The Assassin

Sometimes when Aurora visited her grandfather, she would catch him staring at her, lost in thought—as if he were seeing the young Grandma Carter through her.

 

"Your Grandma Carter was an old acquaintance of mine," the old man said with a faint smile.

 

Aurora quietly exhaled in relief. "An acquaintance? Did you hate my Grandma Carter? But… she passed away so long ago."

 

"You're right. I did hate her. She died before I could develop the medicine… and I hated myself for it too," the old man murmured, sipping his red wine slowly. "I know you love Everett. That pampered young man… I just wanted to see if he truly had the desire to marry you—if his heart was steadfast enough to love you."

 

Aurora couldn't make sense of what he was saying. "Sir… what do you mean by that?"