?Chapter 1030:


    Aurora’s mind was elsewhere. The memory of Katie spotting her with Dunn at the school gate resurfaced, unsettling her. Katie knew far too much—how could she stay silent for so long?


    Determined to uncover what was brewing, Aurora sought out Rnd.


    When she exined her concerns, Rnd’s reaction was maddeningly nonchnt. “So what if she spills the beans? Sooner orter, you’ll have toe clean to your parents anyway.”


    “Do you enjoy watching this circus unfold?” Aurora asked, exasperated.


    Rnd smirked, unbothered by her frustration. “What can I say? Drama makes life interesting!”


    Aurora huffed, ring at him, but there was no point. He was as unshakable as ever.


    Still, his words lingered. Was she really nning to keep running from this? Dunn had alreadyid his cards on the table, openly acknowledging their rtionship to his family. If she continued hesitating, how could she ever face his sincerity?


    That evening, Joelle and Adrian arrived home together. Since Aurora hadn’t been home in a while, dinner was more borate than usual, with several extra dishesid out on the table.


    Adrian assumed his long-standing role as the family’s designated shrimp peeler. One by one, he shelled the shrimp, handing them off in turn to the three women at the table.


    Rnd, watching his empty te, finally spoke up. “And mine?”


    Adrian, his expression utterly nk, wiped his hands clean with a handkerchief before responding, “Call me ‘Uncle’ first, and I’ll think about it.”


    “Favoritism!” Rnd muttered.


    Adrian scoffed. “If you feel wronged, go cry to your mother!”


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    Rnd’s hand, still gripping his fork, froze for a fraction of a second.


    Joelle intervened. “Adrian, don’t be petty!” Then she took a shrimp from her te and ced it on Rnd’s.


    Rnd smirked at Adrian, triumph radiating from every inch of his face.


    Adrian, unmoved, merely sighed and resumed peeling shrimp, his fingers working with mechanical precision as he tackled the remaining te.


    After dinner, Aurora lingered outside her parents’ bedroom, nerves coiling in her stomach. She couldn’t keep living under the weight of this unspoken threat.


    Inside, Joelle sat at her vanity, applying her nightly skincare routine. Across the room, Adrian reclined against the headboard, immersed in a book.


    “Adrian, don’t you think Rnd has been quite close to ustely?”


    Adrian responded harshly, “With the way you dote on him, even a pet would figure out who’s kind to it!”


    Joelle shot him a warning nce. With a reluctant sigh, Adrian adjusted his tone. “Yeah, he has. The kid’s finally wising up. Took him long enough. Unlike his mother.”


    “Rnd’s been through a lot. Wade left scars on him, you know that. Trust doesn’te easily to him.”


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