Chapter 2

Aurora didn't understand, but I knew why Jimenez said this.

In my past life, the news of my assault by thugs spread like wildfire. When my classmates carried me home, my lower body was covered in blood.

My parents only had one daughter—me. They went completely insane.

They didn't believe it was an accident.

They suspected everyone they saw, especially anyone who had conflicts with me. Aurora was the main suspect.

I was kind-hearted and rarely had conflicts with anyone.

Aurora's conflict with me stood out prominently. Later, when Jimenez took me far away to help me forget, my parents still wouldn't let her go.

If Jimenez hadn't helped Aurora hide the truth, my parents would have found evidence long ago and sent Aurora to prison.

Aurora's reputation in our hometown became so terrible she couldn't hold her head up. I heard she didn't get into a good university, went abroad, and never came back.

In my past life, Jimenez held me with such heartbreak, saying he wished he could tear the culprit to pieces.

But when he actually saw her, Jimenez only covered for her, letting the tragedy repeat itself, even giving her his most sincere advice.

It turned out the saddest moments are when you can't even cry out loud.

I quickly wiped the moisture from the corner of my eye with my fingertip, even forcing a self-mocking smile at the corner of my mouth. It wasn't sadness—it was finally seeing clearly.

Sitting in the back, I clearly saw that because of Jimenez's reminder, Aurora secretly deleted the text messages and made an excuse to go to the restroom.

In reality, she put money in an envelope and used a pay phone to communicate with the thugs. The two parties never met face to face.

This time, Aurora had enough time to do things more discreetly.

Jimenez didn't stop her the entire time. Instead, he watched Aurora's retreating figure with a longing gaze.

Before Aurora came back with a bright smile, Jimenez ordered a Napoleon pastry and left with light, quick steps.

Even his retreating back revealed barely concealed anticipation, as if rushing to keep a long-desired appointment.

If I hadn't witnessed his conversation with Aurora with my own eyes, I might have thought he was eager to see me.

In this era, Napoleon pastries were a luxury. A small piece cost an entire month's allowance.

Occasionally buying one meant the whole family would share it.

Yet Jimenez spent all his money to buy Aurora a Napoleon pastry.

I remembered in my past life, my birthday came one month after that incident.

That day my spirits were unusually good, and I really wanted a piece of cake. Jimenez looked troubled and told me we had to save the remaining money and couldn't spend it carelessly.

I didn't know why, but I cried terribly, gasping for breath.

Jimenez had no choice but to buy an apple, stick a candle in it, and let me blow it out.

It turned out he did know how to cherish someone—I just wasn't worth it.

I watched Aurora joyfully scooping up the Napoleon with a spoon, eating it bit by bit.

She was editing a text message, probably to Jimenez, with a sweet smile on her face.

[Morris, are you there yet?]

Looking at Jimenez's message, I could feel his anxiety even through the screen.

I sneered, turned around, and invited my desk mate to study together at the nearby library.