Chapter 463

Right now, he was nothing more than a stray dog—useless and harmless. There was no real threat left in him, which was why Aurora felt no fear. If anything, he was just irritating.

Leonard, calm as ever, spoke in a light tone. “Figured since we’ve got a client meeting this afternoon, I’d come find you for lunch.” He glanced toward the scene that had just unfolded. “Though it looks like… you ran into some trouble?”

Aurora followed his gaze and saw Joseph still standing there, staring at them in stunned disbelief. Joseph couldn’t quite wrap his head around it. How was it that Aurora always seemed to have capable men circling her?

He studied Leonard—his tailored suit, composed demeanor, and sharp features. Everything about him screamed class and confidence. In fact, Leonard easily outshone him in both looks and presence. But what truly made Joseph’s chest tighten was the way Leonard looked at Aurora. As a man, Joseph knew that look too well. It wasn’t just admiration—it was possession, a quiet claim. The same way he used to look at her.

He pointed a finger at Leonard. “Aurora, who the hell is this guy?” Aurora almost laughed. He was using such a tone and entitlement—was he serious? “Excuse me, who are you to ask me that? What are you even saying?” She blinked at him, so genuinely baffled by the absurdity that she couldn’t find the words. Where did the arrogance and misplaced confidence come from? Who was this man now?

Leonard caught the flicker of exasperation in her eyes, the rare crack in her always-composed expression. A mischievous glint sparked in his gaze. He had never seen her this expressive before.

Joseph, however, stood firm. “Don’t forget, we were together for three years. I think I have the right to know who’s hanging around you.” Aurora rolled her eyes and turned away, refusing to entertain the clown in front of her. “Aurora, let’s just head to the restaurant,” Leonard said calmly. “Talking to someone like this only drags you further into nonsense. There’s no reasoning with people who don’t want to listen.”

Leonard nodded. He couldn’t have agreed more.

“Already took care of it. I reserved a place nearby. We can go straight there.” Without another glance back, the two of them turned and walked off together. Joseph stood frozen, watching them leave. A hollow feeling settled in his chest.

What the hell is going on with her? Why does it feel like there’s always some new guy around her? Wasn’t it that other pretty boy before? It hadn’t even been that long. And now there was someone new?

Joseph paced in place, torn between chasing after them or just walking away. But even if he did catch up—then what? What could he say? No. This couldn’t go on. He had to stop spiraling.

His father’s warnings echoed again in his head, clear and stern. Joseph drew in a slow, deep breath and turned back toward his car. He would never go back to a woman like Aurora, who was fickle and disloyal. Even if she begged, he wouldn’t glance her way again. Three years of groveling and affection—there was no way she changed overnight. She was just putting on a show. That was all it was.

Back at home, Joseph took a long, hot shower, trying to scrub the weight of the day off his skin. Afterward, he got to work fixing himself up. He sprayed some product into his hair, combed it back into a precise side part, and stood in front of the mirror, adjusting his collar, straightening his sleeves. One side of his lips quirked up in a self-satisfied smirk. He lit a cigarette, holding it between his lips as he stared at his reflection through the curling smoke. Then came the smug declaration: “Damn… not bad. I still look good.”

And that was exactly the moment Judy walked in, catching the whole scene, start to finish.