Chapter 741
No matter what she did, Aurora always gave it her full attention. With Arnold by her side, she felt grounded in so many ways. She no longer felt so alone. Whatever she took on, there was always this steady sense of security behind her. Young Aurora smiled faintly, her gaze toward Arnold filled with warmth, like she was looking at her own grandfather.
“Mr. Arnold, thank you.”
Hearing that, Arnold looked alarmed. “Miss Aurora, please, don’t say that. You have to understand, this is what I’m supposed to do. It’s my duty to support you.”
Aurora gave a gentle nod, her voice soft but clear. “Even if it is your duty, I’ll never find anyone more suited to it. No matter what you do, it always feels just right. We’re not just master and servant–we’re family and partners.”
Her words struck a deep chord in Arnold’s heart. This was the difference between Tessa and Aurora. One was spoiled and domineering, ruthless in her ways. The other, pure and gentle, seemingly carefree on the surface, but quietly thoughtful and deeply sincere. Anyone could tell which of the two would go further in life. But with a mother who couldn’t see clearly, he could only hope that someday, Grace would start treating Aurora better. A girl like her would repay such kindness tenfold in the future. She was, without a doubt, the kind of investment that promised nothing but gain. The thought alone made Arnold feel sorry on Grace’s behalf. When the time came, losing someone like Aurora would leave Grace with nowhere to turn and no one to blame but herself. He didn’t understand what Grace was thinking.
Afterward, Arnold personally drove Aurora back to school. She still had morning classes to attend. Students who competed in the event still had to return for class. Technically, Arnold didn’t need to bring Aurora back to school–the school usually arranged transportation for these things. But because Aurora always finished earlier than the others, and the remaining students were still inside taking the exam, no one could spare the time to drive her back alone. After joining several competitions, Aurora had grown familiar with the process.
She would ask Arnold to wait for her outside. That way, she wouldn’t have to sit around at the venue, bored out of her mind. When they got back to school, Aurora told Arnold he could head home. Now that she was here, there was no reason for him to stick around.
As she watched him drive away, the expression on Aurora’s face shifted. The sweet, obedient look she wore before faded into one of casual indifference. She knew the kind of image Arnold had of her, but pretending to be the model daughter was exhausting. Still, if that was what he wanted to see–so be it.
Not long after she arrived at school, Megan came bounding over.
She wrapped her arm around Aurora’s and chirped, “Babe, you had a competition today, right? How’d it go?”
Aurora nodded. “It’s just a small competition. Don’t worry.”
Hearing that, Megan didn’t press. She knew exactly what Aurora was capable of. Asking too many questions would only make it seem like she didn’t trust her. And the truth was, Megan respected Aurora’s skill. If Aurora called it a small competition, it meant she’d handled it with ease. Watching Megan laugh and chatter to herself, swinging her head playfully, Aurora couldn’t help feeling her mood lift.
Chapter 742