Billionaire’s Regret After Losing Her (Aurelia) novel Chapter 7

Chapter 7 Gossip

Chloe had just come back to grab her phone when she walked

into the chaos. She nearly jumped out of her skin.

Her first instinct was to rush over to check on Aurelia.

But Dominic shot her an ice–cold glare.

Chloe couldn’t hold back her anger any longer. “Aurelia.”

Dominic’s hair was already disheveled, his brow twitching with rage. “Aurelia!”

He grabbed Aurelia’s wrist so hard, it felt like he might crush her bones.

The tension in the room was suffocating.

Chloe snapped, “Let go of her!”

Aurelia met Dominic’s cold, furious gaze. “What? You want to hit me for Lauren?”

At her words, Dominic’s grip tightened even more. “You’re absolutely unreasonable.”

With that, he roughly shoved Aurelia’s hand away.

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Then he grabbed Lauren’s wheelchair and started beading for

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the door.

As Lauren was wheeled past, she shot Aurelia one last contemptuous look.

Just as they reached the doorway, Aurelia called out from her hospital bed with a cold laugh. “Remember this—those few slaps today were just the beginning!”

Both Dominic and Lauren froze.

Aurelia’s meaning was crystal clear.

Whether it was about the baby or Maplecrest, she wasn’t letting any of it go.

Dominic stopped and turned back to look at her.

Lauren whimpered, “Dominic… my lower belly hurts so bad. Please get a doctor.”

Dominic had been about to say something to Aurelia, but instead, he only moved his lips without making a sound as he wheeled Lauren away.

4 4 4 4 4

Once Dominic and Lauren were gone, Chloe turned to Aurelia. “What did Lauren come here for?”

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Seriously, didn’t she know how disgusting she was? How could she have the nerve to show her face in front of Aurelia?

“And her face is all swollen–did you do that?”

Lauren’s cheeks were red and puffy on both sides. It was clear Aurelia had slapped her more than once.

Aurelia shrugged. “She wanted to play the victim. I just helped her out.”

The more pitiful Lauren acted, the more the Hawthorne family would push for Aurelia to divorce Dominic.

Chloe stared at her with growing concern.

“When her hell–bent mom finds out, there’s no way she’s letting this slide.”

Aurelia picked up the water from her bedside table and took two big gulps, but soon a sharp pain shot through her lower abdomen.

Chloe noticed right away. “What’s wrong?”

“My belly hurts a little.”

“I’m calling the doctor. I told you to keep your emotions in check, and here you are, getting into a huge fight with her. 3/10

You’re only making it worse for yourself,” Chloe muttered

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under her breath, dialing for a doctor.

The doctor arrived and examined Aurelia thoroughly.

It wasn’t anything serious, but he warned her to avoid getting upset. Emotional stability was crucial right now.

After the doctor left, Aurelia turned to Chloe. “Is everyone in New York saying that Dominic’s going to marry Lauren?”

Actually, these rumors had started circulating just two months after Adrian’s death.

Back then, Lauren had been showing up with Dominic at various events, constantly by his side.

Chloe sighed, the weight of the gossip heavy in her voice.

“More than just marrying her–they’re saying Adrian’s death had something to do with Dominic and Lauren.

“And they’ve been having an affair all along, and that the babies Lauren had are actually Dominic’s.”

This was ridiculous.

Weren’t these rumors damaging enough to the Hawthorne family? And yet, they still let Dominic and Lauren stay together, all because Lauren had a rich mother! 4/10

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Chloe continued, “I know you’re furious with them, but don’t do anything rash.”

“Lauren’s mother is a complete psycho. You beat Lauren up like that today–she’ll definitely come after you.”

Chloe’s voice held genuine concern about Marilyn’s potential retaliation.

A cold glint flashed in Aurelia’s eyes. “Wouldn’t it be great if she didn’t want to let it go? I don’t want to let it go either.”

Chloe caught that dangerous look and felt her chest tighten. “You…?”

Aurelia cut her off. “Weren’t you going to get my pajamas? Go ahead.”

“But you…”

Chloe hesitated, worried about leaving her alone, especially in this state.

Aurelia reassured her. “Don’t worry, I’m fine.”

“Okay, I’ll be right back.”

Chloe went to the bathroom to grab her phone.

5/1.9

She’d rushed to the hospital last night and hadn’t expected

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Aurelia to stay this long.

The moment the hospital room door closed behind her, Aurelia picked up the phone and dialed a number. Someone answered almost immediately.

“Auri.”

Auri–what a beautiful nickname.

Aurelia’s cold heart warmed just a little.

“I’m in the hospital.”

Dominic wheeled Lauren back to her room.

Eleanor arrived right after, carrying chicken soup made at Hawthorne Manor, specially for Lauren.

She entered with a gentle, motherly smile. “Lauren, dear, Mary picked out a fresh chicken this morning, and this soup…”

“Oh my, what happened to your face?”

Before she could finish, Eleanor noticed the handprints on Lauren’s face.

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She quickly set down the thermos and gently cupped Lauren’s

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face to get a better look.

“How did this happen? This…”

Both of Lauren’s cheeks were marked with clear finger prints.

Lauren covered her face and sniffled, glancing at Dominic but saying nothing.

That single glance at Dominic told Eleanor everything she needed to know.

She stood up, fury flashing in her eyes, and glared at Dominic. “It was Aurelia, wasn’t it? She must be insane! Lauren just gave birth, and she dared to hit her?”

Eleanor, who had always disliked Aurelia, was now absolutely

livid.

Lauren feigned a weak protest, “This isn’t Aurelia’s fault. It’s all my fault. I…”

Eleanor wouldn’t listen. She immediately pulled out her phone

and dialed Aurelia’s number.

The phone barely rang once before a cold, electronic voice answered: “Sorry, the number you have dialed is temporarily unavailable.”

Unavailable? It had connected just a second ago. She’d

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obviously been blocked.

Eleanor shook with rage. “She dared to block me! I guess she doesn’t want to be a Hawthorne daughter–in–law anymore!”

“Please don’t. It’s all my fault. I knew Aurelia’s been frustrated about not being able to have children for the next two years, and I still went to see her at a time like this.”

Eleanor exploded. “What are you talking about? You went to see her? You just gave birth–you’re the one who should be visited, not the other way around!”

Lauren hung her head even lower. “I…”

She looked even more pitiful.

Eleanor was so angry, she could barely see straight.

“You went to see her out of kindness, and she dared to slap you? She can’t have children herself, and whose fault is that? It’s all because she…”

Dominic’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “Enough!”

His suppressed fury instantly silenced Eleanor’s emotional outburst.

Meeting his intimidating gaze, Eleanor instinctively swallowed 8/10

the rest of her words.

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Even though Dominic was her son, she didn’t dare speak when he was angry.

But seeing Lauren beaten like this, she couldn’t let it go. “She was wrong to slap Lauren like that. You need to do something about it.”

Dominic shot her a look, his eyes flashing with threatening coldness.

This time, Eleanor shut up completely.

Dominic gave her just that one look before turning away and striding out of the room, radiating icy fury.

“Never mind…” Lauren whispered pitifully.

Eleanor’s heart broke for her. “There, there. I’m so sorry you had to go through this. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you get justice.”

Aurelia’s just an orphan–no manners at all. She needs to learn her place.

No family, no support, and she still has the nerve to act so arrogant?

I’m not letting her get away with this…

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