Chapter 6

Aurora POV

Blood immediately rushed to the surface.

The pain was so intense that I instinctively shook off her hand.

Fiona swayed backward, and the bracelet on her wrist hit the marble floor with a heavy clatter, shattering into several pieces.

Silence fell across the room.

Mark rushed to help Fiona up, his worry clearly visible. "Are you okay?"

He glared at me. "Aurora!"

I instinctively blurted out, "It wasn't me, it was her."

"It's not Aurora's fault, I was just clumsy myself," Fiona quickly interrupted me. "It's just a shame about the bracelet."

Her eyes reddened as she apologized to Grandpa, appearing self-reproachful and wronged.

Grandpa Robert angrily slammed his hand on the table. "Aurora was rude and made you suffer. How could it be your fault?"

Mark looked at me, his face filled with disappointment.

I opened my mouth, wanting to explain something, but facing the room full of accusing gazes, the words got stuck in my throat.

No one saw the wound on my hand.

Even though the injury was so obvious, blood dripping onto the floor.

I was taken to the yard to be punished.

It was the deep winter season, with temperatures dropping to below zero.

My knees had suffered from the cold when I fell into the water as a child, making them sensitive to cold ever since.

Kneeling on the icy, hard flagstones, the pain was excruciating.

The coldness spread upwards from my knees, quickly permeating my entire body.

I clenched my teeth, refusing to collapse.

Beyond the wall, the old mansion was brightly lit and warm.

Through the glass, I could see the scene inside.

Mark was attentively serving Fiona food and pouring wine for her parents.

Grandpa Robert looked kindly, Fiona looked bashful; they all seemed happy.

Only I was kneeling in the snow.

Throughout the entire night, Mark didn't cast a single glance in my direction.

Actually, Grandpa had never liked me, ever since I was a child. He thought I was of unknown origin, from a humble background, and would bring shame to the Ford family.

When I was nine, I came to the old mansion to play and accidentally broke one of his antique vases.

He also wanted to punish me by making me kneel.

At that time, Mark pleaded for me. When his pleas failed, the young man simply took the punishment for me instead.

Sixteen-year-old Mark knelt in the yard, his knees bruised and purple, but he turned back and smiled at me, who was secretly crying behind the door.

He had clearly said then, Aurora, I'm here. I won't let you be punished.

I was cold and in pain.

Perhaps I wasn't a strong person. The pain stripped away my pride.

I even thought, Mark, just look at me. If you just look at me, if you save me, I'll forgive you.

But then, Fiona's laughter drifted from the window. Mark was leaning in, peeling shrimp for her.

He didn't see me, and I wasn't in his heart.

At this very moment, his eyes and heart were solely on Fiona.

For more than ten years, Mark's kindness to me had made him an indispensable part of my life.

Cutting him out would kill me.

But in this moment, I felt that the pain of cutting out Mark was far less than the pain in my knees, and even less than the pain in my heart.

The night grew deeper, and the temperature continued to drop.

My body began to shake uncontrollably, and my consciousness gradually blurred.

I don't remember when I passed out.

When I woke up again, I was lying in my own bed.

The butler said Mark had carried me back.

I nodded faintly, saying nothing.

What good was being carried back?

He didn't come when I was kneeling. He only remembered me when I collapsed.

The family doctor examined me and said my old knee injury had worsened, and I had new injuries too.

The doctor prescribed medication and advised me to rest well and stay warm.

During my recovery, Mark never returned once.

Lying in bed, I replayed the last three years' events over and over again.

Then, I had someone transfer all the sports cars, villas, and yachts Mark had given me back to his name.

I didn't want any of these things anymore.

That day, Mark's assistant suddenly arrived.

"Miss Aurora, Mr. Ford asked me to bring you to him."

I asked, "Where?"

The assistant said, "You'll know when you get there."

From his demeanor, it seemed if I didn't go, he would force me.

My knee hadn't fully healed, and walking still hurt.

But I knew Mark's temper. Not going would only cause more trouble.

Helpless, I followed them into the car.

The car drove to a private resort estate.

A server led me through a long corridor to the door of a private room.

Just as I was about to push the door open, I heard voices from inside.

"Mark really spoils Fiona. Fiona just said one thing, 'Your niece is still sick,' and he brought your niece over."

Mark took a sip of wine. "My niece is ignorant. She hurt Fiona last time, but Fiona doesn't blame her and even wants to bring her along to have fun."

Fiona smiled gracefully. "Aurora is still young. How could I blame her? Why isn't she here yet? Could it be that she resents me because of what happened last time?"