"She took her own life? Do you know why?" Alex inquired, perplexed.
"Yes. I shared her mory when I woke up in her body. She was angry and upset with this arranged marriage because she believed her father was forcing her to marry an arrogant, cold, much older man with a history of six failed marriages. This shortsighted despair made her see nothing but an empty, sorrowful future. So, she chooses to end her life."
Alex gasped.
"It took a few monts to understand that my destiny in this second life was once again intertwined with you, Alex." Aurora smiled with bitterness. "It appears that God intends to punish us..."
"Punish us? What do you an?"
Aurora paused montarily, gathering her thoughts and courage to express her feelings, particularly her wish to stop being his assistant and break free from Graystone’s family’s shadow.
"Rory, would you mind telling more clearly? And could you please not confuse ?" Alex asked, gently holding her shoulder and directing her gaze toward him.
However, when he saw her eyes beginning to look red again, his heart tightened, knowing she must be thinking sothing awful.
Without hesitation, Alex pushed aside his curiosity and embraced her.
He simply didn’t want to cause her pain. Her return to him felt like a trendous blessing, even though she ca back in a different body; her heart and mind were still hers—the woman he adored and cherished.
"I’m really sorry, Rory. I’m sorry for making you sad. It’s okay; you don’t need to answer it now. I don’t mind waiting," Alex whispered gently near her ear, wrapping his arms around her tightly.
They remain motionless for a bit longer until he senses her attempt to push him away. He then relaxes his grip and ets her gaze.
Alex notices the distress flickering in her eyes as if she wants to say sothing, but he also notices she is hesitant at the sa ti.
He smiled at her. "I truly an it. Whatever you’re thinking right now, you shouldn’t express it. Yes, I agree with you; suppose this is God’s punishnt. He took you away from my life..."
Aurora finally smiled as she listened to him; he was answering his questions in a priceless way.
"And God punishes as well... He returns to you," Aurora said softly.
Alex chuckled initially, but his laughter soon faded as the weight of her words struck him.
"Why do you consider this a punishnt? Shouldn’t you be happy to be back to ?" he asked, a look of confusion crossing his face.
"Because the night I die, I have wholeheartedly decided to leave you, Alex," she smiled bitterly when she saw the lines on his forehead becoming increasingly visible.
She quickly continued her thought, "After our fight in the car, I wish to quit as your personal assistant. I feel exhausted, and I pray that one day I can escape from the stupid blood bond between our family. And that night, I got my freedom to leave you."
"Wait, wait, Rory..." Alex’s calm deanor instantly vanished as he realized what she was about to say. "You got your freedom? What freedom?"
Aurora told him about the ’Freedom Letter’ her father gave her that night. After so many years of her father pleading, Andrew Graystone finally signed the letter to release her from her duty to serve the Graystone family.
Alex was utterly shocked to learn that. He had never heard about it from his father or grandfather.
He feels intense frustration, yet he can only express his annoyance internally.
’What the hell happened? How could Grandpa decide this without talking to first? How could he make such a significant choice?’
So many questions now fill his mind and start to hurt his head. But then, sothing flashes in his mories that makes him feel like his heart is about to stop beating.
’Damn it!! So this is the punishnt Grandpa warned about if I ignored his advice to marry...?’
"Alex, I am grateful and proud to be your assistant, the person you trust the most..." Aurora finally responded after a long pause. "However, I occasionally feel worn out, especially when you test my patience as you did that night. If it were only you, I wouldn’t be too bothered, as I could easily move on, but..."
Her voice faded as she felt suffocated, recalling how harsh his mother’s words were that night.
"But what?" Alex asked impatiently, noticing the gloominess in her eyes. He squeezed her hand gently, encouraging her to express her thoughts.
"Your mother... I’m unsure if you’re aware, but she always views as the reason your marriages fell apart." A wry smile played on Aurora’s lips as she gazed into his eyes.
"At first, I didn’t mind much, but over ti, I began to feel a heavy ache in my heart every ti she ntioned it. Just like that night when she said, ’I tried to sabotage your marriage and ask you not to co to dinner...’. So yeah, that’s the reason I was mad at you that night," she explained.
"I am really sorry, Rory... I truly am...Please forgive ." This was the only sentence that escaped Alex’s lips. He lowered his gaze, unable to et her eye.
For the first ti, he felt ashad because what she said was so true. His mother consistently blad her whenever his marriage failed.
"It’s okay; it’s not entirely your fault." Aurora gave a bright smile, trying to sound cheerful. "Well, maybe it’s because I wanted to run away from you, and God decided to give this second chance at life as your seventh wife!"
Alex raised his hand and gently held her chin, guiding her gaze to him.
"Thank you for telling everything, Rory..." he softly whispered, a smile of mixed joy and sorrow forming on his lips.
Aurora smiles back warmly, nodding gently in response to his words.
"I can’t speak for how you view this God’s punishnt, but I feel quite fortunate. This has been the most significant punishnt I’ve ever experienced... even though God took you away, He has brought you back to , allowing to feel human again after living like a robot, a fool, for years!"
Aurora couldn’t help but chuckle at his words.
"Well, Alex, I agree you are a robot in your mind—just focused on money and work. But for , you’re definitely not a fool..."
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