Chapter 75

Aurora didn’t wake up until nine in the morning. As she opened her bedroom door and stepped out, she nearly bumped into Daniel, who was already dressed in a crisp suit and tie.
She assumed he was about to leave, and the thought alone lifted her spirits. For once, she managed a polite tone. “Heading out?”
“My grandfather wants to see you.”
Mr. Hogan Chambers had come to Millbrook in person-just to meet Aurora.
She sat across from the old man, nerves on edge. Decades in the corporate world had given Mr. Chambers a commanding presence; Aurora could feel it in the weight of his gaze.
“Grandpa,” she greeted, her voice respectful.
He nodded, wasting no time on pleasantries. “Aurora, I’ve come here myself to ask you to return. I want you back as Director of Research and Development.”
Back to the company?
Aurora stared at him in surprise, then turned to Daniel for an explanation.
He gave her a slight shake of his head he hadn’t known his grandfather was coming either. By the time he heard the news, Mr. Chambers was already inside Millbrook.
“Whatever you want-name your terms,” Mr. Chambers said.
Aurora thought it over for a few moments, but finally declined. She wasn’t ready to leave her grandmother just yet.
Mr. Chambers pressed on, “Once we’ve resolved this, if you’re still set on divorcing Dan, you can take The Almanac of Air with you.”
He was making a promise she’d never expected.
Aurora’s breath caught. That book-The Almanac of Air-was what she’d always wanted. Daniel’s refusal to divorce her was the only reason she’d given up.
Now she had a chance. How could she not be tempted?
But then there was her grandmother…
“I’ll need some time to think about it,” she said, rising from her seat.
After Aurora left, Mr. Chambers turned on Daniel, scowling. “Can’t even handle one woman. Useless.”
Daniel didn’t flinch under his grandfather’s glare. He spun his teacup idly and replied, “You’ve handled plenty of women, haven’t you? Still ended up alone.”
With that, he stood and walked out.
Mr. Chambers’ face turned thunderous.
When Aurora got home, Grandma Grace was already waiting for her.
“Grandma.”
She didn’t know how to start. She’d promised to stay, to be with her grandmother and now she was thinking of leaving again.
Grandma Grace already knew everything. Her eyes shimmered with tears, but her voice was gentle as ever: “Go, sweetheart. Go chase your dreams.”
Aurora choked back a sob. “Come with me, please.”
Grandma Grace shook her head. “Aurora, this is my home. I want to stay.”
Aurora hugged her and couldn’t bear to let go.
She packed her things in silence. When she stepped outside, Daniel was waiting by the front door.
He saw the tear stains on her cheeks and his expression softened. In a low voice, he reassured her, “I’ve hired a professional nurse to look after your grandmother. She’ll send you daily updates about how she’s doing. You don’t have to worry.” Aurora’s heart twisted. “Thank you.”
The next morning, at eight o’clock, Aurora walked into Research and Development wearing a cream-colored suit.
As she entered, staff were trickling in, and their surprise was obvious. They asked about her recent life, and then the conversation turned to the delayed perfume launch—a sore subject that drew more than a few complaints.
Aurora went straight to her office. All of Eleanor’s belongings had been cleared out and stacked on a workstation outside. Thıs text ıs hosted at
Without so much as a glance, Aurora called everyone to a meeting.
Eleanor came in last. Her eyes were red and puffy-she’d clearly been crying.
Aurora hadn’t expected her to stay. After everything that had happened, it must have felt like a humiliation too big to bear.
She allowed herself a moment of distraction, then pushed it aside and focused as the staff began reporting on their recent projects, occasionally pausing to ask pointed questions.
Eleanor was the last to present.