Wednesday, December 25th

Chapter 91

Aurora was stunned. She retrieved her phone and saw the caller ID: Daxon. How could it be him? she wondered.

Frustrated with Margaret’s incessant calls, Aurora hadn't checked the caller ID before snapping. Rubbing her temples, she cleared her throat, a blush creeping onto her cheeks. “Sorry, Daxon,” she said, “I thought you were my classmate. She’s been pestering me about her party, and I didn’t look.” She added, “I’m not usually like this.”

Aurora had always hoped to appear calm and reliable to Daxon, not prone to outbursts. Since her rebirth and their reunion at the Lloyd family's anniversary, an ambition had quietly taken root: to stand as an equal beside him and sincerely thank him. Thank you for giving me clothes to cover my body in my previous life, allowing me to leave with dignity, she thought. And helping him with his career would make me even happier!

Daxon didn’t seem to mind. He teased, “Well, now that you’re Mereida’s top science student, it’s no surprise you’re in high demand. Can I still book some time with you?”

“Absolutely,” Aurora replied immediately.

Seeing Daxon's gentle expression, Annie tugged his sleeve, urging him to the point. Daxon patted her head. “Aurora, do you remember our agreement? After your exams, I’ll bring Annie to Mercida to visit you.”

Annie, standing beside Daxon, waited breathlessly.

“Of course, I’ll pick you both up,” Aurora said.

Margaret would likely cling to Aurora's legs and cry if she knew how quickly Aurora agreed to spend time with others.

“Happy now?” Daxon teased after hanging up, noticing Annie's relaxed expression.

Annie smiled, more confident than when she joined the Harrison family. “You’re always so busy, and I’m left alone. Of course, I want to hang out with people my age.”

“When are we leaving, Daxon?” Annie asked eagerly.

“No rush,” Daxon replied. “Let me finish some work first.”

Aurora had just hung up when Margaret called.

“Rory, come on, come on…” Margaret whined coquettishly.

Aurora sighed. Though she admired Margaret's persistence, she declined. “Sorry, I already have plans. Maybe we can reschedule?”

Margaret was stunned. “Who? Don’t tell me you have another best friend besides me?”

“It’s not that. When did I ever say you were my best friend?” Aurora responded instinctively. I don’t remember that. Maybe Margaret dreamed it up? she thought.

Margaret, however, insisted, “We’ve been through thick and thin. If we’re not best friends, then what are we? Rory, you’re so heartless. I thought of you as my best friend, but clearly, you don’t care about me at all.”

Margaret’s high-pitched, fake crying made Aurora’s ears ring. Holding the phone away, Aurora’s patience thinned. “Alright, I’m busy. Stop calling, or I’ll block your number.”

Margaret, scared, retorted aggressively, “Rory, you’re mean. You’re a bad person.”

Aurora pressed her forehead in exasperation. I wonder how Margaret was raised. She’s nearly an adult but still as naive as a child, always dragging me into her childish antics, she thought.

“I’ll call you when I have time,” Aurora finally said, not completely shutting Margaret down.

Truthfully, Aurora envied Margaret’s safe, carefree life. But Aurora's world was different—a world of wolves and tigers, where she couldn't afford to relax. She hadn't avenged her past, and her mother was still missing. There was no time for frivolities.

Aurora's phone rang again. After dealing with Margaret, she wondered who was calling now.

Jaxon… Aurora muttered, her relaxed mood instantly tensing.

“What is it?” Aurora answered, her voice cold and distant.

Jaxon’s temple twitched. I called her, and she can’t even show a little appreciation?

“Well, if you have nothing to say, I’ll hang up,” Aurora said coldly.

That temper, Jaxon thought. Aren’t girls supposed to be gentler? Why is she so stubborn? Can I really be blamed for not feeling sorry for her when she’s never learned to soften her tone?

Taking a deep breath, Jaxon tried a more fatherly tone. “Come on, Aurora, you’ve had your tantrum long enough. Isn’t it time you came back home?”

Aurora sneered. “A tantrum! If I remember correctly, you were the one who pointed to the door that night and told me to get out. You wouldn’t even let me take the car in the middle of the night.”

The road from Terranex to the city winds through an empty mountain pass. It’s quiet enough during the day, let alone at night. I’m just a teenage girl. Does it ever cross his mind that something could’ve happened to me? she thought. If Jaxon had even a shred of concern, he wouldn’t have been so heartless. Since he made the first move, he can’t blame me for not being forgiving now.

Jaxon chuckled. “Aurora, are you upset with me?” That means she still cares, he thought. If she cares, there’s hope.

“Alright, alright, I get it. I made a mistake, okay? Every day since you left, I’ve been thinking about you,” Jaxon said, attempting remorse.

Aurora lowered her gaze, her eyes tinged with sarcasm. She fiddled with a cactus on her desk, filtering out his words.

Aurora thought, Thinking of me? Doesn’t he feel any guilt? In my past life, I obeyed him, yet didn’t earn genuine affection. Now that I’ve opposed him, he’s suddenly full of nostalgia? He’s not thinking of me.