After a while, Aurora led Jenny to the kitchen.
"What do you want to eat, Jenny? I’ll make it for you," Aurora asked with a gentle smile.
Jenny’s eyes glead with excitent. "Pasta! I really want to eat pasta!" she chirped, practically bouncing in place.
Aurora chuckled at her enthusiasm and nodded. "Pasta it is." She rolled up her sleeves and started preparing the dish.
Jenny watched her with pure joy, her tiny hands gripping the edge of the counter as she stood on her toes to see better. The scent of garlic and butter filled the kitchen, making her stomach rumble in anticipation. But more than the food, it was the warmth of this mont that made her heart swell.
She had never felt like this before.
Jenny had grown up without a mother. Sebastian once told her that their mother had been sick, but he never spoke much about it. She had been raised mostly by nannies, and while Sebastian did his best, he was always busy with work. Liam was around sotis, but it wasn’t the sa.
To say she had grown up alone wasn’t an understatent.
Yet now, standing beside Aurora, watching her cook, feeling the warmth of her presence, Jenny couldn’t stop smiling. The simple act of making a al together, of being cared for, was sothing she had never truly experienced before.
For the first ti in her life, Jenny felt the warmth of family—the kind of warmth she had only imagined in fleeting dreams. A warmth she might have known if her mother had not been sick, if fate had been kinder.
As she watched Aurora move around the kitchen, effortlessly preparing their al, Jenny couldn’t help but wonder—was this what it would have felt like to have a mother by her side? To have soone cook for her not out of obligation, but out of love?
She had a feeling that Aurora liked her—a lot. Why else would she cook for her, keep her close, and speak to her with such warmth? Her small fingers clenched the fabric of her dress, her chest tightening with an unfamiliar but soothing emotion.
Jenny’s lips curled into a genuine smile, one that reached her bright eyes.
Perhaps, just perhaps, she wasn’t as alone as she had always believed.
Aurora caught sight of Jenny’s bright smile, and for a fleeting mont, an unexplainable warmth spread through her chest. It was a feeling she couldn’t quite put into words—sothing soft yet profound, as if a piece of her heart had been gently soothed.
She had never thought of herself as soone who could bring comfort to others, yet here was this little girl, smiling so purely because of her presence. It was a rare and unexpected feeling, one that settled deep within her, stirring emotions she hadn’t acknowledged in a long ti.
From the side, Bishop silently observed the scene unfolding before him. The warmth, the laughter, the soft exchange of smiles between Aurora and Jenny—it was sothing he never imagined he would witness in this lifeti.
Luna had always been a force of nature—calculating, untouchable, a ruler in the shadows. She saved countless children from the abyss, pulling them back from the brink of despair, but she had never once entertained the thought of building a family of her own. To her, attachnts were liabilities, weaknesses that could be exploited.
He was unsure what to feel seeing this side of Luna—so starkly different from the ruthless, untouchable force she had always been. The devil incarnate, the executioner of her enemies, the woman whose very na sent shivers down spines.
Yet here she was, gently tucking a stray strand of hair behind Jenny’s ear, her voice soothing, her touch warm. The contrast was almost jarring.
Bishop’s gaze lingered on the scene before him, his expression unreadable. A fleeting shadow passed through his eyes, too quick to decipher. No one knew what he was thinking. Not even himself.
As the afternoon sunlight stread through the windows, a sudden commotion erupted at the entrance. The heavy thud of boxes and bags hitting the floor echoed through the house as Liam arrived, arms overloaded with an absurd amount of items. Without so much as a proper greeting, he swiftly unloaded everything and turned on his heel, disappearing just as quickly to join Sebastian on his trip.
Aurora, who had just taken a sip of water, nearly choked at the sight before her. Towering stacks of shopping bags, neatly wrapped packages, and even crates of groceries crowded the hallway, threatening to spill into the dining area.
Aurora stared at the sheer volu of items, her brows twitching. "Did he rob a supermarket?" she muttered, utterly dumbfounded.
Beside her, Bishop let out a rare chuckle, shaking his head as he examined the chaos. "It seems Mr. Harper believes in being... excessively thorough."
anwhile, Jenny’s eyes sparkled with delight. Clapping her hands together, she bead. "Big brother must really love !" Her voice was filled with pure joy, oblivious to the sheer extravagance of the situation. Among the piles were clothes, toys, books, and even luxury skincare products—items clearly ant for soone much older.
Aurora pinched the bridge of her nose, sighing. "Alright, let’s deal with this ss later. Finish your lunch first, Jenny."
Jenny nodded eagerly, happily munching away, while Aurora and Bishop exchanged a knowing glance. It was an unspoken agreent—Sebastian and Liam had gone completely overboard.
.
.
After lunch, Aurora spent a little more ti with Jenny, speaking to her in soft tones, ensuring the child felt safe and at ease. Once Jenny’s eyelids began to droop with drowsiness, Aurora gently tucked her into bed, watching as the little girl drifted off into slumber.
With a final glance at the peaceful figure, Aurora’s expression hardened.
She descended the stairs, finding Bishop already waiting for her in the living room, his usual composed deanor unwavering. He could sense the shift in her aura—sharp, resolute.
"I’m going to the Smiths today," Aurora declared, her voice devoid of warmth. "It’s ti to close that Chapter of Aurora’s life."
Aurora let out a breath, her eyes darkening with the ghosts of the past. "Once, I wished I had a mother. But after seeing Lily... I am thankful that I didn’t." A bitter smile tugged at her lips. "For the closure Aurora deserved, I’ll be the one to give it to her. It’s ti to sever every last tie with the Smiths."
Bishop gave a slow nod. He understood.
"Well," Aurora straightened, her icy resolve settling in. "Take care of things here and keep an eye on Jenny. Also, if possible, look for a nanny for her. She’ll need soone reliable."
Bishop didn’t question her decision. He simply inclined his head. "Understood."
Saying her goodbyes to Bishop, Aurora stepped away with unwavering confidence. She knew Jenny would be safe under his care. After all, Bishop had once taken care of her—watched over her like a silent guardian, just as he had for Leonardo.
Bishop wasn’t just any subordinate. He had been Leonardo’s most trusted confidant, his right-hand man, the only person privy to his deepest secrets. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say he was Leonardo’s brother, bound not by blood but by unwavering loyalty.
And that loyalty extended to her.
Bishop had always treated her as if she were his own child. It was an unspoken truth between them, one she never questioned. In this world of betrayal and bloodshed, he was one of the few she could trust without hesitation.
With Jenny in his capable hands, Aurora could now focus on the task at hand—the Chapter of Aurora Smith that needed to be closed once and for all.
Reviews
All reviews (0)