Miss Aurora, Nice To Meet You

"Yes, I'm the least favored third daughter, so I ended up locked in my room. What about you? Why are you out here alone?" Aurora said, rummaging through the bushes.

"The banquet was a snooze-fest, so I came out for some fresh air," Heath replied.

"I find it boring too, but if I don't go, Grandpa will never let me attend any other events," Aurora said, her voice tinged with helplessness.

"Why won't he let you attend?" Heath asked, feeling a bit nosy. He usually wasn't this chatty, but today, he found this girl far more interesting than anyone else at the banquet.

"You saw it, right? My figure isn't great, I'm too chubby, and not well-liked. I'd bring shame to the Pendleton family," Aurora explained.

"Chubby? I think you're just right," Heath said, recalling the soft feeling of the girl in his arms, like a small animal.

"I'll tell you, they all look down on me, but once I lose weight, you'll see that I'm actually quite good-looking!" Aurora declared confidently.

"Oh? So confident?" Heath said, his smile teasing.

"Of course, this face..." Aurora started to say that her face was identical to Olivia's, an ace assassin who could approach targets with her beautiful face. But she stopped herself, realizing that no one would believe that the soul of a deceased assassin resided in the body of a high school girl. Besides, she didn't want to return to the life of an assassin. Being Aurora Pendleton was good enough.

Heath noticed her sudden silence and asked, "What are you looking for?"

"My high heels. I threw them here just now, but now they're gone..." Aurora muttered, searching through the bushes.

"Heath, if you have nothing to do, you could help by shining a light with your phone. It's so dark, how am I supposed to find them?" Aurora said.

Heath reluctantly turned on his phone's flashlight. He had never been ordered around by a girl like this before.

The girl bent over, searching through the bushes, a strand of hair falling beside her face, making her look charming and cute.

"Found them!" Aurora pulled two high heels from the bushes, threw them in front of her, and reached out to Heath, saying, "Mr. Fairbank, help me up."

Heath took her soft arm, surprised at how much he had interacted with this girl today, even touching her skin.

Aurora didn't think much of it. With Heath's help, she put on her high heels, fixed her hair, and said, "Thanks. I'll treat you to dinner sometime."

"When?" Heath asked.

"What?" Aurora was taken aback.

"You said you'd treat me to dinner. When?" Heath repeated.

Aurora was speechless. Wasn't that just a polite thing to say? But since she had said it, she couldn't go back on her word.

"How about next Saturday?" Aurora asked.

"Sure, I'll pick you up," Heath said.

"No need, we can meet at Times Square in the city center," Aurora replied, not wanting Sophia to see a strange man coming to their house for her.

Heath nodded in agreement.

"I'll be going now!" Aurora waved and ran towards the banquet hall, her steps not at all hindered by her high heels.

Inside the banquet hall.

"Grandpa, where's Aurora?" Evelyn asked.

The old man's face was gloomy, and he didn't answer. Sophia quickly said, "Sis, Aurora promised Grandpa she'd attend the banquet, but she hasn't come. You know how reclusive and unreliable she can be."

Sophia's words made the old man even more unhappy. How could Aurora be so fickle at such a young age? He had even prepared a seat for her. What an embarrassment!

"Sophia, just eat. Why all this talk?" Maxwell said, disliking the tense atmosphere at home.

"Brother, I'm just telling the truth! Aurora is just..." Sophia began, feeling wronged.

"Aurora is just what? Sophia, continue," a crisp voice interrupted, and everyone turned to see Aurora in a black evening gown standing at the entrance.

Her round face was smooth and fair, with light makeup, and her waist-length hair hung behind her, giving her an elegant appearance.

Her eyes were bright, like a lost sprite in the forest, and one couldn't help but become entranced by her clear gaze.

"Who is this? Another Miss Pendleton?"

"I don't know, I've never seen her before..."

"Aurora, you..." Sophia stood up in shock. It was impossible; she had drugged Aurora's water to make her sleep until the next day. And even if she woke up, Sophia had locked her door. How could she appear at the banquet?

"What about me? Sophia, you seem surprised to see me..." Aurora said, smiling radiantly.

---

"Aurora?! How did you get out?" Sophia asked incredulously.

"Does Sophia mean that I shouldn't have come out? But then again, I found my door locked when I tried to leave, and it took quite an effort to get out. From what Sophia is saying, it seems like she knew I was locked in my room?" Aurora asked with a smile.

"Aurora, what are you talking about? What does being locked in your room have to do with Sophia?" Madeline immediately defended her beloved daughter.

"Madeline is right; it must have nothing to do with Sophia. Isn't that right, Sophia?" Aurora said, smiling at Sophia.

Her face was full of smiles, but her eyes were cold. Sophia felt a moment of fear. This Aurora was truly different from before.

"Enough, you're so late, come and sit down!" Grandpa said.

Aurora obediently walked over, handing a brocade box to her grandfather, saying, "Grandpa, I'm just a student and don't have much to offer. I sincerely sought a peace charm, hoping it will keep you healthy and grant you a long life!"

Grandpa opened the box, and indeed, there was only a peace charm inside. Compared to Maxwell and Evelyn's gifts, it seemed rather modest.

Sophia sneered, "Aurora, the Pendleton family hasn't cut off your allowance. You're not so poor that you can only buy such a small thing to fob off Grandpa, are you?"

Evelyn added fuel to the fire, saying, "Yes, Aurora, if you need more pocket money, just ask me. Don't let others laugh at the Pendleton family."

They were implying that she had squandered her allowance and even skimped on her grandfather's birthday gift.

Seeing Grandpa's displeased expression, Maxwell said, "Enough, all of you. It's Aurora's heartfelt gift."

Aurora couldn't help but take a longer look at her eldest brother. She didn't remember much about Maxwell, as he had moved out early to work with Sebastian, managing the family business, and rarely came home.

Even when he did return to the Pendleton house, Aurora remembered him as quiet, and they had little interaction.

Today, Maxwell had clearly spoken up for Aurora, leaving her somewhat puzzled. Wasn't he on the same side as Madeline and her daughters?

Grandpa's face looked unhappy, seemingly dissatisfied with Aurora's performance.

At that moment, a lady leaned over and said, "This is a peace charm from Harmony Temple, isn't it?"

"Harmony Temple? The largest temple in the city? I heard it's hard to get a charm from there!" another person chimed in.

"Yes, yes, I heard you have to climb nine hundred and ninety-nine steps to see the abbot and receive a peace charm!"

"What a filial young lady! Which heiress of a wealthy family would go to such lengths for something so inexpensive?"

The guests discussed the matter, and soon everyone knew that Aurora's peace charm for her grandfather came from Harmony Temple.

Grandpa's face softened, and he asked, "Aurora, did you really go to Harmony Temple to get this?"

Aurora smiled sweetly and said, "Yes, Grandpa. Mr Leen said you've been having headaches lately, and the doctors haven't helped. I heard that the peace charms from Harmony Temple are very effective, so I climbed all day to get one from the abbot. I hope it keeps you healthy and safe!"

A warm feeling washed over Grandpa as he looked into Aurora's sincere eyes. Unlike the other children who were rarely home, only Aurora had thought of his discomfort and gone to great lengths to honor him.

"Come, Aurora, sit next to me!" Grandpa immediately had a seat added beside him.

Aurora sat next to her grandfather, looking up to meet Maxwell's gaze. She smiled sweetly and said, "Hello, Big Brother."

Maxwell nodded but said nothing.

Grandpa began introducing her to the surrounding guests, "This is my third granddaughter, the third Miss Pendleton, Aurora Pendleton."

The guests, discerning as they were, noticed that among the four younger Pendletons, only Maxwell and Aurora sat beside Grandpa. Even Evelyn was seated next to Maxwell, showing that Miss Aurora was indeed favored by her grandfather!

Aurora politely greeted everyone, and suddenly felt a chill behind her. Turning, she saw Heath Fairbank sitting next to her.

When she sat down, there was an empty seat to her left. Was it Heath Fairbank's seat?

She was surprised. When they met in the garden, she thought he was just an ordinary guest. But now, seeing this seat, it was clear that Grandpa valued this guest.

Grandpa, noticing Heath Fairbank's return, introduced him, "Heath, this is Aurora, our family's third child."

Heath looked at Aurora, smiled slightly, and raised his glass, saying, "Miss Aurora, nice to meet you."