Chapter 8
Julian and I were ten years apart. I had always revered him as an elder brother, even a senior.
The thought of marrying this man, whom I once respected like a god, made me feel a bit flustered.
“What’s wrong?”
Julian’s voice was very low, as if he feared startling me.
I bit my lower lip, feeling I should tell him about Brandon first. It wouldn’t be fair to him if we went through with the arranged marriage without him knowing.
Because of the video Brandon took, I already had a mental block about such things.
Julian watched me quietly, his gaze filled with calm and understanding.
“I… would you mind if I…”
I felt like an elementary school student confessing to her parents, making it difficult for me to speak.
“Aubrey, it’s okay if you don’t want to talk about it.”
“Julian, that…”
Should I say I didn’t want to fulfill a wife’s duties? I couldn’t bring myself to say it. So I tactfully said, “Do you… are you open to having children… through other means?”
The air in the hospital room seemed to solidify for a moment. The chirping of cicadas outside the window was clearly audible.
Julian paused slightly, then understood my meaning.
“Yes.”
He reached out and gently patted my hand. “Aubrey, as long as you live happily every day, nothing else will be a constraint for you.”
I blinked, a wave of warmth flowing through my heart.
“Thank you, Julian.”
Julian smiled reassuringly, holding a thousand words in his eyes.
He had worked so hard on his rehabilitation for so long, timing his proposal for my graduation.
He hadn't protected his little princess well enough.
He knew I needed time to heal, and he would always be by my side, letting me slowly accept him.
Two hours later, Julian’s assistant rushed back, his face grave. “Mr. Thorne, Daisy has been found. She was hit by a car and is currently in critical condition at City Hospital.”
My vision blurred, and I almost fainted.
Julian quickly caught me, his voice deep as he instructed his assistant, “Get the car ready. To the hospital.”
When they arrived at the hospital, Daisy’s surgery had just ended.
The doctor emerged and said, “The patient has severe intracranial hemorrhage. Although the surgery was successful, her family should prepare themselves. She might not wake up and could remain in a vegetative state.”
“Vegetative state…” My legs buckled. I leaned against the wall to keep from collapsing.
I choked out, “Why… why do disasters always strike the poor and unfortunate…”
When I first arrived in Brighton, I fabricated an orphan identity and rented a place near the orphanage.
One time, when I encountered thugs, it was Daisy, naturally cognitively impaired, who rushed to protect me.
Seeing that Daisy had no one to care for her, I took her in as my sister.
Daisy, with the mental age of a three-year-old, always tried her best to be good to me.
Every day when I came home, Daisy would clumsily make me a bowl of mixed rice, overflowing with side dishes, while she herself just ate plain white rice.
Daisy didn’t understand I wasn’t short on clothes. In winter, she would wrap layers of salvaged padded jackets around me, unwilling to wear them herself.
When I was sad from being bullied by Mrs. Hayes, Daisy would gently pat my back, soothing me repeatedly: “Sister, don’t cry. Daisy will be with you.”
Those warm memories were unforgettable.
If Mrs. Hayes hadn’t gone crazy and confined me, how would Daisy have gotten into a car accident trying to find me?!
My heart ached, and my vision blurred. I fainted.
“Aubrey!”
Julian swiftly caught me, half-rising from his chair. He gritted his teeth and gently lifted me into his arms.
The assistant nervously stepped forward. “Mr. Thorne, let me. Your leg…”
Julian’s leg, after more than ten years of rehabilitation, could stand, but it caused him intense pain.
In just that short time, Julian’s forehead was already beaded with fine sweat.
“No need.”
He held me tighter. “If I can’t even hold my own wife, how can I be a husband?”
“I already missed one chance because of my leg. I will not let anyone else take advantage this time.”
When I woke up, I found myself in a hospital bed, Julian sitting by my side, holding my hand.
“My sister, she…”
“She’s still in a coma. Her vital signs are stable for now.”
Julian gently soothed, “I’ve arranged everything. Your sister will be transferred to the best hospital in King’s Landing, where the best doctors will treat her.”
“Thank you, Julian.”
Julian murmured, “We are family. Your sister is my family too.”
I shyly avoided his deep gaze, softly humming in response.
Just then, my phone vibrated. I looked down. It was Brandon.
I immediately hung up. He called again. After I hung up on him five times in a row, Brandon finally gave up.
A few minutes later, an unknown number sent a text message.
[Aubrey, Brandon will marry me in the end. If you are sensible enough to gracefully withdraw, I will give you a hundred thousand.]
[Image], [Image].
I looked at the intimate photos of Brandon and me that Serena had sent, a cold laugh escaping my lips.
Julian heard it and asked with concern, “What’s wrong?”
I sneered, “Nothing. Someone wants to buy me off for a hundred thousand.”
A hint of coldness flashed in his eyes. “A hundred thousand isn’t even enough to buy you a handbag.”
Julian didn’t ask any more questions. He just quietly picked up his phone, his long fingers tapping a few times on the screen.
Almost instantly, my phone screen lit up, displaying a bank transfer notification.
I tapped it open. It was a transfer from Julian.
[Transferring 50,000,000 to Aubrey for parts]
*Ding!* Brandon’s message came through at the same time.
[Transferring 50,000. Text: Don’t be angry, sweetheart.]
I first looked at Julian, perplexed. “Julian, I have money.”
“I saw a machine you were working on in one of your SnapChat photos.”
He continued, “I heard Mr. Harrington was mad you came to Brighton and only gave you five hundred thousand a month. Has that machine been delayed for a long time?”
My hand, poised to decline the transfer, froze. Looking at the two vastly different messages, I suddenly remembered what my father said when we made the bet: “Gold and copper, easily distinguished; true heart and false intent, revealed by time.”