Chapter 189

Aurora’s heart felt like it was sinking.
She tried to sound breezy as she comforted her grandmother. “It’s alright,
Grandma. Even if someone finds out, it’s not the end of the world. No one’s going to investigate.”
But Grace was inconsolable, her tears streaming down her wrinkled cheeks. “If they find out… if anyone discovers the truth… what will you do?”
There was no way out of this.
If the secret got out, destruction would follow.
Aurora drew a deep breath, pushing her anxiety down so Grace wouldn’t see it.
“Even if the truth comes out, I’ll deal with the gossip. I’m ready for it.”
“You need to go, Aurora. Leave this place-go far away.” Grace seemed to have made up her mind. Her tears fell faster, spilling down her chin. “You’ve already looked after this old woman for three years. That’s enough.”
“What about Payne?” Aurora’s smile was bitter. “He’s still waiting for Daniel to save him. How could I just leave?”
She couldn’t abandon Payne, not now.
Grace tried to rise from her chair, trembling. “I’ll go beg Daniel myself. I’ll ask him to help Payne.”
Aurora gently pressed her back down. “Grandma, I haven’t done anything wrong. I have nothing to be afraid of.”
Outside the room, Eleanor’s eyes were red. She was speaking quietly to Daniel. “Payne isn’t even Aurora’s child, you know that. Dad was wrong, but Aurora’s the one who hid the truth in the first place.”
“I told Dad he should apologize to the boy. Do you think that’s enough?”
Daniel’s face stayed cold and unreadable. “Mr. Quinn has always overreached, but he’s never had the ability to match his ambitions. Let him learn his lesson. As for you—so long as I’m here, your life won’t change.”
Eleanor understood-this was the best promise Daniel could possibly make.
But she couldn’t just let her father fend for himself.
She opened her mouth to plead again, but Mrs. Quinn pulled her aside, whispering, “That’s enough, Eleanor. Don’t beg Dan any more about your father.”
“But-”
“Eleanor, don’t waste your relationship with Dan for your father’s sake.”
Mrs. Quinn saw things clearly: her husband was useless. If they wanted to keep
living comfortably, they had to stay on Daniel’s good side.
If she kept defying Daniel, sooner or later he’d grow tired of her.
Men always preferred women who knew when to yield.
She spoke softly to her daughter, “Your bond with Dan will only grow stronger. Don’t make trouble for him now.”
Eleanor didn’t quite understand why her relationship with Daniel would become stronger, but she knew her mother was right. Follow current novᴇls on.net
Her father was just like Samuel-always thinking himself clever, but in reality, hopelessly foolish.
Even if they got through this crisis, there would always be another.
“I… I’ll do as you say, Mother.”
Besides, things weren’t completely hopeless. They just needed time.
Aurora had hired the nurse back at Grace’s request, paying her out of her own pocket. Mrs. Quinn and Eleanor had nothing to say about it.
On the way back from the Quinn estate, Aurora stared out the car window, lost in thought.
Daniel couldn’t stand it any longer. He grabbed her wrist and tugged her roughly into his arms.
Startled, Aurora’s eyes flashed with a disgust she didn’t manage to hide.
Daniel felt a jolt, stung by her reaction.
“Aurora.”
She pushed his hand away, her voice heavy with exhaustion. “Daniel, I’m tired. I just want to rest.”
“Tired of me?” Daniel demanded, his gaze darkening with anger.
Aurora was too burdened to argue with him.
She simply fell silent.
But Daniel’s patience snapped; he grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at him. “You don’t trust me at all, do you, Aurora?”
“I told you-Eleanor picked up the wrong glass by accident. It wasn’t on purpose.”
He was sure she was still angry about that night.
He had no idea how suffocated she felt, how the weight in her chest was almost too much to bear.
Aurora closed her eyes, her face tight with restraint. “Daniel, you know very well whether Eleanor’s ‘mistake’ was really an accident or not. I don’t want to argue about this anymore.”
She’d heard it herself-Eleanor admitting she’d switched the glasses on purpose, so Daniel would end up drinking.
But as long as Eleanor denied it, Aurora had no proof.
Arguing was pointless.
Daniel, though, only saw her indifference.