Chapter 28: The Day She Met Alex!

Aurora’s unexpected question surprised Renata and Danny.

They exchanged glances, seeking to bolster each other’s courage before explaining to the girl why she had decided to close her restaurant: she needed time to mourn her best friend, Aurora Moon.

However, after a few moments of silence, Renata looked struggling to respond.

"Sis Renata, I apologize if my question seems insensitive and offends you. If my question makes you uncomfortable, please forget I ever ask..." Aurora smiled apologetically and as sincerely as possible.

Seeing her friends looking so sad made Aurora’s heartache. Two of her best friends must be in shock and mourning over her sudden and painful death.

Just thinking about how they would react when they found out about her death made her eyes slowly blur.

Aurora tried hard to suppress her emotions, hoping she wouldn’t cry in front of them. Otherwise, they might become confused and suspicious of her again.

Renata let out a soft sigh before replying, "No, Aurora, your question didn’t offend me. I just feel suffocated when I remember why I closed this café."

Aurora’s curiosity deepened upon hearing Renata’s words. When she noticed Danny’s expression growing even gloomier, her heart raced, and she wondered what had happened.

A forced smile slowly appeared on Renata’s lips as she continued, "We are actually in mourning for our dearest friend; we considered her like a sister. She tragically passed away a few days ago..."

Renata struggled to continue speaking, her voice catching in her throat. The sadness of losing Aurora continued to overwhelm her, and it was worsening now.

Sensing that Renata was about to cry, Danny placed his hand on her back and gently patted her.

...

Aurora felt a storm brewing inside her as she looked at Renata, who was on the verge of tears. Instantly, she shared her friend’s pain while struggling to contain her emotions.

She wanted to tell her she was still with them, but the words that formed in her mind never reached her lips.

Instead, Aurora said, "I’m sorry to hear that, Sis Renata. I’m truly sorry for your loss..." Her voice sounded so weak as she lowered her gaze, avoiding eye contact with them.

Soon after, Renata’s hoarse, trembling voice shattered the silence.

"I have decided to close my restaurant for a week to express my condolences to her. I feel that her sudden departure is somehow my fault." She could no longer contain her emotions, and her soft cries filled the room.

The atmosphere grew even more somber.

Although Renata’s sobs were weak, Aurora could hear them clearly. It felt like a weight was pressing down on her chest, making breathing nearly impossible.

Aurora never imagined that her best friend, Renata, also blamed herself for the accident. She felt a strong urge to embrace her when she noticed Renata’s forced smile framing her pale face and her struggle to hide her teary eyes.

"Stupid Rena! Why? Why do you blame yourself, just like my dad and Alex? That’s not your fault, okay! The incident was my fate... I lost my life, but I have returned to this young lady’s body." She wanted to express this, but those words only echoed loudly in her mind.

Her cold hands clenched tightly as she struggled to suppress her overwhelming emotions.

’Please, Rena, don’t blame yourself... Huh!?’

Aurora could only confront her best friend in her mind. There was nothing she could do now; she only wished they would no longer feel sad about her death. She wanted them to smile and continue their lives as usual.

"Rena, please stop crying," Danny finally spoke up to comfort Renata. "You shouldn’t blame yourself for this. If Rory saw you like this, she might feel sad too. Please, stop... Let her rest in peace. Huh?"

’Yes, Rena... I feel even sadder now seeing you like this,’ Aurora agreed with Danny, though she couldn’t speak loudly to Renata. Instead, she could only stare at her while nodding slightly.

"You’re right, Dan. I will stop... I don’t want Rory to see me like this. She might be upset and even sadder," Renata replied through her sobs, trying to wipe the tears from her cheeks.

"Hmm, she will be..." Danny said softly.

Aurora noticed the redness in Danny’s eyes and realized he was also holding back tears.

Seeing the sadness on her two friends’ faces made it impossible for Aurora to stay longer. If she lingered too long, she might accidentally reveal herself. So, she quickly said goodbye to Renata and Danny.

Both friends tried to convince her to stay longer. Still, Aurora politely declined, promising to return later when the restaurant was reopened.

"You have to come back, Aurora! You haven’t tried my café specialty yet, and I’m sure you’ll love it!" Renata said as she walked Aurora to the door.

"I promise to return, Sis Renata..." Aurora nodded weakly. As she left the café, she felt a deep pain seeping into her heart and bones.

...

The following day.

Since last night, Aurora couldn’t stop thinking about today—the day she would meet Alex. She was too anxious to sleep well and now had a headache.

Her mind raced with thoughts, especially about meeting Alex again as his wife rather than as his assistant.

She was so nervous about the meeting that she even declined breakfast despite Tina having prepared food for her.

After excusing herself from Tina, she rushed to the lobby and waited for Alvin to pick her up.

She clutched the strap of her bag tightly while staring at the car approaching—a vehicle that Alex usually drove.

Her heart raced at the thought that Alex might be in that car, but she quickly dismissed it, reminding herself that he had said Alvin would come to pick her up.

Trying to calm her pounding heart, she focused on the car as it finally stopped in front of her.

She watched as Alvin stepped out, hurrying to open the door for her.

"Miss Aurora, good morning..." A polite smile appeared on his lips as he opened the back door.

"Good morning, Mr. Russ..."

Aurora’s voice lingered in the air as she noticed a man sitting in the back row. He was dressed in a black suit, his hair slicked back and looked as handsome as she remembered.

’Alex...’