Billionaire’s Regret After Losing Her (Aurelia) novel Chapter 202

Chapter 202 Defiant Words

The moment those words left Aurelia’s lips, Grant’s eyes darkened. A complicated flicker passed through those deep gazes of his, gone almost as quickly as it appeared.

Just as she started to step out with her other foot, his grip on her wrist tightened suddenly.

Aurelia froze.

“That’s not your fault,” he said seriously. “And don’t ever talk about yourself like that again.”

She didn’t respond.

When she turned back to look at him, her eyes unexpectedly stung.

Was it really not her fault?

For years in the Hawthorne family, every single one of them had made her feel like everything was her mistake.

No matter what she did, it was wrong in their eyes.

1/11

Vet box

12:58

B

+36 Bonus

< Chapter 202 Defiant Words

He glanced down at the red marks his fingers had left on her wrist, paused for a second, then gently rubbed the

spot.

His deep voice softened even more. “Life is long. You can’t punish yourself forever just because you made one wrong choice.”

Aurelia gave a bitter little smile. She didn’t think she was punishing herself over a bad decision.

“I’m not…”

“You are,” Grant cut in before she could finish. “The second that thought lives in your head, you’re already

doing it.”

x

IMM

4

4

1

Most men move on easily after a failed relationship, ready for the next one without looking back.

Women, though? Even when something better comes

along, they let the weight of that past mistake chain them down.

Aurelia felt a lump in her throat.

2/11

12:58

+36 Bonus

< Chapter 202 Defiant Words

Grant reached out and lightly ruffled her hair. “Go inside and rest. Your brother’s already sent two messages asking why you’re not home yet.”

Aurelia laughed helplessly. Sebastian was way too overprotective.

Still, being cared about by family in moments like this felt good.

When she’d been with Dominic, he’d promised that marrying him would give her a real home.

In the end, all she got was disappointment.

The Hawthornes had never treated her like family.

From the day she married in, just thinking about dealing with Dominic’s family filled her with dread and rejection.

*****

Aurelia got out and headed inside.

Grant watched until she disappeared through the door, then told Miles, “Drive.”

12:58

&

+36 Bonus

< Chapter 202 Defiant Words

He pulled out his phone and texted Sebastian: [She’s doing a lot better.]

Sebastian had been seriously worried, even considering flying in from Germany to watch over her himself.

Grant’s assurance that she’d fully moved back to Starlight Hill was the only thing that calmed him.

Sebastian replied quickly: [Why is she so set on going to the Hawthorne Manor? Did you get anything out of her?]

Grant typed back: [She won’t tell the truth.]

In reality, Grant had already had people investigate in private.

Years ago, during a demolition project, the Hawthorne family had driven a woman to her death.

A woman with the last name Sterling.

Back then, the Hawthorne family had completely buried the truth. Even within the Fletcher family, no one had mentioned it. It was clear that the information had been sealed off very tightly after the incident.

12:58

+36 Bonus

< Chapter 202 Defiant Words

Since Aurelia had her own plan for revenge, Grant decided not to tell Sebastian the real reason.

Because once that truth came out, the Hawthorne family might be wiped out overnight.

Seeing that Grant had no answers either, Sebastian did not press further.

He only reminded him: [If she heads to the Hawthorne Manor, keep a close eye on her for me.]

Grant replied: [I know. Don’t worry.]

Sebastian still wasn’t fully at ease, even with Gareth there.

He’d placed all kinds of people around her.

What he didn’t realize was that the Aurelia now wasn’t the same one he’d found years ago.

Back then, she truly had nothing but Dominic.

Just like Eleanor had mocked her, she’d been powerless against the Hawthorne influence.

12:59

+36 Bonus

< Chapter 202 Defiant Words

Even if Aurelia had struggled to build a few businesses of her own, what did it matter?

With a single word from Eleanor, everything she had worked for could be erased.

Now everything had flipped.

She had Sebastian. She had the entire Smith Group. If she went head-to-head with the Hawthornes today, the outcome would be completely different.

Miles glanced at Grant, putting his phone away, and sighed. “If only you’d found Ms. Sterling sooner. She wouldn’t have suffered so much with them.”

Grant’s lips pressed into a tight line, his expression turning grave.

He did wish he’d found her earlier.

“Maybe it’s what her mother wanted from up there.”

Miles had nothing to say to that.

Even Grant was starting to believe in fate.

12:59

+3

+36 Bonus

< Chapter 202 Defiant Words

In his mind, he needed to watch Aurelia tear that bastard Dominic apart with her own hands.

Not just Dominic. He wanted to see the entire Hawthorne family destroyed.

*****

Dominic had called Aurelia over and over.

Jason had called her repeatedly as well

She’d seen the calls while dining with Grant at The River Café but hadn’t answered in front of him.

Only now, back at Starlight Hill, did she casually call Dominic back. This was rare.

In the past, when they fought, this would never have happened.

The phone barely rang once before Dominic picked up.

Before she could speak, his furious voice exploded through. “Finally done with Grant?”

7/11

Aurelia answered calmly. “Yeah.”

12:59

+36 Bonus

< Chapter 202 Defiant Words

That single word lit the fuse. Dominic’s rage exploded instantly.

He roared, “Aurelia, get this straight. We’re not divorced

yet!”

Her face stayed blank.

“What you’re doing right now, that’s basically dating him. isn’t it?”

He bit down hard on the word “dating.” as if he wanted to tear her apart.

Aurelia didn’t even flinch. “I guess so.”

At this point, she and Dominic had already torn their relationship to shreds. She knew Grant would soon fall out with Dominic completely as well.

All the ties-marriage, brotherhood-were already in shreds.

And she did not mind tearing it a little more thoroughly.

gominic could not restrain his fury any longer.

12:59

B

+36 Bonus

< Chapter 202 Defiant Words

What is this supposed to mean? He had never expected her to admit it so openly.

She’d promised not to divorce, then turned around and

went on a date with Grant. The two of them had even ganged up to kick him.

They weren’t divorced, and they were already acting like a couple.

Dominic’s head throbbed painfully. This hurt far more than when Aurelia had first demanded a divorce.

“You shameless pair!” He completely lost control, cursing through the phone.

Hearing his outburst, Aurelia was not angry at all. She let out a soft, mocking laugh.

Hearing her laugh pushed him over the edge.

“You can still laugh? Aurelia, how did I never realize you were this kind of…”

She cut him off coldly. “Before we got married, I also did 39t realize you could stay with me while flirting with 12:59

&

+36 Bonus

< Chapter 202 Defiant Words

another woman behind my back.”

Dominic was choked into silence.

Aurelia went on, voice dripping with sarcasm. “That half year, I warned you Lauren had feelings for you. You told me I was imagining things.

“I even talked to her, asked her to keep her distance. She said you two were family, so why should she?

“Since you all enjoy this kind of closeness so much, fine. I’ll just invite a few more people to the party. We can all have fun together.”

If things were going to be messy, she’d make them gloriously chaotic.

Finally, she said icily, “Isn’t this perfect? You and Lauren are just family. Grant and I are just innocent friends. So what exactly are you so upset about?”

Her last line was pure mockery.

“If you think what you have with Lauren is normal, then what, Lhave with Grant can’t possibly be a problem, 12:59

h

right?”

+36 Bonus