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Chapter 82
William tossed his coat onto the sofa and fixed Alison with a serious gaze. His voice was filled with fatherly concern as he spoke. “Alison, right now, your SAT is the most important thing. Everything else takes a backseat to that. Don’t lose sight of the big picture over this. Focus on your exams. I’ll handle the rest.”
Alison pouted, clearly unsatisfied. She couldn’t help but ask, “What exactly are you planning to do, Dad?”
William shrugged. Remove the posts and let it blow over,”
Hearing this, Alison kicked the table in front of her, her face clouding with disappointment.
William glanced at her, his voice calm. “You made a mistake. What else did you expect me to do?”
He wasn’t a magician who could make everyone forget. Letting the issue fade away naturally was the best option for them.
Alison let out a cold snort and stormed upstairs, her footsteps echoing her anger.
“That girl. You’ve really spoiled her,” William said, shaking his head.
Nancy sighed, her voice gentle, “She’s our only daughter. If we don’t spoil her, who will?”
Alison slammed her bedroom door with a thunderous bang. She flung herself onto her bed, tearing at her stuffed animals in frustration and cursing Aurora’s ingratitude.
A week later, on an ordinary afternoon, the Andrews family received an official court summons. At that moment, Alison fierce anger transformed into pure fear.
“Mom, what are we going to do?” Alison stared at the document on the table. The seal seemed to glare back at her, cold and unforgiving.
She clutched at Nancy’s clothes in panic. Her earlier bravado completely evaporated. Aurora was actually going through with
it
“Mom, please… I can’t do this.” Alison shook her head desperately. Despite the air conditioning, she broke out in a cold sweat.
Nancy’s face darkened as she muttered, “That little brat!”
She turned to Alison, her voice softened. “Don’t worry, sweetie. I will handle this.”
There was no way she’d let Alison face charges. Something like that could ruin Alison’s entire future.
A car glided to a smooth stop at the front gate of Crawford Manor. As soon as the door opened, Aurora hopped out.
The moment she got off the car, the chauffeur pulled away. This new chauffeur was a gem – always on call and never asking unnecessary questions. He simply parked where instructed and waited. It gave Aurora a taste of the good life she’d been missing.
Backpack slung over her shoulder, Aurora strolled through the garden. She paused to admire the blooming gardenias, plucking a couple to put in a vase later.
She lifted one to her nose, inhaling deeply. The sweet scent seemed to wash away her stress, leaving her feeling lighter. As Aurora passed by Maura’s old room on the second floor, a mischievous smile played on her lips.
Earlier that day, she’d had the chauffeur drop her off near a DNA testing facility. By this time tomorrow, she expected to
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Chapter 82
have some very interesting news.
As evening fell, Aurora headed downstairs alone, ready for dinner.
“Ms. Crawford, would you mind waiting a bit? Mr. Crawford called to say he’ll be joining us shortly, Emma called from the kitchen, where she was busy preparing the evening meal.
Aurora was taken aback. Ever since Stacy and her daughter had, she and Jaxon hadn’t shared a meal at the same table
It was almost unbelievable – a father and daughter, living under the same roof, yet never eating together. No one would believe such a thing.
Something was definitely up. Aurora wondered what Jaxon was planning. “Alright, I’ll watch some TV while I wait,” she said.
Aurora made her way to the living room and switched on the television. As she flipped through the channels, a familiar face caught her eye.
Aurora noticed the “Replay” label in the bottom left corner of the TV screen and suddenly remembered, thinking, “Giles?” A few days ago. Sunrise Pharmaceuticals held a press conference. Ciles had even mentioned it to her, asking if she wanted to attend.
She hadn’t been interested in the conference at the time, so she hadn’t paid much attention to it. But now, with nothing else to do, she figured she might as well watch.
Aurora grabbed a throw pillow and settled onto the couch to watch.
On screen, Giles stood in a sharp suit, fielding reporters‘ questions with ease. He focused on announcing Sunrise’s upcoming hair loss treatment product, emphasizing the partnership with Whitaker Medical Center.
“Heh, looks like Sunrise Pharmaceuticals is really making waves with their new majority shareholder,” a voice commented. Aurora turned to find Jaxon sitting down beside her. She hadn’t even heard him come in. Seeing her watching the news, he’d offered his casual observation.
“Dad, if someone’s a major shareholder in a pharmaceutical company, does that mean they’re the best doctor?” Aurora asked, her eyes shadowing with a barely perceptible hint of probing. “Would the drugs they develop be really effective?” Jaxon, oblivious to the hidden probe in her question, responded from a purely business perspective. “Being a major shareholder doesn’t necessarily mean they’re a skilled physician It’s all about having money.”
With money,‘ he mused, ‘you can always find people willing to sweat their guts out
“Hey, your SATs are coming up soon, right, Aurora? Given any thought to what you want to major in?” Jaxon leaned against the couch, a proud smile playing on his lips as he subtly tried to steer the conversation. “How about business management? You’re my only daughter, and you’ll take the reins of the family business someday.”
Aurora was actually interested in studying alternative medicine, but she couldn’t tell him that. Instead, she said. “I haven’t really decided yet. Don’t I have a little brother?”
“Griffin’s far too young.” Jaxon sighed. “By the time he grows up, ll be old. I won’t have time to mentor him properly. You’re at the perfect age right now. If you study business management, can guide you for a couple of years after you graduate. Then I can retire and enjoy my golden years without worry.”
Aurora smiled faintly, brushing off his words. She knew better now. For all his pretty talk, Griffin was his true heir. How naive she’d been in her past life, suffering needlessly for so long
Eager to change the subject, she sighed, I hope Sunrise Pharmaceuticals releases their hair loss treatment soon. Dad’s nearly bald on top.
Wed,
Chapter 82
Jaxon instinctively ran a hand over his thinning hair, intrigued by the product mentioned on TV. “I might give it a try when
it comes out.”
It was common knowledge that new leadership often made big moves. This was Sunrise Pharmaceuticals‘ first product launch under new management, and their track record was solid.
As their small talk was over, Jaxon’s face settled into a mask of fatherly concern. He leaned back, clasping his hands in his lap, and asked with forced casualness, “So, how are you doing at school these days, Aurora? Is there anyone still bullying you?”
“Not anymore,” she replied simply
Jenny and Daisy faced public humiliation this Monday. Their parents forced them to apologize in front of the entire school. After that spectacle, Aurora doubted anyone would dare mess with her again.
However, she quietly grew suspicious and thought, ‘Why is Jaxon suddenly asking about this?”
She glanced at the date on her phone and chuckled softly. Alison must have received a court summons. It was no wonder Jaxon was trying to cozy up to her.
Jaxon never did anything without a motive. Aurora wondered just how much the Andrews family had promised him.
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