How had she gotten so lucky to have a best friend like Megan?

As Aurora looked down at their arms linked together, a soft warmth flowed through her chest. After all these years, the one source of real comfort in her life had been this genuine friendship.

Suddenly, Megan spoke up. “Aurora, there’s an event at the main auditorium today. I heard a professor from Crestford University is giving a lecture. Wanna come check it out?”

Aurora had planned to say no, but the way Megan blinked those big, eager eyes made it nearly impossible to refuse. “Alright, alright. I don’t really have anything else going on anyway.”

“Let’s go after lunch.” Megan was thrilled. She immediately threw her arms around Aurora, her voice bubbling with excitement. “Yay! I knew you were the best!”

Aurora chuckled indulgently and reached up to gently ruffle Megan’s soft hair. She’d just been reflecting on how lucky she was to have this friendship, but then something clicked in her mind.

A professor from Crestford University was coming? As soon as the thought landed, it felt like her brain exploded. Things had been calm lately—so calm that she had nearly forgotten the timing of the incident. But now, her heart gave a hard jolt. Fear crept in. If she wasn’t mistaken… wasn’t today the day of the accident? If that was true, did it mean she was about to meet him again? Just the idea sent a wave of uncontrollable emotion through her. If anyone were watching closely, they’d notice that her body was trembling. So many years had passed, and she had never truly examined what had happened that day.

After believing it was Joseph who saved her, she had done everything to be kind to him. All the signs had pointed to him. Eventually, even she believed it without question. She had never really tried to verify the truth; there hadn’t seemed to be any point. But now, Joseph was nothing like the boy she remembered. She had never realized it before.

Chapter 742 +25 BONUS

She used to think maybe her hero had just been in a bad mood that day, which was why he seemed impatient with her. Or maybe he had helped too many people and simply forgot about her. Clinging to thoughts like those, Aurora never questioned Joseph about it. Not until their relationship was falling apart did she finally realize she had been far too generous in her assumptions.

And now, she needed to find out the truth. Was it really Joseph? But the closer she got to uncovering it, the more her nerves frayed. What if it really was him? Then what?

But then again—if it was him, maybe that was fine too. It had been three years. She’d already repaid him for saving her life. Even if Joseph had been her savior, three years of devotion should’ve been enough. Aurora scoffed. Just thinking about that man made her feel physically sick. She had wasted three years on him.

And yet…

The thought of having to relive the pain of her childhood made her heart ache. She had already lost her father. Her mother didn’t love her. And then she was buried underground, forced to wait alone for help that might not come. That accident had been a true disaster.

Aurora quickly picked up her pace to catch up with her younger self and Megan.

Chapter 743