Chapter 24
Terrence’s voice wavered slightly. “Thea, are you really not going to forgive me?”
Aurora shook her head without hesitation. “No. Never.”
She didn’t wait for his response before turning and walking away.
The next day, Aurora had plans to go to a concert with Christopher. Ever since regaining her heating, she had grown to love all kinds of sounds–the inurmurs of nature, the melodies of instruments, the tones of people’s voices…
Christopher, fortunately, was passionate about classical music. Each concert they attended together taught her something new.
Terrence remained outside Sainsbury Manor the whole night. Aurora’s words from the previous day lingered in his thoughts.
The satisfaction he’d felt after sleeping with Alyssa had now twisted into regret, sharp as a knife. Yet, he still wanted to try again. He couldn’t believe Aurora would really let go of their five years together so easily.
When Aurora saw Christopher’s message, she practically floated downstairs, humming a cheerful tune.
Janet, sitting at the table eating, couldn’t resist teasing, “Weren’t you the one who said you didn’t want to see Chris? Now you two are practically attached at the hip. Looks like that arranged marriage might just work out, after all.”
Even though she knew they were only friends, Aurora felt her face grow warm. “Mom, we’re just friends!”
With that, she hurried out the door.
The concert tickets today were rare finds. Christopher had excitedly shared that his most admired cellist would be performing.
Aurora had barely stepped outside when she noticed Terrence standing rigidly nearby. She pretended not to see him, walking briskly past toward Christopher. He handed her a sandwich like it was the most natural thing in the world. “Mom insisted I bring this for you.”
She accepted it and took an eager bite, her expression brightening instantly. “Mabel never disappoints!”
‘Come on. The concert’s starting soon.”
“You never finished telling me the lineup.”
Terrence stood frozen, watching Aurora’s figure shrink into the distance. As she passed through the gates, he nearly called after her to explain himself one final time. But then, he noticed the light in her eyes–that familiar, expectant joy.
It was an expression he recognized well. During their relationship, she had often looked at him that way. But it’d been nearly two months since he’d seen it last. Thinking back to just before she’d faked her death, her eyes had been flat and lifeless, as if nothing could reach her anymore.
Yet, Terrence remembered clearly how she’d looked at him with that same vibrant intensity when they’d first started dating.
At last, he realized he’d left Aurora with nothing but grief. He couldn’t bring himself to ask for her forgiveness again. He made arrangements to fly home that same day.
Since he couldn’t reach her directly, he asked a stranger for a piece of paper and scribbled a short message. After placing the note where she would see it at the entrance, he studied the home where she would spend the rest of her life before stepping into a waiting car and leaving.
Just then, a gust of wind lifted the paper into the air. The words were simple.
་
“Thea, please let me call you by this name for one last time. I need you to know I’m sorry. More than anything, I hope you find happiness for the rest of your life.”
