The CEO’S Unplanned Heir novel (Aurelia and Leopold) novel Chapter 1287

"Dad's heart must be aching, and he just doesn't show it, afraid it might get to me. He's always like that, keeping his sorrows to himself."

Aurelia fell silent, aware that she was forever indebted to Arnold. If he hadn't rescued her on that desolate island all those years ago, she would have been a lost soul, and William, Arnold saved him too. That was why Leopold could swallow his pride and not settle scores with him.

Arnold was her first love, her confidant, her savior, but their fates were never meant to intertwine. She had fond feelings for Arnold, but it was always Leopold who held her heart.

Leopold often said his heart was small, with room for her alone. Whether that was true or not, she couldn't say for certain. Her own heart wasn't quite that small, but if his love was genuine, she would never betray him.

"Grief is temporary," she mused, "There's no hurdle in life that time can't help you get past."

To her, it seemed improbable to love only one person in a lifetime. As years pass, hearts change.

Endless love, the kind that lasted until death, and it was a myth, a fairy tale for the pages of a novel. Real-life love was fragile, and prone to change, especially for men, who, bound by their nature, had needs. That was why there were so many tales of infidelity, love triangles, and heartbreakers.

Perhaps now, Arnold couldn't let go. But in a year, two, three, or four... eventually, his feelings would fade, he would move on, and forget. He would meet someone new, someone who would stir his heart again, thawing the ice that was settled there.

Of course, if he could be moved by Lisa, and accept her love, that would be for the best. Then Nova would have a complete family.

William didn't understand these complexities. In his eyes, Arnold loved Aurelia the most, and treated her better than anyone else, even better than Leopold.