Chapter59


    Inthestudy,Lesliepinchedthecornersofhiseyes.


    HeclosedthtestresearchanddevelopmentreportfromtheSynderCorporation.Itwaspletemess.


    DespitetheoutwardbrillianceoftheSynderCorporation,itwasactuallyrottenontheinside.Therewasnohurry.Thegamehadjustbegun.


    Lesliesetasidethereport,pickedupthessofwater,andbroughtittohislips,onlytorealizethattherewasnomorewaterinit.


    Hegotupandwalkedoutofthestudy.Hesawthatthelightsinthediningroomwerestillon.Aureliawassleepingonthetable,surroundedbydocuments.


    Leslielightenedhisfootsteps.Hedidn’twanttowakeherup.


    However,heunintentionallysawthputerscreen,andtwowordscaughthiseye–OneTechnology.


    Aureliawasactuallystayingutetoworkonaproposalforhipany.


    ThispiquedLeslie’scuriosity.


    DidAurelia,whohadsaidsomanyimpressivethingswhentheyhadmetatthetechexpo,reallymeanwhatshehadsaid?


    Withthatinmind,hencedattheprojectproposalonAurelia’puter.


    Sinceitwouldbedeliveredtohiminacoupleofdaysanyway,itdidn’tmatterifhelookedatit


    now.


    Hescrolledthroughthedocument,andhiseyeslitup.


    Finally,therewassomeonewhoactuallyunderstoodwhathewanted,


    Actingonimpulse,LeslielookedatAurelia.


    Strandsofhairwerescatteredaroundherface,swayingwithherbreath.


    Herface,imprintedwithmarksfromthetable, appearedlesssternandseemedmoreintriguingthanusual.


    Heunconsciouslyreachedouttobrushherhairaside.


    Justashishandwasabouttotouchher,anotificationsoundedonthputer,joltinghimbacktoreality.


    Hewithdrewhishandabruptly.


    Herubbedhisforehead.Hewasprobablytootired.Otherwise,hewouldn’thavemadesuchaninappropriatemove.


    Asheturnedaway,Leslienoticedanameinthenotifications–Seth,Aurelia’sex–boyfriend.


    “Aurelia,areyoustillbusy?Whyaren’tyoureplyingtomymessages?”


    Aurelia,youmustbringyourhusbandheretomorrowandshowSeth!”


    Leslie’sbrowsfurrowed.Thescreen’sglowentuatedhis icyexpression.


    Afterafewseconds,heignoredit,pouredassofwater,andreturnedtothestudy.


    Notreceivinganyreplies,Milliecontinuedtosendmoremessages.


    Hearingthenoise,Aureliawokeup abruptly.ShetookafewsecondstoclearherheadandthenrepliedtoMilliewhilestretchinzily.


    “Whyhaven’tyousleptyet?”


    “Aurelia,I’vebeenwatchingthmunitychat.They’restartingtocebets,sayingthatyoudefinitelywon’tdaretobringyourhusbandtomorrowandthatyou’llembarrassyourself.


    “Ignorethem.They’rejustbored.”


    “Aurelia!I’mgenuinelyworriedforyou!Whatifitcausestroublewiththebossandyouendupinatightspot?Won’tyoubegivingKimberlyanadvantagethen?”


    Aureliarestedherheadonherhands,lookingtroubled.ShewastornbetweenhercareeradvancementandLeslie’sjob.


    Withconflictingthoughts,hermindbecamemorechaotic.


    “Let’stalkaboutiter.”


    “Aurelia,yourhusbandcan’tevenprotectyou.Whydoyoubothertokeepsuchauselessmanaround?”N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    “Millie!”


    AureliawassurprisedatMillie’ments.


    “It’sthetruth.WhyareallofKimberly’spursuershandsomeandwealthy?Whydowealwaysendupwiththesewedchoices?Areyoureallywillingtoletherstepalloveryou?”


    “Millie,myhusbandisnotuseless.AreyoureallysuggestingthatIbringhimalongtomorrowtohelpme,ordoyoujustwanttoenjoythegossipandundermineKimberly?”


    “Aurelia,Idon’tmeananythingelse.Ijustcan’tstandherarrogantattitude.”


    “It’te.Youshouldgetsomerest.


    Aureliadidn’twanttocontinuetheconversation.ShethoughtthatMilliewasjustbberingoutofanxiety.


    Afterturningoffheputer,shelookedatthestudyandsighed.Then,sheturned topickuptheuntouchedmealbeforeputtingit intherefrigerator.


    Shewouldjusteatthatforlunchtomorrow.Itwouldbeawastetothrowitaway.


    Aftertidyingup,shetookashowerandwenttobed,fallingasleepquickly.


    Thenextmorning,itwasalready8:00amwhensheopenedhereyes.


    Italmostcausedhertofalloutofbedinshock.


    Shequicklywashedup,andthensherushedtothedoor.


    ever.