Chapter 185

Aurora walked through the front doors of the Quinn family estate and headed straight for her grandmother’s room.
Grandma Grace had just gotten up, and the sight of Aurora at the door caught her
off guard.
“Aurora?”
Aurora took her grandmother’s hand and sat beside her on the edge of the bed, tears threatening to spill over.
She had always tried to shield Grandma Grace from the truth about Payne, but now she had no choice. With a heavy heart, Aurora told her everything-about Payne, about what Jordan had done, every painful detail laid bare.
Tears welled in Grandma Grace’s eyes, her sorrow unmistakable. “Oh, my poor child. How could things come to this?”
Aurora tried to comfort her for a long time, then gently broke the news that Louis planned to call the police.
Grandma Grace’s face grew grave. She sat in heavy silence before finally nodding, slow and deliberate. “If he can be so cruel to a child, he must pay the price.”
“I’m sorry, Grandma,” Aurora whispered, burying her face in her grandmother’s lap. “I never wanted things to get this ugly with them, but I just can’t pretend anymore.”
Grandma Grace closed her eyes, a single tear tracing down her wrinkled cheek. Her face was etched with sadness. “This isn’t your fault, Aurora.”
It was the Quinn family that had pushed her to this point.
Aurora brushed away her tears and looked up. “Come with me, Grandma. If
Jordan goes to prison, you won’t have any peace here.”
But Grandma Grace shook her head. “No, dear. I’ll stay.”
Aurora wanted to insist, but the stubborn set of her grandmother’s jaw told her it was useless. Tears shimmered in her eyes.
With a loving touch, Grandma Grace cupped Aurora’s face. Her eyes glistened with memories. “Go do what you need to do, Aurora. Don’t worry about me. For you, for Payne, I’ll manage.”
Aurora could only nod. She respected her grandmother’s decision.
Glancing at the time, she realized she had to get back to the hospital. Daniel’s drinking had been unexpected, but Payne’s chemotherapy had already started— they couldn’t afford any delays. She needed to be there.
She hurried out, but as she neared the living room, she heard her own name. She stopped in her tracks.
Eleanor’s voice floated over, gentle and sweet, clearly in high spirits. “Aurora is so naïve. Dan is set to inherit the Chambers Group one day. Why would he risk everything by donating bone marrow to someone who means nothing to him?”
“One glass of wine, and the whole plan falls apart.” Thɪs chapter is updated by.net
Mrs. Quinn sounded curious. “So it worked this time, but what about next time?”
Eleanor lowered her voice, conspiratorial. “Alcohol doesn’t always have to be in a wine glass. There’s always a way.”
Mrs. Quinn sounded satisfied, her tone laced with disdain. “Aurora’s just not right in the head. She keeps insisting Payne is family when he’s not. And she actually expects Dan to save that bastard child.”
Eleanor laughed, delighted. “Exactly. She’s lost her mind.”
Aurora listened, every muscle tense, her fists clenched so tight her knuckles hurt.
So Daniel had never intended to save Payne.
He was willing to let Payne die, just like that.
A bitter taste rose in her throat.
Tears burned in her eyes as she retreated down the hallway, numb.
She called Daniel, her voice direct and raw: “Last night you said you drank from
the wrong glass by mistake. Tell me the truth-did you really pick up the wrong glass, or did someone put it in front of you on purpose?”
She needed only one answer.
Daniel’s voice was heavy. “Aurora, why are you asking me this?”
Aurora’s face was streaked with tears. “Do you even want to save Payne?” “Of course I do,” he replied.
But Aurora’s hand dug into the window frame, her nails biting into the wood.
Only someone close to Daniel could have switched the glass. Only someone who was with him last night would know exactly what had happened.
And Eleanor had been right by his side.
Daniel was taking the blame to protect Eleanor-because now, he was the only one who could save Payne.
Aurora ended the call. There was nothing left to say.
In Daniel’s heart, Eleanor would always come first.
She returned to Grandma Grace’s room and quietly told the nurse not to let her grandmother leave, no matter what was happening outside.
Then she headed for the living room.
Mrs. Quinn and Eleanor were chatting, both laughing as if they hadn’t a care in the world.