Chapter 5 You Must Help Me
Jessica wore a sly grin as she glanced up at Roland, seizing the opportunity to inject a suggestive look into her expression.
“Aurora has always been like this. Seducing countless men behind your back, even engaging with older men to smoothen her deals. Do you really think she’s worth your care, Roland?”
As she spoke, Jessica’s fingers trailed down Roland’s neck in an attempt to entice him.
Unfortunately, her words had the opposite effect, extinguishing his interest.
He pulled away from her touch and headed alone to the balcony, lighting a cigarette. “The pregnant lady should go to bed now. Also, stop dwelling on all this.”
Jessica attempted to use her charms again, but Roland’s expression remained cold and distant. Disgruntled, she reluctantly lay back in bed.
Roland, meanwhile, couldn’t shake thoughts of Aurora, feeling compelled to finalize their divorce.
Early the next morning, a text from Aurora awaited him: [Today is Monday. Meet me at the Courthouse at 9 AM.]
The message was curt, filled with an unusual coldness.
Roland deleted it without hesitation and prepared to head out.
“Where are you going, Roland?” Jessica asked with feigned gentleness, noticing his somber mood.
With a gloomy face, Roland pushed Jessica’s hands away while she tied his tie. “Courthouse.”
After a brief explanation, he hastily drove to the Courthouse.
Aurora, dressed in an usually bright and eye-catching outfit, stood out conspicuously.
Aurora said, “Here you are. Let’s go.”
They signed the divorce papers too quickly on the weekend when staff were off that day, so she had to wait until today to get the whole process done.
“Aurora, I…” Roland seemed to want to say something.
Aurora, without turning her head, interrupted him with a cold voice, “Get the documents and sign. After signing, we are completely done. What you do after that is none of my concern.”
Aurora smiled. Throughout the divorce proceedings, she didn’t give him any chance to reminisce.
After obtaining the divorce certificate, Aurora briskly left the Courthouse without a hint of reluctance towards Roland.
Aurora said, “Venterra, I’m back!”
She felt a sense of comfort and relief she hadn’t experienced in three years.
It seemed like a positive change for her and the Duncan family.
Aurora glanced at the time. It wasn’t even half past nine.
She pondered the financial challenge ahead. Having left almost all her money and resources with the Duncan family, restarting her business seemed daunting, particularly with her newly acquired company in serious financial distress.
Resolving to face the situation, she dialed Cynthia.
“Remember the proposal from two days ago? You know what to do.”
Thinking of the design, Aurora smiled, closed the car door, and drove away confidently.
Meanwhile, Roland, holding the long-awaited divorce certificate, found no joy in his newfound freedom.
Unexpectedly, another urgent phone call interrupted his thoughts.
“Mr. Duncan, we have trouble here. The project Mrs. Duncan was overseeing has hit a snag due to her sudden departure. The designer plans to take the plans and partner with another company. What should we do now?”
“What did you say? How dare she!”
Divorce had already soured Roland’s mood, and this unexpected setback intensified his gloom.
“Hold on. I’ll be right back,” he ordered, cursing under his breath, his face ashen with anger.
Simultaneously, Aurora, post-Courthouse visit, headed straight to the office, eager to kickstart the project.
However, the financial deficit and empty savings shattered her grand ambitions.
The strong-willed Aurora didn’t want to ask the Hansen family for money, finding herself in a dilemma.
Cynthia, well aware of their financial predicament, pointed out, “Without funds from Patrick, even with the design plans, they’re essentially useless, aren’t they?”
Cynthia had set aside major corporate business just to meet with Aurora today.
Upon Aurora’s arrival, the conversation shifted to fundraising.
However, the company’s dire financial situation posed a challenge, as no bank was willing to extend a loan. Cynthia expressed her concern.
“Why worry about money? I know someone who can help,” Scott, perpetually drawn to excitement, suddenly chimed in.
Aurora and Cynthia, skeptical of Scott’s frivolous nature, scoffed, “You? Give us a break!”
They believed it more likely for a miracle to occur than to put faith in him.
But they were mistaken this time.
Scott chuckled, “It’s him! Trust me!
“You can borrow as much money as you want. Spend it however you like!”
He threw a magazine in front of Aurora, pointing directly at the cover.
Aurora and Cynthia exclaimed in unison, “Edward Hastings? The young tycoon from the Hastings family, the youngest in the Venterra business world before even turning twenty?
“Scott, you can’t be serious! Sure, he’s wealthy, but he’s no fool.”
Cynthia wanted to laugh and was curious about what Scott was thinking.
However, after hearing Scott’s proposal, Aurora unexpectedly broke into a strange and enigmatic smile.
Meanwhile, an unforeseen visitor disrupted the atmosphere at Hastings Villa.
A displeased and angered bodyguard halted Roland, asserting.
“Mr. Duncan, show some respect. This isn’t Duncan Villa.”
Edward said, “It’s okay. Let him in.”
Upstairs in Hastings Villa, Edward’s towering presence commanded attention.
Seeing Edward, Roland clenched his teeth, reluctantly uttering words he wished to avoid,
Roland said, “Mr. Hastings! Aurora has gone too far. After divorcing me, she’s even taken the company’s partnership deal. You must help me this time!”
Roland tried his best to mask his inner dissatisfaction.
Edward descended the stairs leisurely, his elegant demeanor tinged with a devilish charm and slightly mocking vibe.