After All the Hurt, She Chose Herself novel Chapter 124

Lilith held Helena’s hand and said, “Aria, would you like to come with us to Grandma’s house? It’s probably been a long time since you’ve seen her…”

The sight of the three of them huddled together still stung Aria’s heart.

“Do you want to go?” Gideon asked. “I can go with you.”

Accompanying her was just an excuse; he really wanted to be with Lilith.

“No, that’s okay. I…”

Aria was about to refuse when Lilith spoke again.

“Rufus is old. The vet said he only has a few days left… Aria, are you sure you don’t want to go see him?”

Rufus was the Golden Retriever she and Charles had raised at the Brent family home when they were children. Doing the math, he would be eleven years old now.

He had indeed reached the age where a dog would naturally pass away.

The refusal on Aria’s lips was swallowed back down.

“I’ll go see him.”

In previous years, whenever she tried to visit the Brent family for the holidays, she couldn't even get through the door. But Rufus, with his keen sense of smell, would always press himself against the crack in the door and pant in her direction.

Gideon spoke up. “I’ll go with you.”

He had a servant bring a coat and draped it over Aria’s shoulders. “It’s cold outside.”

Her hand had felt a little cool when he held it just now.

Now that she was pregnant, it was better for her to be bundled up.

The Evernight family's living room instantly fell quiet again.

Raphael sat down on the sofa, his presence gentle.

But the atmosphere immediately grew chilly.

Aldous Evernight sighed. “It’s better when the Evernight house is a bit more lively.”

Raphael’s lips curved. “It will be. It’ll be lively again once that child is born.”

***

Lilith’s body instinctively trembled, and she stammered, “Because… because…”

“That little animal hurt Flora, so he’s been tied up over there,” Helena said. “Disobedient animals need to be punished.”

Aria’s heart clenched violently.

Rufus was old, and the weather was so cold now. What kind of shelter could he possibly have in the garden?

Aria hurried toward the garden.

“Gideon,” Lilith said, stepping in front of him to block his path. She smiled. “I found our old high school photo album a while back. Do you want to see it?”

Gideon paused. “High school?”

Lilith nodded. “There are a lot of familiar faces.”

Gideon’s gaze shifted to the direction Aria had gone.

Lilith smiled. “There are servants in the garden. Aria will be fine.”

Gideon nodded and followed Lilith into the living room.