Chapter Sixty-Seven: Confronting the Past

Chapter Sixty-Seven: Confronting the Past

The clock on the wall pointed to ten o'clock, and the ticking of the second hand seemed to echo with a somber sigh. James Taylor and the other executives had left over an hour ago, leaving Aaron King alone in the vast audition room. He stood by the window in silence, an aura of icy anger radiating from him.

It had been two hours now, and she still hadn't shown up. Her phone was unreachable. Did she really not care about this audition? Aaron King slammed his fist against the glass window in front of him, letting all his frustration out. But no—that wasn't right. She wasn't the type to give up so easily. Something must have happened, something beyond her control. The growing unease gnawed at him, and without another thought, he stormed out of the room.

On the brightly lit highway, Aaron King pushed the car to its limit, the sports car speeding like an arrow, blatantly running red lights as the scenery outside blurred into a frenzy. He gripped the steering wheel tightly, his gaze dark and intense. Suddenly, a small car swerved into his path from the side of the road. Aaron slammed on the brakes, and the car screeched to a halt, throwing him forward. "Sh*t!" he cursed, pounding the steering wheel in fury. Without wasting a moment, he pulled out his phone and dialed a number he knew by heart. "Hey, I need to find Lydia Moore," he barked, his voice commanding and harsh.

In a warmly decorated children's room, a soft pink lamp cast a gentle glow over the space. A lace-edged pink bedspread covered the French princess bed, adorned with cartoon characters from popular animated shows. Lydia Moore sat at the bedside, gently stroking Jenny Lin's hair as she whispered softly, "…and so, the princess and the prince lived happily ever after, never to be separated."

Jenny Lin seemed to have drifted off into a peaceful sleep, a sweet smile curling at the corners of her lips. Lydia Moore's heart softened further at the sight. In her dreams, Jenny Lin seemed to be free of guilt and burdens. Could that innocent smile mean she was dreaming of something beautiful?

Julian Reed entered the room quietly, and Lydia turned to him, pressing a finger to her lips in a "shh" gesture. She kissed Jenny Lin's forehead, then got up to switch off the wall lamp and walked over to him.

The white Mercedes glided smoothly through the night, the headlights illuminating the road ahead. Julian Reed drove with ease, a smile playing on his lips like petals caught in a gentle breeze. "Thank you for everything tonight. If it weren't for you, we wouldn't have found Jenny Lin so quickly." He was genuinely touched and grateful for all she had done. But he couldn't help adding, "Are you still feeling unwell? Should we go to the hospital? Or maybe I could have the family doctor take a look at you?" Julian's concern for her was evident in his voice, uncertain if she was still struggling with her health.

"No need, Julian. It's just a little cold, and I'm feeling much better now, especially after wearing your jacket. Isn't it amazing?" Lydia Moore replied with a playful smile, hoping to put him at ease and not worry about her. But what she said was true—the scent of pine and fresh air clinging to his jacket was comforting, making her want to snuggle deeper into its warmth like a tiny turtle retreating into its shell.

Seeing this, Julian's smile grew even warmer. No matter the situation, being with her always brought him joy. There was something about her, something incredible that drew him closer and closer. It wasn't just… the affection of an older brother. The thought sprang up in Julian's mind, causing his heart to flutter, and his grip on the steering wheel tightened. He couldn't help but steal a glance at her, trying to be casual.

Lydia Moore was smoothing out the fringes of her dress with care, her eyes twinkling like the gentle waves of the sea, and her smile as pure as morning dew, untouched by any blemish, so beautiful it stirred his heart. Sensing his gaze, she turned her head in confusion. "What is it, Julian?"

Julian quickly looked away, trying to hide his sudden nervousness, a faint blush spreading across his cheeks. "It's nothing, really. It's just… you look very beautiful today. Were you at some event?" Afraid of losing himself in her again, Julian kept his eyes on the road, missing the way her smile froze on her lips.

"I… I just attended a friend's birthday party this afternoon." Lydia Moore turned her face away, her hand tightening on her dress. She had lost the chance at the audition after all. Maybe opportunities like this were never meant to be hers. But if she had to choose again, she would still choose to look for Jenny Lin without hesitation. She tried to let go of the disappointment in her heart and slowly unclenched her hand.

The next moment, she seemed to remember something and pulled her phone from her bag. On the screen were dozens of missed calls—all from the same number: Aaron King. Lydia Moore's eyes dimmed, and a wave of pain surged through her heart. Did he go to the audition today? He had gone out of his way to get Agnes to help her, yet she had given up the chance. He must be so angry with her now. Would he ever speak to her again? Lydia leaned helplessly against the window, the nightscape outside turning black and white in her eyes.

It was eleven at night, and the starless sky looked especially bleak. Sakura Academy was enveloped in silence, the soft moonlight filtering through the sparse branches of the trees. Underneath the trees, a tall figure stood, seemingly in the same spot for a long time.

Not long after, a white Mercedes pulled up in front of the girls' dormitory in the Haiying District. A girl stepped out, wrapped in a thin coat, her body shivering slightly in the cold wind. She had only taken a few steps when a handsome, gentle boy got out of the car and walked up to her, draping a larger coat over her shoulders and affectionately brushing her hair. The girl responded with a tender smile. They looked just like a close couple.

As Julian Reed's car disappeared from sight, Lydia Moore tightened her coat and turned toward the dormitory, her mind preoccupied with how to explain everything to Aaron King. She was so lost in thought that she didn't notice the cold eyes that had been staring at her for a long time. Just as she was about to enter the building, a voice as cold as ice cut through the night behind her: "You're quite the schemer, aren't you?"

Lydia Moore spun around, her breath catching in her throat as the air seemed to freeze around her.

Silence. The air was thick with a sense of danger. Under the sycamore trees, the thin moonlight fell on Aaron King's brown hair, his handsome features etched with cold arrogance. The moment Lydia Moore turned to face him, his eyes sharpened, filled with a storm that sent a shiver down her spine.

"In your eyes, is there really nothing more important than Julian Reed? The Delar audition wasn't important, other people's time isn't important, and I…" My efforts and worries aren't important either. For him, you could hang up on me, disappear for over a week. For him, you didn't care that I went out of my way to have your image transformed. For him, you didn't care about my waiting, my concern—you didn't care about anything.