Lucas opened the car door for Aurora, his mind buzzing with conflicting thoughts.
He couldn't shake the nagging suspicion that bringing her along was a mistake, yet Nana's fragile state overpowered his doubts.
He climbed into the driver's seat, stealing a glance at Aurora as she settled in beside him, her expression unreadable.
The car ride was filled with silence, the tension between them evident.
Lucas gripped the steering wheel, his fingers digging into the leather from the pressure.
Memories of Julia's revelations and Aurora's deceit flitted through his mind like ghosts, haunting him with every mile they drove.
Yet, despite the anger simmering beneath the surface, a part of him couldn't help but recall the gentler moments—moments when Aurora's smile had seemed genuine.
Aurora, on the other hand, stared out the window, her thoughts a chaotic swirl. The closer they got to Nana Rossi's home, the more her courage solidified.
She wasn't doing this for Lucas—he was just a part of everything that had gone wrong.
She was doing this for Nana, the only person who had treated her with kindness in a world that had turned its back on her. Nana had been a source of comfort in her darkest hours, and Aurora wouldn't abandon her now, not when she needed her the most.
When they finally arrived at the house, Lucas killed the engine and sat still for a moment, taking a deep breath as if preparing for battle.
He turned to Aurora, his eyes briefly meeting hers before they both looked away, neither willing to acknowledge the emotions they still held for each other.
Without a word, they stepped out of the car and approached the front door. As Lucas reached for the handle, it swung open, revealing Nora, her face flushed with worry.
"Thank Goddess you're here!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling. "Nana's been asking for you both non-stop. She's in the living room."
Lucas nodded, brushing past Nora with Aurora close behind.
As they entered the mansion, the familiar scent of home filled the air, but something felt off.
Expecting to see Nana frail and bedridden, they were instead greeted by a surprising scene.
Nana Rossi sat at the head of the dining table, looking lively and vibrant as she chatted with Lucas's mother.
Plates of food were laid out before them, and two chairs were conspicuously set beside each other, already prepared for Lucas and Aurora.
Lucas froze, his mind struggling to process what he was seeing. Aurora, equally stunned, glanced at him, her eyes filled with suspicion.
"Sit down, both of you," Nana Rossi's voice rang out, firm but warm.
Aurora's gaze darted to Lucas, silently questioning him.
Had he tricked her into coming?
But Lucas was just as bewildered. He shot a look at his mother and sister, his expression demanding answers.
Had they lied about Nana's condition?
Nana's eyes twinkled knowingly as she repeated, "Sit."
With no other choice, they reluctantly moved toward the table, taking the seats that had been set for them. The chairs were so close together that they couldn't avoid brushing shoulders as they sat down.
Aurora's concern couldn't be contained any longer. She turned to Nana, her voice laced with both confusion and worry. "How are you alright? We were told you were in a terrible condition, that you'd broken your spine."
Nana Rossi let out a hearty chuckle, waving a hand dismissively. "Ah, that? A little fib to get you both here."
Lucas furrowed his brows in confusion.
Noticing his perplexity, Nana turned to him with a smile. "I had to threaten your mother and sister to make that prank call. You never visit, Lucas, and Aurora is the only one who comes to see me. I figured this was the only way to get you both together."
Lucas let out a long sigh of relief, his shoulders visibly relaxing.
He was glad to see his grandmother in good health, the tension he'd carried all the way here slowly ebbing away.
Aurora, too, felt a wave of relief wash over her, her previous irritation now tempered by the knowledge that Nana was okay.
"Well, I'm glad you're alright, Nana," Lucas said, a small smile forming as he reached for a piece of bread.
Nana Rossi nodded approvingly, but then her expression grew more serious as she fixed her gaze on Lucas. "Now that you've just returned from business after six long months, I expect you to spend more time with Aurora. You two need it."
Her eyes twinkled with a hint of mischief as she added, "And don't keep me waiting too long for great-grandkids. A house isn't a home without the laughter of little ones running around."
Across the table, Lucas's sister couldn't hide the irritation that flashed across her face. She glared at Aurora, her eyes filled with thinly veiled disdain.
Aurora caught the look and immediately sensed something was off. Only Lucas's mother and sister seemed to know she had left the mansion—no one else appeared aware of the separation.
Lucas noticed the tension and glanced at Aurora, silently urging her with a subtle gesture.
His eyes pleaded with her to play along, to pretend they were still the happy couple Nana believed them to be.
Aurora hesitated, her mind racing as she weighed her options. But with Nana's expectant gaze on them and the entire family watching, she knew she had little choice but to comply.
Reluctantly, she forced a smile and nodded, trying to sound light-hearted. "We'll see about that, Nana," she replied.
Nana Rossi beamed, clearly pleased with Aurora's response. "That's the spirit, dear. A little more time together, and you'll see everything fall into place."
Lucas's mother cleared her throat, her tone deliberately casual but carrying an edge. "Well, Mother, let's not put all our hopes on Lucas and Aurora just yet. Nora is more than capable of giving you those great-grandkids sooner rather than later."
Nora, sensing an opportunity to insert herself into the conversation, smiled sweetly. "That's right, Grandma. I'm ready when the right man comes along."
Aurora, who had been trying to navigate the conversation with caution, felt a pang of discomfort at the blatant favouritism.
She remained silent, focusing on her plate as she pushed her food around, not wanting to engage.
But Nana Rossi was having none of it. She turned to Nora, her voice firm. "Don't interfere in adult conversations, Nora."
Nora's smile faltered, and she pouted, crossing her arms defensively. "But Grandma, I'm an adult too!"
Nana's eyes twinkled with authority. "Well, you're not married yet. I may not live long enough to see you walk down the aisle. But now that Lucas is married and I'm still here, I want to see his children running around and causing the same kind of mischief he did."
Aurora couldn't help but blush at Nana's words, feeling embarrassed.
Despite the awkwardness of the situation, she found herself curious about Lucas's childhood.
Her attention shifted as Nana began sharing stories of Lucas's younger years—tales of him sneaking cookies from the jar, climbing trees he wasn't supposed to, and getting into all sorts of harmless trouble.
As Nana spoke, Aurora tried to suppress a smile, but she couldn't hide it completely.
The image of Lucas as a mischievous child was sweet, and for a brief moment, she was able to forget the tension between them.
She even let out a quiet laugh at one of Nana's funnier stories.
But then, out of the corner of her eye, Aurora noticed that Lucas wasn't listening.
While everyone else was engrossed in Nana's stories, Lucas was staring intently at his phone, his thumb scrolling as if the world around him didn't exist.
The food on his plate remained untouched.
Aurora's heart sank.
Who could he be messaging so intently?
She didn't want to pry, but her gaze unconsciously drifted to his phone, trying to make out what was so important.
Just as she was about to look away, the phone rang, startling her.
The name "Julia" flashed on the screen, clear as day.