When Jason heard that, he couldn't help but wonder–why had Aurora left the company in the first place? She was the General Manager, wasn't she? That was exactly the kind of moment when she should’ve been there. If she hadn’t stepped away, she might've been the one to send Grace to the hospital herself. It would’ve saved them all the chaos that followed–Tessa showing up, the confusion, and the tension.
“Alright, Miss Walton,” Jason said finally, holding back his questions. “I’ll send you the location in a moment. There’s actually something else I’d like to ask, but… it’s not something I can talk about over the phone.”
He wasn’t the type to act impulsively. He knew when to speak, and when to hold back.
“What do you want to ask?” Aurora’s voice came calmly through the phone.
But Jason didn’t continue. He had no idea when Tessa might come back, and right now, the priority was to get Aurora to the hospital. “Don’t worry, Miss Walton. I’ll ask when the time is right. For now, you need to get to the hospital as soon as you can and see the Chairwoman.”
Aurora nodded, tension in her chest loosening. It turned out Jason understood far more than she gave him credit for. “Alright. Send me the location. I’ll head over right away.”
They ended the call. Aurora turned to Ian with gratitude in her eyes. “Thank you for everything today. You’ve been a huge help. Once things settle down, I’ll make sure you get a raise.”
Ian scratched the back of his head, embarrassed. “Please, Miss Walton, there’s no need. You’ve already done so much for me. I couldn’t possibly ask for more."
He waved a hand dismissively. “Besides, I didn’t really do much. It was Mr. Jason who figured things out on his own."
“And this is your family matter. We’re just here to support you. The real decisions… they’re still yours to make.”
Aurora nodded. “Understood. Keep things running as usual while I’m gone. I’m counting on you.”
“I will. Don’t worry about a thing on this end.”
With that, Aurora left the office with Lucas and Leonard beside her. Before she walked out, she gave Ian a firm pat on the shoulder–a silent gesture full of trust and gratitude.
Ian didn’t let her down. He stayed behind, holding down the fort at the company just as she’d asked.
Outside the building, Leonard let out a soft sigh. “I’ve got to say… your team is surprisingly loyal.”
Aurora gave a faint smile. “Like Ian said earlier, at the end of the day, this is a family matter. No matter how much they care, it’s still something I have to face myself. They can support me, but they can’t fix it for me.”
Leonard nodded, understanding completely.
But Lucas spoke up then, his voice low and steady. “Dear, we’re family too. If your mother’s sick, it’s just as much my responsibility. You don’t have to carry all of this alone. You don’t need to keep pretending to be so strong all the time. It’s okay to lean on me. I worry about you too.”
His words left Aurora momentarily speechless. She knew he meant it.
Over the past few weeks, she had come to understand Lucas’ feelings clearly. Sometimes, she wondered if it was finally time to let go of the past–maybe stop dragging out the issue of that so-called true love in his heart.
But then she’d remember Wendy’s face and the hesitation would return.