Me And My Billionaire Husband (Aurora and Heath) novel Chapter 170

Grandfather gazed out the window, silent for so long that Aurora thought he wouldn’t discuss it. Then, he went to the safe, retrieved a photograph, and handed it to Aurora.

In the photo were Grandfather, Sebastian, a young woman holding a well–behaved infant

a family portrait.

Aurora, stunned, asked, ‘This is?‘

Grandfather sighed, “That baby is you.”

Aurora’s eyes filled with tears, her voice trembling, “And this woman… she is…?”

“Your mother, Callista,” he explained briefly. “I don’t know how she met your father, but she devotedly married him, helped him manage the family business, and then had you. After your birth, she became somewhat deranged, speaking incoherently, suffering from severe depression, and eventually took her own life.”

“Did she really bring shame to the Pendletons?” Aurora asked.

Grandfather sighed, having sighed countless times that night.

After a long pause, he said, “Aurora, she was always your mother.”

He retrieved a necklace from the safe, a gemstone carved into a four–leaf clover with a “C” character engraved on the back.

Handing the necklace to Aurora, he said, “The only thing your mother left behind. I wanted to give it to you when you got married, but now… take it.”

Dinner had turned into a family quarrel, and her grandfather somewhat blamed her.

Aurora nodded silently and left the room.

Lying on her bed, Aurora studied the photo. Callista, in a pretty floral dress with no other jewelry but the clover necklace, appeared elegant and fresh, with long hair and delicate, spirited features. In her arms was baby Aurora, smiling with her eyes squinted.

Aurora couldn’t believe Callista was the kind of woman described by Sebastian.

But Sebastian had said Callista’s scandal was the reason she was erased from the family records, and her grandfather seemed to acknowledge it.

So, did Sebastian despise her because her mother was perceived as a frivolous woman?

Aurora caressed the gentle face in the photo, feeling heavy–hearted. This was her first close encounter with her mother, or rather, the idea

of her.

Yet she was told her mother was a woman of loose morals, a stain on the Pendleton name.

A part of her heart, perhaps the part that truly belonged to Aurora, felt sad, helpless, and lonely.

The only proof of the woman who gave her life was this small photograph.

Her phone rang suddenly, ‘Beep Beep-”

Picking it up, her voice was slightly hoarse, Heath?”

Heath’s voice, deep and magnetic, came through, ‘Come out.”

“It’s late!‘ Aurora reluctantly hung up, hastily washed her face, and rushed out of the villa.

Exiting the villa, she saw Heath’s car under a streetlight. He stood beside it, dressed in a dark red coat, with countless specks of dust swirling above him like stars.

Aurora ran to him, asking, “What’s up?”

Heath pulled her into his embrace, “I missed you.”

Aurora hummed, “It’s the New Year, why aren’t you at home?”

Heath paused, tightening his hold, “I don’t know where to go.”

Aurora was taken aback, feeling a surge of sadness almost bringing tears to her eyes.

She realized that for Heath, he could never bring himself to hurt his father more cruelly, yet he couldn’t join him for a New Year’s Eve dinner as a family.

She reached out, embracing his broad back, and asked, ” do you still have food at home?”

Heath nodded, “A little.”

Aurora pulled him to the car, “Let’s go, back home.”

Driving back to the house, Aurora changed shoes and headed straight for the kitchen. She found an apron she had never used, tied it around herself, and then wrapped another one around Heath’s waist.

Heath looked puzzled, ‘What are you doing?”

Aurora smiled, ‘Making New Year’s Eve dinner!”