?Chapter 1079:


    Rnd met her gaze. “Aunt Joelle, I understand what I’m doing. Where I grew up, sixteen marks legal adulthood. Some girls are already nning their weddings by then.”


    “Really?” Molly’s eyes widened in fascination.


    Aurora, sensing the mounting tension, swiftly muffled Molly’s mouth again. “Mom, Rnd follows his own principles.”


    She knew that if this discussion continued, it would only wound Rnd’s dignity further. Though concern still etched Joelle’s features, she recognized his resolute stance and turned forward without another word.


    As they pulled up to their destination, Aurora’s phone began to ring.


    “Aurora?” Molly called out, already stepping from the car. “Something wrong? Come on.”


    “Wait a minute.” Aurora nced at her screen—Rickey’s name shed across it. “I need to take this.”


    “Oh, alright. I’ll head in with Mom and Dad then.”


    Rnd passed by her silently, making his way toward the restaurant entrance.


    Once she found herself alone in the parking lot, she answered. “Hello?”


    “What are you doing?”


    “I’m out for dinner.”


    Rickey asked, “With who?”


    “My family.” Aurora paused, then chose truth. “And my boyfriend. And his parents.”


    The line went silent, save for the cacophony of traffic and ring horns in the background.


    “Oh, so you’re nning to get married?” The pain in his voice was unmistakable.


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    “Stop being silly,” she replied, forcing lightness into her tone. “When you return, you’ll have plenty of wonderful girls waiting for you.”


    At that moment, Rickeyy trapped inside an overturned vehicle, the full force of the crash bearing down on the driver’s seat.


    Through the spider-webbed remains of the windshield, he watched rescue teams scrambling to clear the road. Warm liquid trickled down his face.


    Death felt suddenly, terrifyingly close.


    With his fading strength, he’d called Aurora.


    “I don’t think I’ll make it to that day.” Rickey’s vision swam. “Aurora, I want you to be happy.”


    His voice grew fainter with each word.


    Aurora finally registered the strange symphony of horns in the background. Through the chaos, fragments of urgent voices reached her:


    “Hurry! Get him out! The car’s about to explode!”


    Her heart seized. Terror coursed through her veins. “Rickey? Hello? Rickey! What’s happening? Did something happen over there?”


    “Yeah… I had some drinks.” His words were barely a whisper. Aurora felt her body turn to ice. Her voice quavered. “You drove after drinking?”


    “Yeah,” Rickey confessed weakly. “I’m dying, Aurora. Will youe see me?”


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