NovelEnglishIn the quiet evening, Leopold invited Aurelia and the kids to Stirling Mansion for dinner. The ranch had just delivered a fresh batch of prlamb, and the chef was making a sumptuous roast lamb leg that promised to tantalize their taste buds.
As they were halfway through their meal, Arnold's face popped up on a video call.
He had safely reached the Arctic research station, and, as luck would have it, the northern lights were ablaze in the sky.
“Aurelia, William, look at the aurora!” “Wow!” Aurelia and William's eyes widened in awe.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtSkyler and Kane hurried over, too.
“The aurora is so beautiful!” Ever the thoughtful woman, Aurelia fretted over Arnold being outside in the cold for too long. “Arnold, please go inside before you catch a chill. It's freezing out there.” Arnold moved indoors, shedding his bulky down jacket.
“Have you had dinner?” Aurelia offered a warm smile. “We're in the middle of ours. How about you?” “I've just finished.” Arnold showed them around his quarters. "I've only just arrived and I'm already missing both you and William." “Daddy, | miss you, too. Cback soon after you finish your work.” William longed for his father's return.
“Aurelia, please take care,” Arnold reminded her, a tender smile softening his features. He was always jetting off to dangerous locations for his photography, and while she worried incessantly, she understood it was his passion and profession. As his confidant and family, she had to support him.
“Don’t worry. | always carry the cross you gave me,” he assured gently.
After a long chat and a heart-to-heart, Aurelia and William made finger hearts to Arnold before ending the call.
Sitting across the table with a face as dark as a storm cloud, Leopold couldn't believe it. There Aurelia was, openly flirting with another man right before him, even making a finger heart! She had never made a finger heart to him.
He felt as though he’d fallen from the peak of Mount Everest, the plummet sending his internal organs into a whirlwind of disarray.
The lamb in his mouth lost flavor, replaced by a sourness that overwhelmed his palate.
Oblivious to his turmoil, Aurelia continued to chat merrily with Skyler and the kids.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm“Mommy, when | get a bit bigger, we can go on adventures with Daddy, right?” Aurelia smiled. “We can travel, but you'll have to be all grown up to take adventures.” Safety always cfirst.
Skyler interrupted, “For adventures, you must learn many survival skills. Without them, you could run into danger at any turn.” “That's right,” Aurelia agreed.
William's eyes sparkled with curiosity. “Mommy, didn't you go on adventures with Daddy back in Willowbrook?” “Yeah.” Aurelia’s smile grew nostalgic. “He tookrock climbing. | was scared but felt safe with him by my side.” “So, that’s when you fell for Daddy, right?” William giggled.
Aurelia choked on her words, and her gaze drifted involuntarily to the man across the table.
Leopold sat expressionlessly, his fingers gripping the fork so tightly that his knuckles turned stark white. He might have twisted it out of shape if it weren't for the sturdy silverware.
She was reminiscing as if he weren't even there. Were those damn memories so precious? What irritated him most was that he had never given her any fond memories to cherish, only hurt, leading to her relentless dredging up of the past, holding grudges against him.
It was the comparisons that stung the most.
Finally sensing something was off, Aurelia quickly added, “Dad and | are good friends and family now.” “And what about Uncle Leopold?” Aurelia cast a meaningful look at Leopold. “It's the swith Uncle Leopold. We are also good friends and family.” What a perfectly balanced equation it was.
For a moment, Leopold was torn between feeling relief and harboring sorrow.
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