Aurora took a deep breath and looked at her mother. "Alright, I came here to talk to you about my meeting with Alexander."
Her mother's eyes widened. "Oh, so you've already met him?"
"Yeah, I did. It was actually the second time. This time I wanted to get some clarity on the whole situation, so we talked about my options," Aurora explained.
"And what have you decided to do about all of this?" her mother asked gently.
"I want to be a part of his legacy," Aurora replied.
Her mother gave her a knowing look. "Aurora, I'm your mother. You know better than to try and lie to me. I'm the one who taught you these tricks, remember?"
Aurora giggled. "Okay, okay, you got me. Mom, we've been struggling our whole lives because this man decided to choose his family's well-being over ours. I don't blame him - it's a perfectly sound decision. In his shoes I'd probably have done the same thing. But I can't sympathize with it because I'm the victim of that decision. Taking the money and walking away feels like accepting a bribe. My pride won't allow me to do that."
Her mother adjusted the bed to sit up better and looked at Aurora. "So you figure you'll engrave yourself into his family and take what you believe is rightfully yours?" she asked.
"Well, I guess that's the gist of it," replied Aurora.
Her mother let out a deep sigh. "You've disappointed me, Aurora. I taught you better than that. I can tell you really didn't think this through, now did you?"
"Mom, I did," Aurora replied quickly.
"You did? Okay then, tell me: what's your plan in detail? What's your objective, and how do you intend to achieve it?" her mother pressed.
"I'll accept whatever he left for me in the will that's being read tomorrow, then take it from there. I'm still gathering information before I can have a solid plan," said Aurora.
Her mother sighed. "And then what?"
Confused, Aurora replied, "What do you mean?"
"What did I say to do when you're faced with a situation where you're required to decide but you lack enough information?" her mother asked.
With some shame, Aurora replied, "Find ways to compensate for that lack of information."
Her mother continued, "Then have you done that?"
"I did - I have the lawyer, Alexander," Aurora responded.
"Okay, and what did I say was the next step?" her mother asked.
"You said if the decision I'm required to make affects me personally, I should detach myself from the situation so I can view it both objectively and subjectively," Aurora recited.
"Have you done that?" her mother asked.
"Yes, I did," Aurora affirmed.
"Then what did you find out?" her mother inquired.
"There's one obstacle to my objective," Aurora said.
"If you're about to say it's the family, then dear, you're wrong," her mother interjected.
"But Mom..." Aurora said.
"The family is just the tip of the iceberg to your problems. To them, you are nothing but a stranger who came out of nowhere to take what's rightfully theirs. How do you think they'll respond to that notion?" her mother asked.
"They'll retaliate," replied Aurora.
"Exactly. And you need to be prepared for that," her mother said softly. "You must think beyond just getting what you want. You need to consider how to handle the fallout and protect yourself. Have a solid strategy and be ready for anything."
Aurora nodded, feeling the weight of her mother's words. "I understand, Mom. I'll think it through more carefully."
Her mother looked at her intently. "Do you now understand why I said you'd disappointed me?"
Aurora nodded. "Yes, I was blinded by the idea of a great opportunity and got greedy. That made me overlook the most obvious things I needed to be aware of regarding my decision."
"That's my girl," her mother said, smiling.
Aurora smiled back, feeling the warmth of her mother's acknowledgment.
"Honestly, dear, one of the reasons I kept your father's truth a secret from you is because of the challenges you're about to face - his family, his wives, and his children. They're not going to be welcoming to you. I was scared, and I still am. I fear that something might happen to you. So please, dear, be careful. If your life is in danger, please withdraw from this. I can't lose you too; you're all I have in this cruel world," her mother said, her expression filled with worry.
Aurora felt a lump form in her throat. "I understand, Mom. I promise I'll be careful. I'll think things through more carefully and ensure my safety."
Her mother squeezed her hand. "That's all I ask. I believe in you, Aurora. Just remember, you don't have to face this alone. I'm here for you, always."
Her mother looked at her. "So, about your old job, what will you do?" she asked.
"I think I'll quit so I can focus on this," Aurora replied.
"You always whined about how Larry mistreated you, so I'm sure you're pleased," her mother said with a knowing smile.
"Oh, you have no idea. I've put up with that jerk for so long because I really needed the cash," Aurora said. "But I don't anymore, so he can shove it."
"Hey, language," her mother scolded gently.
Aurora covered her mouth. "Sorry."
"Don't be rude. The guy, his attitude aside, really helped us get through a lot," her mother reminded her.
"Yeah, that he did," Aurora acknowledged.
"But you know what's the best thing of all, Mom?" Aurora asked, her eyes brightening.
"What's that?" her mother asked.
"I can finally afford to pay your medical bills," Aurora said with a smile.
"I'm glad that a huge burden has been lifted off of you. So, when did you say they're reading the will again ?" her mother asked.
"Alexander said tomorrow, so I guess I'm finally going to meet the family," Aurora replied.
"Nervous?" her mother asked.
"A bit, but nothing I can't handle," Aurora said with a determined smile.
Just as they were talking, the cleaning lady knocked on the door, her equipment in hand. "Sorry to disturb your lovely chat, but it seems I have to clean the room a bit. That earthquake really gave me more work than I needed," she said.
"Oops, I guess that's my cue to leave," said Aurora, standing up.
"I'm glad I got to see you," her mother said.
"Get better, okay?" Aurora replied, hugging her mother tightly.
She took her backpack and greeted the cleaning lady on her way out. "Take care," she said, glancing back one last time before heading down the corridor, her mind already racing with thoughts about the meeting tomorrow.
[Aurora's Perspective]
As Aurora walked out of the hospital, the cool evening air greeted her gently, bringing a sense of calm. She took a deep breath, letting the tension of the past few hours slowly dissipate.
"Okay, Aurora, tomorrow's the big day. Meeting the family is going to be a challenge, but I can handle it. I've faced tougher situations before. I just need to stay calm and composed.
Mom's right. I need to think this through, but there's no rush. I'll accept whatever the will says and then take it step by step. It's important to gather all the information before making any major decisions.
Alexander seems competent. He might be a valuable ally, but I need to remember he's part of their world. Cautious optimism. That's the way to go.
Leaving the job is the right move. No more Larry, no more unnecessary stress. I can finally focus on something that could truly change our lives. It feels good to take control for once.
And Mom. The most important person in my life. If I can secure enough funds while in Mirage Corp, her medical bills won't be a worry anymore. She deserves the best care, and now I can make that happen.
Tomorrow marks a new beginning. I'm ready for it. I'll take it one step at a time, stay focused, and remain calm. Whatever happens, I'll handle it.