Chapter 1288

Lucas kept reminding himself over and over that he couldn’t be selfish. Aurora had her own path to follow, and he had no right to stand in her way.

“It’s fine. Whatever you want to do, go ahead with confidence. I’ll always back you up.”

He added quietly, “And if there’s ever something you want to do but don’t know how, just tell me. If it’s within my power, I’ll help you.”

“Don’t worry, if I need you, I’ll come to you.”

Aurora’s heart warmed as she looked at his earnest expression. She thought back to when she had rented a place without asking him, and how frantic he’d been afterward. Ever since then, he had kept insisting she come to him for anything.

She knew that was his way of wanting to feel needed, to play a part in helping her. She remembered once teasing him about coming to help at her studio and how he had agreed without hesitation. That had truly surprised her. Sometimes she didn’t even dare to joke with him, because he always took her words to heart.

That was why she often avoided troubling Lucas. Everyone had their own life to live; being married didn’t mean chaining each other down. And Aurora refused to let Grace’s behavior weigh her down. She knew it was her mother’s bitterness, and she would never take it out on Lucas.

Still, when she recalled the words Grace had thrown at him earlier, she felt compelled to say something. “I’m sorry. What my mother said came out of anger–you mustn’t take it to heart. She was targeting me, not you."

“She dragged you into it. If it bothers you, I’ll make things clear with her. Or, if it comes to it, when she comes looking for me, you don’t have to step in. I can face her on my own.”

Her eyes were earnest as she spoke, not a trace of jest in her tone.

Lucas could see it plainly–that was just who she was. She never said such things lightly. But how could he ever let Aurora face Grace alone? That woman, stripped of Daniel’s project, might lash out in ways no one could predict. What if she turned on Aurora and he wasn’t there to stop it? At times, even Lucas himself didn’t know how to put Grace into words. After all, so often everything Grace did was full of contradictions. When Aurora had gone abroad for treatment, Grace’s worry had seemed genuine. Her calls had carried no pretense, her tone filled with real concern for Aurora’s safety. But now that Aurora stood before her, healthy and well, she seemed incapable of cherishing it. To this day, Lucas still couldn’t make sense of what went through her mind.

“Don’t be ridiculous, and stop apologizing. I don’t care about any of that,” Lucas said, feigning annoyance. “Aren’t we husband and wife? We’re supposed to be one. If you keep drawing lines like this, how am I supposed to share anything with you in the future?”

Chapter 1289