Chapter 275
Aurora emerged from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel, only to see Cormac holding a piece of paper, his brow furrowed in thought. She quickly rushed over and snatched it away from him.
“Aurora, since this needs a parent’s signature, why didn’t you give it to me?” Cormac asked, his tone a mixture of concern and curiosity.
“I don’t want to go, so there’s no need to give it to you,” Aurora replied, her eyes avoiding his gaze.
Cormac glanced at the paper, realizing it was a parental consent form for a three-day sketching trip organized by the art museum. The trip was to an ancient city, and the costs were listed, but it was voluntary. If agreed, the parent would sign and return the form.
“Why not go? It’s such a great opportunity,” Cormac encouraged gently. “You get to sketch on location, and you can travel while learning. It’s wonderful.”
Aurora opened her mouth to protest, but before she could speak, Cormac grabbed a pen, signed the consent form, and handed it back to her.
“This time, you have to listen to me. Go,” Cormac said with a soft but firm tone. “I know you’re frugal and don’t want to waste money, but this is necessary.”
Aurora looked at him, deeply moved by his unwavering support. She had no choice but to nod. “Thank you. Don’t worry. I’ll study hard and won’t waste a penny.”
“Of course, I believe in you. My Aurora is the best!” Cormac said, smiling proudly.
Though they hadn’t been living together for long, their bond had grown stronger through their shared experiences. They had supported each other through the tough moments, and it had forged a connection that felt almost familial.
“I’ll help you pack tonight. On the day you leave, you can just grab your luggage and go,” Cormac offered, making sure she was prepared.
“Okay!” Aurora nodded happily, her eyes bright with appreciation.
The days passed quickly, and Aurora submitted the signed form and paid the fee for the sketching trip. On the day of departure, Cormac stood at the bus stop, watching her with a fatherly pride that filled his chest.
“Aurora, make sure to study hard. The teacher will share your works in the group, and I’ll see them,” Cormac said, his voice soft but encouraging.
“Don’t worry, Uncle Cormac. I’ll study hard,” Aurora promised. “When I get to the destination, I’ll ask the teacher to take more photos and share them in the chat group. Make sure to save them.”
“Okay,” Cormac replied, his smile tinged with bittersweet pride as he watched her board the bus.
As the bus drove away, Cormac stood there for a moment, feeling a pang in his chest. Even though he wasn’t her father, the feelings of protectiveness and care that washed over him in that moment were real. He couldn’t help but think that, given his current situation, he might never have the chance to be a father in this lifetime. He didn’t want to burden any woman with his life, and without marriage, fatherhood seemed impossible. But as long as Aurora was well, that was enough for him.
Little did he know, Aurora’s trip would unknowingly mark another turning point in his life.
Meanwhile, Alaric was deep in work. He had received three design pieces from his team for the upcoming jewelry exhibition. As he looked over them, he immediately took photos and sent them to Stellan.
“Isn’t this your company’s trade secret? Is it appropriate for me to see?” Stellan asked after answering the phone. “I haven’t received the pictures yet, you can still retract them.”
“You’re my wife, and my company is also yours. There’s no trade secret between us,” Alaric replied with a smile. “You’re a woman, and women understand jewelry better. Which one do you like?”
Stellan chuckled at his reasoning. “Alright, I’ll look and get back to you.” She opened the three designs: one for a necklace, one for a bracelet, and one for a diamond ring.
The first design stunned her with its intricate beauty. The second one also made a strong impact, but it was the third design that truly tugged at her heartstrings.
“Heart of Tears?” she thought, her curiosity piqued.
The third design was named “Heart of Tears,” symbolizing a tribute to love and the regretful romances that never came to be. It touched Stellan deeply. The symbolism behind it reminded her of her own emotional journey, and suddenly, her thoughts drifted to Cormac and Rowena.
‘Aren’t they the epitome of a regretful romance?’ she mused, feeling the weight of the design in her chest.
After reviewing the designs, Stellan called Alaric. “I love all three designs; each is impressive. But the last one touches me the most. Jewelry usually symbolizes beauty, but this tribute to love is rare. If it’s for sale, the first two are best. The third one might not be well-received. But for a jewelry exhibition, there’s no such taboo, right?”
She paused before continuing. “Most jewelry pieces symbolize beauty. Can we try something different? It might catch the jewelry committee’s eye, since they are designers themselves and understand better than us.”
“You’re right,” Alaric replied, his voice thoughtful.
“Alaric, have some principles, will you? I’m just sharing my thoughts. The final decision is yours,” Stellan reminded him.
“To be honest, I also favor the third design,” Alaric admitted. “Maybe those of us who’ve had rocky love lives feel more connected to it.”
“Really?” Stellan asked, intrigued.
“Absolutely,” Alaric said. “Alright, you get back to work. I’ll have a meeting to finalize the decision.”
“Okay, you decide. Don’t tell me the outcome. Even though I’m your wife, I don’t want to interfere in your work. Trade secrets should remain trade secrets,” Stellan replied, her tone both firm and understanding.
“Alright, since you’re so principled, I’ll be principled too. Get back to work,” Alaric said, smiling as he ended the call.
Later that day, Alaric called a meeting with his team. After sharing his thoughts, everyone agreed to take a risk. Instead of playing it safe, they decided to choose the “Heart of Tears” design.
“The jewelry design is finalized. Write an introduction for me,” Alaric instructed Silas, who quickly complied.
After the meeting, Alaric made sure to destroy the hand-drawn design and saved the only electronic copy on an encrypted flash drive. Due to the intense competition, the design was top secret, and it couldn’t be shown to anyone before submission to the jewelry committee.
By the time Cormac returned home after a long day at work, he was exhausted. With Aurora away, he allowed himself to indulge, staying up late into the night to catch up on his tasks.
He was so tired that all he wanted was to collapse into bed and sleep. But as he approached his door, ready to unlock it, he noticed something strange—the door was already slightly ajar.
‘Aurora couldn’t be back yet, so who could it be?’ Cormac thought, his heart skipping a beat.
He pushed the door open, and to his shock, saw Ambrose sitting casually on the couch, a cigarette dangling from his lips.
“Mr. Nash, working so late must be tough,” Ambrose said with a smirk, clearly having made himself comfortable.
Cormac froze, his blood running cold.
“How did you find this place?” Cormac asked, his voice barely steady. A chill ran down his spine. Has Ambrose been following me since our last encounter? he wondered, the realization hitting him hard.