?Chapter 1026:


    With those final words, she copsed into unconsciousness.


    Rnd remained unmoved, his face a mask of stone. After bringing her home, he discovered several of Molly’s unsatisfactory paintings hidden under Katie’s bed. These were paintings that should have been burned, yet here they were.


    Leaving the paintings there, Rnd ensured Katie was asleep before heading to Dunn’s ce.


    Aurora was there too. Dunn, with his impaired vision, could do little. He couldn’t look at aputer screen and had to rely on his assistant’s voice for work updates.


    “How long until your vision recovers?” Rnd asked.


    “Three days at the earliest, a week at most.”


    Watching Dunn fumble for his phone, Rnd felt a twinge of guilt pierce his heart. “I’m sorry.”


    Dunn’s response was indifferent. “It’s not your fault. This has nothing to do with you.”


    Rnd lowered his head. “My aunt said I’d have to take responsibility for what my mother had done.”


    “Rnd, do you still not trust my mother?” Aurora’s voice floated from the kitchen.


    After everything that had unfolded, Rnd had pieced together most of the truth.


    “I do trust her,” he whispered.


    Rnd pulled out a crumpled photo, its image of his mother already fading. The paper curled and ckened in the soft glow of the scented candle, turning slowly to ash.


    Aurora took a week off from school to care for Dunn. She even brought her textbooks along, finding it far easier to ask Dunn questions than to navigate through lectures.


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    The ident had forced Dunn to press pause on all his work, leaving Aurora to step in and manage his daily life.


    Both were naturally disciplined, their routines ticking along like synchronized clocks—wake-up calls, meals, even leisure time fell into an unspoken rhythm.


    Aurora hadn’t anticipated how seamlessly their schedules would align.


    Over breakfast one morning, Aurora meticulously spread butter over her toast. “Did you know studies show that eating breakfast at the same time every day can help reduce the risk of diabetes?” she remarked.


    Dunn’s brows lifted in mild surprise. “You’ve read that study too?”


    If his vision had been intact, he’d have noticed the glimmer of enthusiasm in her eyes.


    After breakfast, Dunn needed Aurora’s assistance with business matters, but as she scrolled through confidential files, she hesitated. “Are you sure this is okay?”


    “I trust you,” Dunn replied. “Besides, who else do I have to rely on right now?”


    Reassured, Aurora began summarizing Finch Group’s recent aplishments aloud. Halfway through, something caught her attention, her tone shifting from routine to intrigue.


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