My Versatile Wife

Chapter 4---Our Paths Cross Again

Scarlett Thompson had always taken pleasure in provoking Aurora Wright, tormenting her countless times as they grew up.

Aurora had no intention of engaging with her now. She pulled out a few bills and called for the check.

But Scarlett stepped forward, blocking her path.

"Leaving so soon? Come on, let me see—did you bring a 'battery cap' today or some 'lubricant oil'?"

She reached for Aurora's bag.

Aurora stepped back, fixing her with a cold stare.

"Scarlett, don't push your luck."

"Push your luck? Hah!" Scarlett laughed as if she'd just heard the funniest thing. "Aurora! Still acting like Henry's girlfriend? You're broken up! You're nothing now—what are you so proud about?"

Aurora's face remained impassive.

Scarlett waved her hand. "Go! Take her bag!"

"What's the point of just checking her bag? Isn't she selling intimate lifestyle products? Out this late delivering stuff—who knows if she's delivering goods or herself?"

"Exactly. And judging by how stiff she looks, no one would want her. Let's just strip her down and search—what if we find proof? Wouldn't that clear Henry's name?"

Scarlett's eyes lit up. "Yes! Exactly."

The group advanced, cracking their knuckles. Aurora's face paled.

Before they could react, she turned and ran.

Still drunk, her steps were unsteady, her sense of direction gone. Dazed, she saw the letters "WC" on a door and bolted inside.

A startled "What the—?!" echoed from within.

Only two men were inside—one smoking, the other on the toilet. Both were so shocked by her sudden intrusion that one nearly lost control.

Aurora froze, stunned. After a moment, she realized her mistake, her face burning red.

"I—I'm sorry! Wrong place!"

Stumbling backward, she tried to leave, but Scarlett's voice rang out.

"Where'd she go? Where is she?"

"She ran this way—where'd she go?"

"She's in the bathroom! Let's go in and search!"

Aurora's expression changed. She looked across at the man smoking—something about him seemed familiar.

"Sir… can I hide here for a moment?"

It was an embarrassing request, but desperate to avoid Scarlett, she swallowed her pride.

Timothy Hart remained expressionless, his cold gaze flicking to Owen, who was frantically pulling up his pants. "Get out."

Owen, trembling, seized the chance and fled.

Aurora's head spun. Instinctively reaching for support, she suddenly lost her balance and pitched forward.

Her scalp tightened; she shut her eyes, bracing for impact.

But the pain never came. A long, strong arm shot out and caught her.

She crashed into the man's chest. Her already foggy mind spun further, and she began to slide down.

Timothy tossed his cigarette and used both arms to steady her. Frowning slightly at her drunken state, he muttered,

"Aurora, how much did you drink?"

Hearing her name, she realized he knew her, and felt confused.

"You know me?"

His gaze was calm, his features unreadable.

After a long pause, he gave a thin, cold smile.

"No."

...

Timothy carried Aurora out of the bar.

She clung to his neck, her face flushed with intoxication, eyes half-closed, clearly drunk.

He placed her in the back seat and climbed in after her.

Owen drove, asking respectfully, "President Hart, where to?"

"The Hart Villa."

"Yes, sir."

The car glided along the quiet midnight streets. Aurora, nauseous from the alcohol, leaned against the window, too drained to think.

When drunk, she never made a fuss—she just passed out.

This meant she didn't even realize her current situation, let alone notice the man beside her.

Her consciousness drifted, her mind foggy, a dull ache throbbing behind her temples.

Then, her phone buzzed in her bag.

She frowned, fumbled inside, finally pulled it out, and pressed answer.

"Hello?"

"Aurora, Scarlett told me you left the Furara Bar with a man?"

It was Henry Thompson.

She opened her eyes, her gaze hazy with moisture. "What? Did she tattle on me?"

Henry's tone was cold. "I know I messed up today, but you can't just throw yourself away like this. Bars—what kind of place is that? How could you—"

Aurora had no patience for his lecture. She cut him off impatiently. "What are you trying to say?"

"Where are you? I'll send someone to pick you up."

"Does Emily allow you to do that?"

"Emily isn't as bad as you think. She's always treated you like a real sister. If something happened to you, she'd be the most heartbroken."

Aurora let out a scornful laugh.

For the first time, she realized how shameless some people could be.

Emily had truly sunk to new lows.

"Then she must not have told you she called me half an hour ago, bragging that she'd finally stolen my boyfriend and flaunting her pregnancy, did she?"

"No way!" Henry replied without hesitation.

Aurora gave a bitter, ironic laugh.

Henry took a deep breath, his tone growing impatient.

"Aurora, what do you want? From the start, Emily never said a bad word about you. When she heard you were at the bar, she immediately told me to call you—she was worried about you! But you—

You keep assuming the worst of her. I admit we made mistakes, but aren't you partly to blame?

You've always looked down on her because of your background, bullied her repeatedly. Every time I had business dinners, you refused to come with me. When I asked you to quit that job, you lectured me about how no profession is beneath dignity?

Aurora, I have status too—I have pride! Do you expect me to let people know my girlfriend sells intimate lifestyle products?

You only care about your own feelings, never mine. And now you're blaming others?"

Aurora trembled with rage.

She never imagined Henry could think this way.

She bullied Emily?

She refused to attend his dinners?

Selling intimate lifestyle products embarrassed him?

Her eyes turned red. After a moment, she let out a low, bitter laugh—full of irony.

"So that's what you think. Fine. Very well. Remember these words. I won't forgive either of you. One day, I'll make you regret everything."

With that, she hung up.

An eerie silence filled the car.