Chapter 24

As soon as Ryan finished speaking, several people lunged at Aumea. However, in the same instant, Aurma's long leg shot out, quick and brutal. One man was sent flying, and the remaining three were no match for her. In the blink of an eye, the burly bodyguards were sprawled on the floor near the door. Aurora calmly tugged at her clothes and walked past the fallen men without sparing Ryan and Rosalie another glance.

Rom was left staring in disbelief. Was that really Aurora? When did she become this skilled? The men Ryan hired were all top-tier, reputable bodyguards from a security company. Some of them had even competed in tournaments. But now, these strong men were nothing against Aurora, a slender girl who looked as harmless as a kitten. This was beyond Ryan’s comprehension.

The cold, sharp energy emanating from Aurora was something he’d never seen before. Even when she was protective of Wendy, Ryan had never felt this uneasy. But now, he couldn’t shake the feeling of dread. Did she learn all this overseas?

Is that really her? Rosalie stared at the scene, dumbfounded. It felt like she’d just seen a magic trick. Upstairs, Wendy was equally shocked. She had been about to come down to see Aurora, worried that Ryan and Rosalie might be giving her a hard time, when she saw the unbelievable scene unfold. Wendy’s heart skipped a beat. Was it possible, then, that Aurora really had the ability to get her out of this hellhole?

Wendy knew very well that Ryan had kept their marriage intact all these years, not just because of the pressure from Bryce but also because she was weak and easy to control. By keeping her around, he could deal with Bryce and, more importantly, have an emotional punching bag and a free maid. All she got in exchange was the…

Once Beyor passed away and Sally married him, the two would no longer face any obstacles. For years, they’d been trying to clean up Sally’s image. The public already thought of Wendy as the shameless mistress who seduced Ryan, flattered her in-laws, and married into a wealthy family. Wendy, who wasn’t even allowed to leave the house, had no ability to clear her name. Could she really have a way out?

Wendy glanced at Sebastian, who had been quietly staring at Aurora as she left. His usually dull eyes now held a glimmer of hope.

“Sebastian, do you think I’m weak and easy to push around?”

Sebastian finally lifted his head and looked at her. After a long pause, he answered, “Mom, you’re brave. You’ve always protected me. But… Mom, do you know? I want you to be yourself. I want you to be happy. And, more than anything, I want you to be brave for yourself.”

His words hit Wendy like a wave. Her dry eyes suddenly brimmed with tears, and she hugged him tightly. Her voice was hoarse when she whispered, “I’m sorry, Bash. I haven’t been a good mom; I haven’t really been able to protect you. Maybe Aurora’s right. My patience hasn’t really helped.”

But after being oppressed for so many years, Wendy couldn’t summon the courage to fight back all at once. Maybe she could start by trying to step outside.

Aurora didn’t get home until after 10:00 pm, and the unit was quiet. It seemed like Chwen hadn’t returned yet. At this hour, she didn’t feel like cooking. She grabbed some ravioli from the fridge and made a quick butter sauce to go with it.

After eating, she went back to her work, analyzing her research paper until nearly 11:00 pm. Then, she spent another half hour prepping for a class. After washing up and lying down to rest, it was almost 1:00 am. Thinking of the ten million she received that afternoon, she hesitated for a moment, wondering whether she should send him a message. But when she took out her phone, she saw that it had already shut off due to the battery being drained. She plugged it in, and after a while, the phone powered back on. A flood of messages popped up. She quickly skimmed through them—some from students, some from friends, and others from when she was tagged in group chats. Then, she saw a message from Dwel.

She replied, “I’m coming back for dinner.” The message was sent at 5:00 pm. She hadn’t paid attention to her phone earlier, so she hadn’t seen it. After thinking for a moment, she decided to reply, “Okay.” Aurora sent that reply and was about to put the phone away when he replied again, “Did you just wake up?” She replied, “I just finished prepping lessons and finally laid down.” Before he could reply, Aurora sent him another text asking, “What’s with that money this afternoon?”

Owen responded, “It’s converted from the gift.” Only then did Aurora remember the gifts for her mother, which she’d retained. Was Owen really this considerate? She replied to him, “Color me impressed, Mr. Jenson. Your generosity is truly admirable. This move has won me over. Much appreciated.”

She wasn’t going to turn down his gesture. Since he offered it, she wasn’t going to pretend she didn’t want it. Was she supposed to refuse? A text message from Owen came in: “Your thanks is too formal.” Aurora furrowed her brows, not thinking too much about it. She quickly sent a photo with a caption that said, “Thanks a ton, boss! Wishing you all the success and a house full of kids to celebrate with!” After sending it, she put the phone down and went to sleep.

A house full of kids? With whom? Was she going to be the mother of those kids? That joke didn’t really land.

At the breakroom in Qorx Corporation, Damian had just finished packing up and was walking over with two glasses of wine. “It’s already late. How about we call the others and go out to unwind?” He handed a glass of wine to Owen. “No need to wear yourself out like this.” Owen glanced at him but didn’t take the glass. His gaze returned to his phone screen.

“Who are you chatting with?”

Damian sat next to him and glanced at the phone screen. He saw the photo, but Owen had already calmly put the phone away. “Who’s that? Do you have the patience to chat on WhatsApp now? Normally, you’d just call and hang up after a couple of sentences.” Damian knew Owen well.

“A human,” Owen answered coolly.

Damian almost spilled his drink and quickly grabbed a napkin to wipe his face. “That was way too lame of a joke! Wouldn’t I know that it’s a person?”

Owen took the glass and took a small sip, rubbing his temples wearily. “If there’s nothing urgent, you should head home early.”