William looked at her with a stern expression that seemed far too sober for his tender years. "So, who will you marry, Daddy or Uncle Leopold?" Aurelia pinched his chubby cheek gently. "What's wrong with staying just as we are now?" Pouting, William frowned. "Does that mean Kane and | will always be kids from a single-parent home?" Aurelia was momentarily speechless.
She had always tried not to let her personal issues affect the children. But they were too clever, too understanding, and despite her best efforts, they felt the ripples of the grown-up world, especially William, who had grown accustomed to the blissful life of a family of three. The sudden split between Mom and Dad must have shaken his little world.
"Sweetie, we'll try to sort out our issues without letting them impact your lives," she reassured him.
William fixed his gaze on her. "If Uncle Leopold leaves the hospital and marries someone else, you'll have to marry Daddy, okay?" Aurelia bit her lip. She was certain Leopold wouldn't marry someone else. Lana was just a smoke screen.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"If Uncle Leopold goes ahead and ties the knot with someone else, I'll seek out my happiness." She said this last part with a glance towards Guardian Leopold across the room.
"My daddy won't marry anyone else," Kane interjected with solemn conviction. If his dad made another "mistake," he was sure he'd lose his mom forever.
Leopold's mouth tightened into a hard line.
He only wanted to remarry Aurelia. He had no interest in any other woman.
Skyler sighed, sensing the tension. "Ah, Leopold and Arnold have feelings for Angel. But Angel can only marry one of them. Tough situation.” Aurelia massaged her temples helplessly. "Alright, let's not talk about this now. Let's eat before the roast leg of lamb gets cold." She served a hearty portion of the tender lamb to Skyler and the children.
They all dove into their meal, the earlier conversation forgotten in the face of delicious food.
After dinner, Skyler took the kids upstairs to play in Kane's room. They were going to spend the night at the Stirling Mansion.
Leopold pulled Aurelia into his room, his face as dark and stormy as a sky filled with thunderclouds.
"You're refusing to remarry not because you want to enjoy a so-called single life, but you're just hesitating between Arnold and me, right?" Aurelia knew this confrontation was coming. Leopold had a temper like a thunderstorm, quick to rage.
"I've told you before that Arnold and | are just friends, nothing more. And even if | had to make a choice, so what? I'm single and have the right to choose. It was you who gave up on me." Hearing her answer, Leopold clenched his jaw.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmThe thought of her making a finger heart at Arnold during their video call infuriated him. She had never made that gesture to him.
She even went to the chapel to get a cross for Arnold's safety while he faced danger every day, nearly getting poisoned, and she hadn't bothered to get one for him.
The stark contrast drove him mad, one up in the heavens and the other down in the dirt.
"I'm telling you for the last time. I've never given up on you. | never will in this lifetunless I'm dead," he declared.
Annoyed, Aurelia rolled her eyes at his melo. "Stop talking about death. It's bad luck." She reached into her pocket and pulled out a cross. "I got this for you at Grace Lutheran Chapel for good luck. I've been so busy these past days that | forgot to give it to you." His anger fizzled out like water on a flame, leaving not even a wisp of smoke.
So, she had thought of him, after all.
"Put it on me." "Okay." Aurelia slipped the cross around his neck. This is exclusive content from (Sw). Please read it on to support the author and the translation team! With a swift move, he wrapped his arm around her slender waist. "From now on, no finger hearts to anyone else. It upsets me." Aurelia broke into a sweat. "Con. It's just a finger heart. You can send it to family and friends."