That thought alone made Arnold uneasy.

So how much heavier must it have felt for someone as young as Aurora?

She took a deep breath, her delicate features now void of the usual liveliness.

Pulling the corners of her lips into a faint, indifferent smile, she said, "Mom, if we don’t leave soon, I’m going to be late for the competition."

She changed the subject, simply not wanting Grace to keep dragging the matter out.

In the end, it would only waste everyone’s time and ruin the mood.

Lowering her gaze, Aurora let her long lashes shield the emotions in her eyes, making it impossible to tell how she felt.

After all this time, Grace still hadn’t known she had a competition today, and now she was lashing out at Arnold instead?

So even if someone remembered something important for her, they still had to be blamed for it?

Grace noticed Aurora’s deflection.

Though still slightly displeased, she didn’t say anything else.

She knew today’s kids could be a little rebellious, especially Aurora, who she’d always been pampered by William.

Now that his protection was gone, it was only natural she’d feel the loss.

Grace understood that, but it didn’t mean she was going to indulge it.

They’d all lived through far worse–what was there to be so delicate about?

She told the driver to take Aurora to the competition and went back to her room herself, not bothering to see her off.

Watching her mother’s retreating back, Aurora lowered her eyes without a word.

She knew Grace had no intention of caring for her.

And she no longer expected it either.

The conversation with Arnold had already made things clear.

Rather than worry about others, she might as well focus on her own future.

What she loved was architectural design–not wasting her life in this hollow, meaningless existence.

With that thought, young Aurora turned to Arnold with a small smile. "Let’s go, Mr. Arnold. I want you to take me."

Hearing that, Arnold smiled as well.

Seeing her like this, he felt far more at ease than before.

It seemed she had truly moved on.

She looked much better now.

No longer fixated on the past was a good sign.

The Aurora standing before him now was completely different from the one earlier.

That air of despair had vanished entirely.

She looked like a serene lotus in quiet bloom–calm and graceful.

Chapter 738 +25 BONUS

Seeing her like this, Arnold felt genuinely happy for her.

This was the Aurora he remembered.

And in some ways, she even reminded him of William.

"Of course, Miss Aurora. I’d be honored to take you."

After they left, Grace finally stepped out of her room.

She stood by the window, watching the car’s rear end disappear down the road, her gaze unreadable.

There was something she couldn’t quite put into words.

She wanted to treat Aurora better, but every time she saw those eyes and face brought back memories of William, and she just couldn’t help herself.

And then there was Tessa–so obedient and sweet.

Grace couldn’t help favoring her more.

After everything they’d been through, Aurora still didn’t have Tessa’s charm.

So how could she ever truly love this daughter?

Only when the car completely vanished from view did Grace finally draw the curtains.

Even if she disapproved of Aurora’s behavior, in the end, she was still her daughter. And no matter what, there was still a trace of tenderness in her heart.