Chapter 82
William tossed his coat onto the sofa and fixed Alison with a serious gaze. "Alison," he said, his voice filled with fatherly concern, "your SATs are the most important thing right now. Everything else takes a backseat. Don't lose sight of the big picture. Focus on your exams. I'll handle the rest."
Alison pouted, clearly unsatisfied. "What exactly are you planning to do, Dad?" she asked.
William shrugged. "Remove the posts and let it blow over."
Alison kicked the table, her face clouding with disappointment. William glanced at her. "You made a mistake," he said calmly. "What else did you expect me to do? I'm not a magician." Letting the issue fade was the best option.
Alison snorted and stormed upstairs, her footsteps echoing her anger. "That girl," William said, shaking his head. "You've really spoiled her."
Nancy sighed gently. "She's our only daughter. If we don't spoil her, who will?"
Alison slammed her bedroom door. She flung herself onto her bed, tearing at her stuffed animals in frustration, cursing Aurora's ingratitude.
A week later, the Andrews family received an official court summons. Alison's fierce anger transformed into pure fear. "Mom, what are we going to do?" she asked, staring at the document. The seal seemed to glare back, cold and unforgiving. She clutched Nancy's clothes, her earlier bravado gone. Aurora was actually going through with it. "Mom, please… I can't do this," she whispered, breaking out in a cold sweat despite the air conditioning.
Nancy's face darkened. "That little brat!" she muttered, then softened. "Don't worry, sweetie. I will handle this." She wouldn't let Alison face charges; something like that could ruin her future.
A car glided to a smooth stop at Crawford Manor's gate. Aurora hopped out; the chauffeur, a gem who never asked unnecessary questions, immediately drove away. This gave Aurora a taste of the good life.
Backpack slung over her shoulder, Aurora strolled through the garden, pausing to admire the blooming gardenias, plucking a couple for a vase. The sweet scent seemed to wash away her stress. As she passed Maura's old room, a mischievous smile played on her lips. Earlier, she'd had the chauffeur drop her near a DNA testing facility. By tomorrow, she expected some very interesting news.
As evening fell, Aurora headed downstairs for dinner. "Ms. Crawford, would you mind waiting? Mr. Crawford will be joining us shortly," Emma called from the kitchen.
Aurora was taken aback. Since Stacy and her daughter had… she and Jaxon hadn't shared a meal at the same table. It was unbelievable—a father and daughter, living under the same roof, yet never eating together. Something was definitely up. "Alright, I'll watch some TV while I wait," she said.
Aurora switched on the television. A familiar face caught her eye; the "Replay" label in the corner reminded her: Giles. Sunrise Pharmaceuticals had held a press conference a few days ago; Giles had even mentioned it. She hadn't been interested then, but now… she might as well watch.
She settled onto the couch. On screen, Giles, in a sharp suit, fielded reporters' questions with ease, announcing Sunrise's new hair loss treatment and its partnership with Whitaker Medical Center.
"Heh, looks like Sunrise Pharmaceuticals is really making waves with their new majority shareholder," a voice commented. Jaxon sat beside her; she hadn't heard him come in. "Dad, if someone's a major shareholder in a pharmaceutical company, does that mean they're the best doctor?" Aurora asked, her eyes subtly probing. "Would the drugs they develop be really effective?"
Jaxon, oblivious to her hidden meaning, responded from a business perspective. "Being a major shareholder doesn't necessarily mean they're a skilled physician. It's all about having money. With money," he mused, "you can always find people willing to work hard."
"Hey, your SATs are coming up soon, right? Given any thought to what you want to major in?" Jaxon leaned against the couch, a proud smile playing on his lips. "How about business management? You're my only daughter, and you'll take the reins of the family business someday."
Aurora wanted to study alternative medicine, but she said, "I haven't really decided yet. Don't I have a little brother?"
"Griffin's far too young," Jaxon sighed. "By the time he grows up, I'll be old. I won't have time to mentor him properly. You're at the perfect age. If you study business management, I can guide you for a couple of years after you graduate. Then I can retire without worry."
Aurora smiled faintly. She knew better. Griffin was his true heir. How naive she'd been in her past life. "I hope Sunrise Pharmaceuticals releases their hair loss treatment soon," she said, changing the subject. "Dad's nearly bald on top."
Jaxon instinctively ran a hand over his thinning hair. "I might give it a try when it comes out." New leadership often made big moves; this was Sunrise's first product launch under new management, and their track record was solid.
Jaxon's face settled into a mask of fatherly concern. He leaned back, asking with forced casualness, "So, how are you doing at school these days, Aurora? Is there anyone still bullying you?"
"Not anymore," she replied simply. Jenny and Daisy faced public humiliation on Monday. Their parents forced them to apologize at school. Aurora doubted anyone would mess with her again. However, she grew suspicious. Why is Jaxon suddenly asking about this?
She glanced at the date on her phone and chuckled softly. Alison must have received a court summons. It was no wonder Jaxon was trying to cozy up to her. He never did anything without a motive. Aurora wondered how much the Andrews family had promised him.