and expressed her gratitude, “Thank you.”

Leslie ignored her and walked directly to the elevator. Wanting to avoid any trouble, Aurelia silently followed him into it.

3-4

The fluctuating emotions throughout the day and not eating anything made Aurelia’s body uncomfortable.

Nevertheless, she persevered until they reached Leslie’s car.

Seeing Leslie help her with the suitcases, she immediately stepped forward.

“I can do it myself…”

A sudden dizziness overwhelmed her before she could finish her sentence, and her body fell heavily into warm arms.

Aurelia wasn’t sure how much time had passed when she regained consciousness.

The intense light above her head made it difficult to open her eyes.

After adjusting, she rubbed her eyes and saw her surroundings. She was in the hospital.

“You’re awake.”

Leslie sat beside her, editing something on his phone, not bothering to look at her.

“What happened?” Aurelia asked.

“Hypoglycemia,” Leslie replied, glancing at his phone with a slight frown.

Aurelia unintentionally glanced at the screen. It was filled with work data she couldn’t comprehend.

It was evident that Leslie was genuinely busy, making her wonder why he was still here.

Initially, she thought about asking Leslie to help fetch her a glass of water, but she dispelled the idea and tried to do it herself.

However, her body hadn’t fully recovered. Weak in the limbs, she collapsed before making it past the edge of the bed. Fortunately, Leslie’s quick reaction prevented her fall.

Aurelia, detecting Leslie’s tobacco scent, promptly adjusted her position.

Leslie’s gaze turned cold. Was he a virus?

“What do you want?” he asked indifferently.

“Water.”

Aurelia bit her lip, her voice softer than usual.

Leslie was momentarily stunned upon hearing this, as if someone had blown a breath in his ear, causing a tingling sensation.

Aurelia’s usual sweet voice took on a weakened tone, resembling a cherry that had been bitten -sweet and sentimental.

Leslie placed his phone on the bedside table before heading to the water dispenser to pour her a glass.

Aurelia accepted the water, bowing her head to take a sip. The thick black lashes cast shadows. on her pallid face, intensifying her appearance of vulnerability.

After drinking the water, just as Aurelia was about to sigh in relief, her stomach inopportunely grumbled.

Both of them stared at each other.

Aurelia lowered her head, thinking, why did awkward things always happen in front of Leslie?

In the eyes of her colleagues, she usually appeared very competent.

“Wait here,” Leslie said briefly before exiting the ward.

Leaning against the bedside, Aurelia sighed as she observed the remaining half–filled IV bag.

Nearby, an elementary school student, multitasking between putting up with the IV drip and doing homework, suddenly looked up and smiled at her.

“Miss, my mom says your boyfriend is really handsome.

Aurelia couldn’t help but chuckle, surprised at the directness of a young child these days.

The woman beside the child quickly covered the youngster’s mouth, offering an apologetic smile to Aurelia.

“Apologies, children are often expressive. I hope you don’t mind.”

“No problem,” Aurelia replied with a smile.

“I envy you so much. Your boyfriend pushed aside several work calls just to stay with you. He even went to ask the doctor about your condition. It’s rare to find someone so handsome and considerate.

“Unlike me, after getting married and having a child, it’s like my husband disappeared. I work during the day, care for the child at night, and when the child is sick, I stay up all night…”

The woman continued to share her struggles, but Aurelia was stuck on the first part of her

statement.

Did Leslie do all that?