16

“Great. You made me the woman my boyfriend cheated in my teens, aborted and tried to kill myself many times?” Aamber got hee hands on hwr hips in front of Aaron. “Great, brother, and after this, Laurel will be looking at me with secret pity.”

Aaron smiled at his younger sister's anger, then looked at her gently with a smile. That little sister could never be mad at him for too long if he looked at hwr like that.

“I'm sorry, Am, I had to make up a hoax like that. However, I ran out of ideas and that was all I could think of. I know Laurel has a great sense of empathy and she would accept me if I did it for my sister. A girl like her.”

“You are good at lying in a tight spot.” Aamber narrowed her eyes, still not forgiving her brother for making up a story about her to melt Laurel's heart. “And I guess you made it?”

Aaron smiled. “She accepted the ring again and considered my marriage proposal.”

Aamber shook her head in disbelief at her brother's obsession with Laurel. “I can't hold your will, brother. I hope you don't hurt yourself later.” Aamber looked at Aaron carefully. “That night you didn't touch her, right?”

“I didn't,” Aaron muttered indistinctly. “I just made her think that I had most likely broken her.”

“Okay, looks like your goal was achieved. You will have Laurel, maybe even marry her. But all of this is based on lies, do you realize? Aren't you afraid that later all the lies will be exposed? When Laurel finds out the truth?”

Aaron was silent for a long time. “I don't know what will happen next.” His voice was low, engulfed by bitterness.

“What will happen, let it happen.”

_______________

The cycle of the world is truly unpredictable, as is the journey of human life. Laurel glanced at the elegant diamond ring sparkling on her ring finger. She came to this company because of a lucky call that came unexpectedly. Then, just because of one incident on the night of the party, she suddenly became the owner of this company fiancé. Who could have thought? Even in her wildest imagination she never expected it.

All of this happened too fast… too suddenly. She didn't even know Mr. White much.

Laurel thought to herself and unconsciously frowned. All she knows about Mr. White is the info from the business magazines she reads, when she finds out about the company that called her for the interview. Also some information from Alin, who has now taken her maternity leave. Alin would have been very surprised if she were only in the office watching all this drama.

Laurel knows that Mr. White is a genius company founder, has Spanish blood from his mother and has a younger sister with a really empathetic past. Even though now Aamber has become a tough woman.

She couldn't help but think that one of her main reasons for accepting this engagement was, because of her empathy for Aamber and her admiration for Mr. White's sense of responsibility for thinking about the sadness that his younger sister had experienced. Mr White must have really loved his sister.

Laurel never had any siblings, she was an only child, who ended up having to end up alone. Because of that tragedy, a tragedy that she had forgotten and buried deep. Because every time she remembers it, a hidden anger will appear, making her want to scream out for the injustices of life. Memories of that anger became vague as time passed. Laurel learned to keep away. Neither completely forget nor completely forgive.

Laurel blinked as the elegant black car rolled off smoothly and stopped right in front of her. Mr White drove the car himself, politely, he got out of the car and opened the passenger door next to him for Laurel.

“I'm sorry, I was a little stuck in the lobby earlier. I hope you don't wait long.”

“No. I've only been here a few minutes.” Laurel stepped into the car and the man closed it, then got back behind the wheel and started the car.

Suddenly a thought flashed through Laurel's mind, that she didn't even know this man's full name. “How can we continue all this, if we don't even know each other at all?” Laurel unconsciously voiced her thoughts.

Aaron glanced slightly at Laurel and smiled. “There's still plenty of time, and I'll be happy to open up so you can get to know me more.” His voice was low, soft. “And I hope you also let me get to know you better.”

Laurel sighed. Why did Mr. White's casual words sound so sensual in her ears? Is it really real or has she always had a perverted connotation ever since that night? Laurel shook her head discreetly, trying to concentrate on something logical.

“What is your full name?”

Aaron made the brakes suddenly. Almost making the tires squeak and Laurel's body pushed forward, fortunately they were on a quiet road. Laurel turned to Mr. White and gave a confused look. The man looked shocked… because of the question, or was it something on the way?

But Aaron quickly got a hold of himself, he looked at Laurel and apologized. “I'm sorry, there was a cat crossing,” he muttered quickly as he turned his gaze back towards the road.

Is it just the feeling… or is Mr. White gripping the steering wheel tightly?

Laurel turned her gaze to the street and finally smiled. “Cats often cross suddenly, sometimes we just see when they are across the eye, making us shocked half to death.”

“Well, I was shocked to death.” The man glanced at Laurel. “What did you ask?”

“Your full name?”

“Oh, you don't know? Even though you have been working as my subordinate for a while. You're too much.” Aaron pretended to be critical, even though deep down he knew he was the one trying to keep Laurel from knowing his full name.

In fact, all letters and official documents in the company were always in the name of A. Silverwhite. Maybe this is the time to take a risk. If Laurel doesn't react to his full name then Aaron can safely move forward with his plans. Because after all, when they get married later, Laurel has to know his full name.

He sighed once again, as if he was about to release the fuse of a grenade. “My full name is nothing special, Aaron Silverwhite.”

Aaron tried to calm down even though deep down inside he was scared to death. He had always thought the name was taboo, for fear it would make Laurel immediately remember who he really was. Now that he had given up that name, it felt like he was waiting for something to explode, making him flutter. However, what he feared did not happen.

Laurel did frown a little, but the woman just shrugged. “My full name is Laurel Jill Assura.”

“Jill who was born in July,” Aaron tries to joke, masking his overwhelming relief when he realizes that Laurel has not connected him to the young man who killed her father years ago.

Of course Aaron's past and present looks were different. Aaron, who used to be skinny from using drugs and alcohol, was a heavy smoker, inconsiderate of ear piercing and hair dyed bright yellow. Physically, it is very difficult to connect the current self with the irresponsible young man from the past. However, Aaron decided to take the risk one more time to see Laurel's reaction.

Carefully he said, “You can call me Aaron if you want… my family calls me that.”

“No, no!” Laurel's reply was quick, only a fraction of a second from Aaron. “I do not want. I'll just call you White if you don't mind.”

Laurel's body was so tense, Aaron thought, then took a painful breath, Laurel still clearly remembered the name of the man who killed her father. Judging from her attitude of refusing to call anyone by the name Aaron, the girl clearly still has hatred for the man who killed her father. Aaron had to get Laurel to forget the phrase "Aaron killed her father" and get used to associating it with "Aaron with the nice man who would become her husband."

“I do mind.” Aaron smiled gently and turned his gaze back onto the road. Laurel had to learn to call him by his first name. That way, it was possible that he could dissolve his hatred for Aaron in his past. “I told you, my family always calls me by that name and you will be my closest family.”

“But I….”

“Just try, Laurel.” Call my name, Aaron stifled a deep groan. Ah, how much he wanted to hear it, how much he wanted to hear his name spoken by the sweet voice of Laurel's lips.

Laurel sighed and for a moment Aaron sensed that Laurel wanted to argue, but then the girl decided against it.

“Aaron.”

The name finally came out of Laurel's lips, reluctantly, short and simple. However, it sounded extraordinary to Aaron's ears, like melodious strains on his ears. His dream. His dream has come true. Aaron closed his eyes for a moment, trying to hold back his broad smile.