?Chapter 1041:


    “Everyone, please leave,” he requested. “I want to be alone with her for a bit.”


    Everyone knew he was Katie’s son, so naturally, no one objected.


    The group stood outside, waiting anxiously under the light of the moon.


    Inside, Rnd spoke to his mother. “I haven’t done much good in my life, but let me get this one thing right. As your son, I can’t bear to see you suffer, so let me ease your pain. Do you still want to cling to life? But is there any real reason for you to stay? Mom, please go in peace. I don’t hold any grudges. You don’t need to carry any guilt. If there’s a next life, I hope we walk different paths. As your son, I’ll put an end to your suffering. I suppose I’m doing a good thing.”


    The door behind Joelle swung open. Rnd stood there, his face a nk canvas, the oxygen mask that had been on Katie’s face clutched in his hand. “Aunt, you’re all I have now.”


    Though momentarily taken aback, Joelle soon understood the meaning behind Rnd’s words. Even after two major setbacks, he still chose to believe in her.


    Noticing the redness in his eyes, Joelle walked over and pulled him into her arms. “Wee home.”


    Rnd stood frozen, the oxygen mask slipping from his grasp. Slowly, he returned Joelle’s embrace. Wrapped in her arms, he felt safe, like he had finally found home.


    He knew Joelle always treated him like her own son, and this time, he sincerely epted her as family.


    Katie’s funeral was held in secret the following day.


    Rnd didn’t attend the ceremony. Instead, he stayed at home and knocked on Aurora’s door with a tray of food in his hands.


    “You’ve got to eat, Aurora. Your mom is very worried about you.”


    There was no response. Rnd knocked again. “I’ll talk to your parents, I promise. But you’ve got to eat first.”


    But instead of getting Aurora out of her room, the adjacent door opened, and Molly burst out of her room with a scowl. “Are you even for real? It’s your fault my sister is skipping meals. If you didn’t interfere, Mom and Dad wouldn’t have found out about her and Dunn.”


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    Rnd pressed his lips together. After all, it was his fault this time. But it hadn’t urred to him that Adrian and Joelle would react so strongly after learning the truth.


    Just then, the door before him swung open, revealing Aurora, rubbing her sleepy eyes. “Don’t say that, Molly. Mom and Dad would have found out sooner orter, even without Rnd.”


    She opened the door wide, inviting the two inside. It wasn’t her intention to skip breakfast. She had just stayed upte studying the night before and slept in.


    Rnd ced the tray of food on the bedside table and saw Aurora sleeping soundly in her bed.


    Molly propped up her chin and looked at Aurora. “Have you thought about how to convince Mom and Dad?”


    Aurora shed a faint smile. “I knew it wouldn’t be easy. Mom and Dad don’t want Dunn and me to be together, partly because of our families’ history, but mostly out of worry that Dunn won’t treat me well. The former can be smoothed out, but thetter will take time and effort on Dunn’s part.”


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