Chapter 262
“Uncle, what’s the matter?” Aurora’s voice was laced with worry as she dropped her utensils and rushed to Cormac’s side. “Were you injured at work?”
Cormac shook his head, unable to articulate the turmoil that gripped him. He had once believed the night Ravenna and Orion died was the most he’d ever cried in his life, but that moment now felt insignificant compared to the weight of everything he had lost. His life had been a series of painful separations: the loss of his loved ones, the disintegration of his wealth, and now, the finality of his split with Rowena. It was all too much.
Their first breakup had been filled with tears, but Rowena had pleaded with him to let her go. And even though he hadn’t wanted to, he had no choice but to let her slip away, despite the love that still lingered in his heart.
“Uncle.” Aurora’s voice broke through his spiraling thoughts. She was kneeling in front of him now, her small hands reaching up to wipe his tears. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m fine,” Cormac choked out, trying to reassure her, but his voice was hoarse and weak. He gave a hollow laugh, self-deprecating and filled with sorrow. “I just feel like a failure. All these years, everyone around me is moving forward, but I feel like I’m just… slipping backward.”
He thought of Alaric, who had defied the odds, recovering from a three-year coma, taking over Nexus Innovations, and pushing the company to new heights. Alaric had married Stellan and started a family. He thought of Rowena, who had overcome her struggles, living her dream as a musician, with a fresh start in her personal life.
And then there was Cormac, who was no longer just stuck in place. He was falling further behind.
“Looking back over the past thirty years, I feel like I’ve wasted my life,” he admitted quietly, the words tasting bitter in his mouth.
Aurora’s heart ached for him, and she couldn’t bear to see him like this. Fear gripped her as she rushed forward to hug him. “Uncle, don’t scare me like this. I’ve already lost my dad; I don’t want to lose you too. If you’re sad, just cry it out.”
Her words were full of raw emotion. As Cormac let the tears fall, Aurora cried along with him, her small arms wrapped tightly around him. “No matter what happens, I’m still here. You still have me. When I’m successful, I’ll buy you a big house, and we’ll start over.”
The sincerity in her words touched Cormac deeply. Despite everything, despite all that he had lost, he still had her. He raised his hand to gently hold her, his own tears flowing freely now. “Thank you, Aurora. I believe you’ll be successful one day.”
Aurora smiled through her tears, continuing to wipe his face with the sleeve of her shirt. “Yes, I will work hard!” she declared, her voice a mixture of determination and hope. “And you will be right there with me.”
Cormac wiped away her tears as well, his voice filled with quiet reassurance. “Alright, no more crying. You said it yourself—crying it out helps. It’s all in the past now.”
It was time for him to let go of the past. He had to, for both his sake and Aurora’s. They needed to move forward, even if the future was uncertain.
“Yes, all the bad things are in the past. Everything will be better in the future,” Aurora replied, her voice soft and hopeful.
“Yes, everything will be better,” Cormac repeated, though deep inside, he wasn’t sure what the future held. He could only hope that Aurora’s optimism would be enough to carry them both forward.
Meanwhile, Alaric had been thinking about Cormac ever since their dinner with Rowena and Richard. Despite all his attempts, he had heard nothing about Cormac. The silence had stretched on far too long, and he couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that something was wrong.
“Mr. Knight, I think Mr. Nash must have left Arizona,” Silas remarked, his voice tentative as he shared his thoughts.
Alaric paused for a moment before replying. “Keep looking. Let me know as soon as you have any news.”
“Understood,” Silas said, then continued with another report. “Mr. Knight, the entertainment center project is now completely finished. As for Ambrose, it seems he has no intention of leaving Arizona anytime soon.”
Alaric’s interest peaked. “What do you mean?”
Silas went on, “Ambrose is staying put, and the Vale family seems to have plans to fully enter Arizona City. I’ve heard they’re eyeing a jewelry company called Noah Jewelry. This brand used to be quite well-known, but it went bankrupt due to internal issues. The Vale family seems determined to acquire it.”
Alaric raised an eyebrow. “Noah Jewelry? The name sounds familiar.”
Silas quickly elaborated, “It’s considered a third-tier brand in the jewelry industry, but it hasn’t been heard from in the past two years. It’s normal if you haven’t kept track of it.”
He continued, “Noah Jewelry’s location is particularly strategic, positioned right between Nexus Innovations and the entertainment center, closer to the latter. If the Vale family acquires it, their proximity to us could be problematic.”
Alaric studied the map Silas showed him on his phone. Indeed, the location of Noah Jewelry was prime real estate, just a stone’s throw from the entertainment center.
“Is the market threshold in Arizona that low?” Alaric sneered. “They think they can just step into this market? Dream on.”
Silas speculated, “They probably see Ambrose doing well here, and Todd is eager to impress Stuart. If Todd comes to Arizona, Ambrose will likely take advantage of the situation.”
Alaric’s expression hardened. “If Ambrose doesn’t want to leave Arizona, then I’ll make sure he stays here forever.”
Silas understood immediately. He lowered his head, ready to follow orders.
“Spread the word that I want that jewelry company,” Alaric continued, his tone icy. “If the Vale family isn’t convinced, we’ll compete fairly. I don’t mind. Let’s see how they handle a challenge.”
Despite his plans to rest after completing the entertainment center, Alaric saw an unexpected opportunity. A jewelry company? Nexus Innovations had yet to dip its toes into the jewelry industry, and this could be the perfect start.
“Okay, I’ll get on it right away,” Silas replied.
The news quickly reached Ambrose, and he was furious when he heard about Alaric’s intentions.
“This Alaric really knows how to push my buttons,” Denny muttered angrily. “We were almost done with the deal, and he suddenly intervenes. It’s outrageous!”
Ambrose sat back, calm and collected as always. “Alaric is determined to oppose me, but this jewelry company project was originally Todd’s. Let him deal with it. We’ll watch from the sidelines.”
Denny nodded, eager to please. “Yes, Mr. Vale, you’re wise.”
Ambrose took a slow sip of coffee, the steam rising from his cup as he looked thoughtfully at the horizon. “Todd’s been spoiled and arrogant his entire life. If someone suddenly competes for something he wants, he’ll get furious. Let him handle it. We’ll enjoy the show.”
“Yes,” Denny agreed.
“When is Todd arriving?” Ambrose asked.
“The day after tomorrow,” Denny answered.
Ambrose smiled coldly, the wheels of his plans already turning. “Good. Once he’s here, he won’t be leaving.”