Chapter 20 That Talented Girl
Adolph looked at Aurora’s bloodied face, and his irritation spiked.
Revenge hadn’t soothed him; he was just more annoyed.
With a cold glare, he said, “Get out.”
But Aurora kept bowing, her head thudding against the bed, echoing in his mind like a hammer.
His anger boiled over. “I said get out! Can’t you hear me?” he yelled.
Aurora was lost in a fog, her ears ringing, and she could not hear. She just kept begging for forgiveness.
Adolph moved closer, reaching to lift her off the floor.
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But when she saw his hand, she instinctively curled up, covering her head and crying, “Don’t hit me.”
Memories of being brutally beaten in prison flashed through her mind, the relentless darkness and pain causing her to utterly
crumble at this moment.
Adolph’s pupils dilated, his hand suspended in mid–air, immobile for an eternity. His gaze fixed on Aurora’s hunched form, a complex tapestry of emotions entangling his heart.
Chapter 20 That Talented Girl
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For a fleeting moment, he glimpsed the innocent Aurora of yesteryear, the shy, laughter–loving girl with sparkling eyes like stars scattered across the night sky, gently shining.
He first learned of her through his teacher, who lavishly praised her in his presence. “Adolph, your fiercest competitor in this physics competition is Aurora, a freshman from Orley High School. That girl is undeniably talented.”
The sixteen–year–old boy, loath to lose, declared, “My talent is certainly not inferior to hers.”
Having always topped the exams at Herren High School, he dismissed Aurora.
That was until he was defeated by her in the competition, and subsequently, time and again.
Possessed by an insatiable drive, he participated in competitions solely when Aurora was present.
As the years passed, he couldn’t discern if he sought to prove himself or merely to see her.
Throughout high school, Aurora consistently placed first in all competitions, with Adolph settling for second.
He still recalled his teacher’s lament. “Aurora, a genius such as her, is a vital talent needed by our country, destined to make monumental contributions to national development.”
Chapter 20 That Talented Girl
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Upon hearing those words, he was convinced of her greatness.
During the final competition, he inquired whether her relentless participation was an attempt to catch the eye of those in higher positions.
She responded, “No, it’s because the winner gets money. I’m merely doing it for the prize money. I want to be a teacher, to educate countless students, and to witness their growth into talented individuals. That’s how I find my purpose.”
“You’re incredibly talented; it’s a pity you’re not pursuing scientific research,” he remarked.
She smiled and returned the question. “And what about you?”
“Me? I have to return and inherit the family business,” he replied.
Aurora echoed, “You’re so talented; it’s a pity you’re not pursuing scientific research as well.”
They exchanged glances and burst into laughter.
At that moment, he was thankful that Aurora’s dream wasn’t to become a scientist. Otherwise, even as the heir to the Sherwood Group, he still didn’t deserve her.
He had fiercely opposed his arranged marriage with Bertha. Neither Bertha nor the true heiress retrieved by the Elvador family appealed to him.
Chapter 20 That Talented Girl
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It was only when he saw Aurora at Bertha’s graduation banquet that he realized, with hindsight, that the girl he had always thought about was the true heiress of the Elvador family.
The one engaged to him since birth was Aurora herself.
When he learned of this news, he was ecstatic.
If only things hadn’t happened the way they did, they could’ve been happy.
In his memory, the lively, cheerful, and enchanting Aurora had changed.
The woman standing before him no longer bore the trace of her former vibrant spirit.
Adolph’s emotions flickered in his eyes.
His throat felt choked, as if he wanted to speak but he realized that any words at this moment would fall flat.
Aurora’s trembling body and frightened eyes stood before him like a sharp blade, piercing straight into the softest part of his heart, cracking the hardness that had once been impenetrable.
“You can leave now,” Adolph finally spoke, his voice devoid of its usual coldness and harshness, replaced instead by a barely noticeable hint of fatigue.
He slowly lowered his hand, which was clenched into a fist.
Chapter 20 That Talented Girl
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Aurora remained huddled on the ground. A frown creased his brow, and an impulse to hold her in his arms and comfort her surged within him, but this fleeting thought was swiftly quelled.
“I said, get out of here!”
Aurora, however, couldn’t hear Adolph’s words. Her vision was obscured by a mixture of blood and tears, rendering his lips. invisible to her.
She hastily raised her hand to wipe away the blood and tears. streaking her face.
Her eyes were wide and fixed on Adolph’s lips as she struggled to comprehend his message.
At last, he was commanding her to leave..
An inexplicable wave of joy surged through her, a blend of relief, disbelief, and an overwhelming sense of survival after enduring such a trial.
“I’m leaving, I’m leaving right now,” she whispered, her voice trembling and raspy.
Despite the ache in her knees and forehead, she scrambled to her feet using both hands and feet, driven by desperation.
Her injured leg barely held her weight, and she stumbled repeatedly, nearly falling, but her primal survival instinct kept her upright.
Chapter 20 That Talented Girl
Terrified that Adolph might change his mind, she wasted no time and bolted out of the room without hesitation.
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Adolph stood there for a long moment, only slowly averting his gaze once the humiliated figure had vanished from his sight.
He sank onto the bed and gently traced the contours of Camille’s hollowed–out eyebrows and eyes with his fingers. “Camille, will you blame me for letting her go so effortlessly?”
But he had no choice. He could never bring himself to be harsh with her.
Camille lay there in silence, unresponsive.
*****
The hospital corridor’s lighting was piercingly bright.
Aurora had to squint as she stumbled forward.
Her body seemed to have lost all sense of direction, bumping into walls and passersby alike, yet she paid no heed to these minor collisions.
The strange glances from those around her were ignored as her mind was focused solely on one thing–escaping Adolph as far as possible.
The fear of him catching up to her again if she slowed down propelled her forward.
Chapter 20 That Talented Girl
In her rush, she failed to notice the person emerging from the nearby consultation room, and she collided with them, losing her balance and falling backward.
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In the next instant, a strong hand enveloped her waist, and with a mere gentle tug, she was pulled into an embrace.
“Aurora.” A voice came from above, familiar yet tinged with
strangeness.
Looking up, she found herself gazing into Hubery’s gentle eyes, which mirrored her resistant expression.
It was as if she had been electrocuted; she forcefully pushed him away and lowered her gaze, intending to leave.
However, after just a couple of steps, her wrist was firmly grasped by his large hand.
With minimal effort, he had her completely under his control.
