Chapitre 109: Chapter 108
Zarah and Xavier's relationship was going more smoothly than expected. There was a tacit understanding between the couple.
Aurora thought of her sons' helpless state in their love lives.
Her attention turned to Hope, who was silently sitting beside Zarah.
"How are you, Hope?"
"I'm fine, Auntie Aurora," Hope answered shyly.
"I thought my son had expressed his interest in you?" Aurora's straightforward question had caught Hope off-guard. Cole, who was preparing for his turn to hit the cue ball, missed his shot when he heard his mother.
All ears were on Hope now.
"Well, he did, Auntie."
"So? Did you turn him down?"
"I rejected him at first. I thought he was only a brother to me. But now, I'm giving him a chance. He's currently pursuing me."
In reality, Cole asked Hope for a chance. He gave Hope the time to develop her feelings for him. They would date after that waiting period was over. Unless Hope met the man she truly loved within that time, then he would give up.
"Cole, you better step up your game and make Hope fall in love with you! Don't be like your hopeless brother!" Aurora shouted at her son.
Cole embarrassingly touched the back of his head. He apologetically looked at Hope, whose face had now turned red.
Hope mouthed, 'It's fine' to him.
On the other hand, Zarah was glad that Hope and Cole's relationship had progressed now.
She was hoping that these two would end up together. They had great chemistry together.
She could tell that Hope had some feelings for Cole. Her sister was trying to make sure of her feelings.
"Don't worry, Mom. I will show Hope that I'm the one for him. I'll be an idiot to let her slip away from me."
"That's my boy! Did you hear that, Dylan? Your brother is at least making progress. How about you?"
"Mom. Please give my big brother a break. He's been busy at the company. I'm sure he'll introduce someone to us one of these days."
Thanks to Cole's words, Aurora calmed down.
They stayed at the manor until four in the afternoon. They had not informed Joseph Lockhart where they were. Therefore, they had to return to the mansion before they got suspicious.
Before they left, Xavier and Aurora had a heartfelt conversation.
Aurora called Xavier to the couch.
Hope got up and joined Zarah with Dylan and Cole.
"You called for me, Auntie?" Xavier asked her.
"I hope you can bring Zarah to the mansion, Xavier," Aurora told him without beating around the bush.
"Someone would not be happy should I bring her there, Auntie. You know that, right?"
"You know how to silence them, Xavier. Take over the position, and they would not have any say about your marriage."
"I don't want my wife to be the target of their criticisms. And besides, I don't have any plans to stay in Country A forever."
Should he accept the patriarch position, he should stay in Sterlington city to watch over the clan.
Xavier had once believed that he was worthless. But after getting his confidence, he now dreamed of conquering the world. Then gave it to his wife.
"Then, do something about it. I know you can change your fate now. You're no longer the child you once were."
She was more than proud of Xavier now.
Xavier did not make a response to what she said.
He gazed at Zarah, who was playing billiards.
His gaze softened when Zarah looked at him with a sweet smile.
Zarah waved at him and then at Aurora before she went back to concentration.
Xavier looked at Aurora and said.
"You can visit us at Oakridge City if you want to, Auntie. And thank you for accepting Zarah. It means a lot to both of us."
"Silly child. Do you think I'm like those old folks at home?" Aurora then sighed before she continued.
"I'm sorry if I made you upset before you left."
"It's okay, Auntie. I misunderstood your intention. I no longer blame you for what happened. Let us forget about it, okay?" Xavier proposed, and Aurora agreed.
They then shared a hug before she bid goodbye to Xavier.
"Boys! Aren't you going home with me?"
"Not yet, mom. We'll stay with Xavier tonight."
"No. Your father might be suspicious should we not return together. It was already a headache to trick the guards assigned to us."
What Aurora said was true. They had to bring their guards to the restaurant. Then, they booked the opposite booth so their guards could have lunch. They had paid the staff to put sleeping pills on their food so they could fall asleep.
Zane and Lima then came to get them from the restaurant. Meanwhile, Vince and Tristan had to sedate their hidden guards.
The sleeping pill would only last for five hours. They had to go back before they woke up and report that they were missing to Joseph Lockhart.
"Mom, can I stay?" Cole asked his mother.
"Okay. However, Dylan should go back with me."
"Mom, it's unfair!"
"Why is it unfair? I'm giving Cole the time to bond with Hope. Do you want to be the third wheel between them? You're surely out of place, my dear." Aurora teased her son.
Dylan looked at them, and he realized his mother was right. He was indeed out of place.
"Fine." He left the pool table and walked toward Aurora.
"Let's go, Mom," Dylan told her.
"Okay. Enjoy everyone! We'll be leaving now!"
"Okay, mom!" Cole said.
Zarah and Hope stopped what they were doing and went to Aurora.
They decided to walk Aurora downstairs with Dylan in tow.
"How long will you be staying in Sterlington Zarah and Hope?" Aurora asked the girls.
"The summit is scheduled for a week. But we might go back ahead of schedule. It depends on our school," Zarah honestly said.
"Okay. Then, I hope we can share a meal or two before you leave."
"We'll see, Auntie. If it's convenient for us, why not?" Zarah said, and Aurora was satisfied.
They then shared a final hug, respectively, before Aurora entered the Bentley, followed by Dylan.
Then, they went back upstairs to continue playing.
Meanwhile, Aurora and Dylan came back to the mansion with ease. When their bodyguards woke up at the restaurant, they immediately reported to Joseph what had happened.
Joseph was puzzled as he saw Aurora and Dylan entering the front door a few minutes earlier.
He told the guard that they had safely arrived. So, he asked them to return so they could explain.
Joseph went to their bedroom to talk to his wife.
"Where have you two been? And where is Cole? Did you sedate the bodyguards to sleep?" Joseph started interrogating Aurora.
Aurora disliked this side of him.
"We went to the restaurant to eat. Then my sons took me on a date." Aurora said in a bitter tone.
Joseph had focused his attention on the company and work when Cole was two years old.
He barely had time for Aurora.
Aurora became depressed because of it.
Although Joseph was not cheating on her with a woman, Aurora felt like Joseph was married to his work. Meanwhile, she was the mistress.
Aurora wanted Xavier to bring change to this family, so her husband would be freed, too.
She was left alone in the mansion and felt unimportant.
Should Joseph do something stupid to her, she would not tolerate it.
"As for Wilbert and the rest, I asked the restaurant manager to sedate them." Aurora did not deny it. However, she had her reason.
"Why?" Joseph asked in disbelief.
"Because I want to see your reaction. I want to see if you still care for me."
"Aurora, what were you thinking?" Joseph could not believe what he had heard.
"I don't feel important to you, Joseph. I do not need your bodyguards to protect me. Wilbert is not my husband. You are! Yet you made me feel like the mistress in this marriage, and your responsibility to this family is your wife!"
"Oh my gosh, Aurora! You're unbelievable! Are you hearing yourself? You know about my responsibility since day one. I thought you had understood that."
"Well, perhaps I was wrong. Perhaps it was a mistake to marry into this family."
"What are you talking about?" Joseph Lockhart asked.
"I think we need a break," Aurora said with a straight face.
"Are you hearing yourself? We're no longer teenagers, Aurora."
"That's what I'm talking about, Joseph. I felt like I wasted my youth for nothing. I need a break, or else I feel like going crazy."
She had lived with him for two decades. She felt like she was walking on thin ice around them. She had no say about it.
Joseph was rendered speechless. He had no idea what to say.
"I don't care if you'll approve it or not. I have already decided."
"Where are you going, then?"
"To Xavier."
Meanwhile... Cole, Hope, Zarah, and Xavier we're having a good time.
When dinner time came, the couple decided to have dinner at the restaurant.
Hope and Cole had a different plan, so they did not go with the couple.
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