40

On the other hand, Aaron was driving aimlessly, looking for Laurel and could not find her. However, he remembered the dormitory and realized that his wife did not know about his relationship with Aunt Sarah. Most likely Laurel went back to her dorm first.

Aaron was turning his car around to head to the dormitory when his cell phone rang.

“Laurel is here,” Aunt Sarah's soft voice sounded on the other end.

For a moment, Aaron closed his eyes, feeling relief run through his body at the information he had received. He had been extremely worried. His mind was filled with negative thoughts, afraid that Laurel would be reckless and do something out of her mind. Knowing that Laurel was safe in the dorm was a relief to him.

“Is she okay?”

“She came in and started crying. I have calmed her down and now she's resting in her room. She already knows everything.”

“An incident made Laurel know everything and she misunderstood, thinking I was tricking her, because she knew that informtion not from me,” Aaron explained briefly to Aunt Sarah, then accelerated even further. “I'll come to pick her up soon.”

“I think you’d better not to,” Aunt Sarah said carefully. “She was still very frantic and emotional. I am afraid that if you come to get her now, it will encourage her to run away again. Let her calm down first, then I will try to talk to her. Only then can you come here to pick her up.”

Aaron's mind rejected the suggestion. He could not help but want to go to Laurel, explain to her, and shake her if necessary so that she would accept his explanation. It is okay if Laurel hates him, its okay if Laurel does not want to forgive him. However, Aaron does not want it if she does not believe that he really loves her.

For that one, Aaron had to explain it to Laurel, making her believe him.

His logic, however, knew that Aunt Sarah's suggestion had some merit as well. Laurel would not want to accept her explanation if she was confused and emotional. It is useless; no matter how Aaron explained it in any way, Laurel would not want to hear it. He had to wait for her to calm down, so that they could discuss and not throw tantrums and arguments at each other.

Aaron wished he still had a chance; a chance to explain to Laurel, a chance for her to listen to him. That one, he was willing to wait.

“Okay, Aunt Sarah, I'll be waiting. Please let me know when Laurel is ready for me to pick up.”

The man took a deep breath, then stiffened his heart and turned the car around, heading back to his house. He will wait, and he hopes this wait will have a happy conclusion.

_______________

Laurel sat in her room and did some calculations. Her savings were more than enough to start a new life. So far, she has always been saving money, ever since she was a student and working part-time, she always saves her money carefully, little by little. Luckily, she was able to get a scholarship for her school and some other luck, so that in the end Laurel was able to save until she reached a sufficient amount of money.

Am I that steady? Laurel thought in her heart, asking herself that question. Am I determined to walk away and not look back, leaving everything behind?

The memories were still etched in her mind, one after another even though Laurel tried to push it away: memories of Aaron, his smile, his seductive words, his passionate whispers; all about her beloved Aaron Silverwhite.

Can she live with the knowledge that she has thrown it all away? Is she capable?

Aaron Silverwhite, after all, was her father's killer. That man was the man who had made Laurel promise never forgives him. Her head felt dizzy and she massaged her temples, confused.

Ah, God, how can love be so complicated? Why can't she be like ordinary people, who date, get married and live happily?

There was a sudden knock on the door to her room. Aunt Sarah's voice called there. “Laurel, are you awake?”

Laurel had been awake a long time because her sleep was filled with nightmares, and she had taken a shower. “I'm awake.”

Laurel opened the door for Aunt Sarah and smiled. “Forgive my behavior earlier, Auntie.”

Aunt Sarah smiled understandingly. “It's okay, dear. I can understand your feelings. Maybe later when you calm down, we can talk, but now there's a guest for you.”

Laurel instantly stiffened. Aaron? How stupid she is. Aaron must have known that she had run away to this dorm. Where else is she going?

However, Laurel was not ready to meet Aaron; she is still angry, she is still hateful. After all, she had already prepared her heart to leave the man and intended never to see him again.

“If it's Aaron, I don't want to see him,” Laurel whispered softly, panicking. “Please Auntie, I don't want to.”

Aunt Sarah shook her head, smiling gently at her. “No, Laurel, the guest is a woman.”

As soon as she saw her, Laurel immediately knew who it was; a Spanish woman, with a beautiful body and extraordinary exotic beauty, still beautiful even though she is middle age. The shape of her sexy lips combined with her trademark sharp nose, and wide eyes like a deer that was amazingly beautiful.

This woman is Aaron's mother.

“We haven't met yet.” Mrs Irish Silverwhite stood up from the chair in the living room of the dormitory. “I'm Aaron's mother. You can call me Mom, or Irish; whatever makes you comfortable.”

She looked at Laurel's face gently. “It's a shame that we couldn't meet before your wedding. However, I still give my blessing to both of you.”

What is Aaron's mother doing here? Did he send his mother to persuade her?

Laurel was still glued to the doorway of the living room until Mrs Irish invited her to sit down. “Will you sit down, Laurel? I hope we can have a little chat.”

As if hypnotized, Laurel took a seat in front of Aaron's mother.

“If you're wondering, Aaron didn't know I came here. He probably does not even know I am back from Spain. Aamber called me and I immediately took the first flight to see you.”

Mrs Irish's smile reminded Laurel of a distant memory from her past; those sad memories, ten years ago.

“You came to the funeral back then.”

“Yes, I did come to the funeral, with my husband. You might hate Aaron because he did not come and only came after a while. I am sorry for him, Laurel. Aaron was seriously injured at the time and had to undergo lymph surgery.”

Aaron had surgery. It was new information that she had never known before. Laurel looked away and stole a glance at Mrs Irish's face. She still remembered that face, even though there had now been an additional ten years of age. The face is still the same, with an exotic beauty that is not easily forgotten.

Mrs Irish came with her husband after the funeral, offering Laurel and her mother what they called apology money. At that time, her mother rejected them outright and threw the money, in a literal sense, at the couple. The couple ended up leaving in shame.

“Our memories from the past weren't pleasant enough, were they, Laurel?” Mrs Irish smiled, understanding what was on her mind. “And even now that I think about it, it still feels suffocating.”

Mrs Irish took a deep breath. “Everything that happened actually started from our mistakes. It is my entire husband and I's fault for raising Aaron without affection. We are both so busy with our own business that we forget that we have children who need attention.”

Mrs Irish's eyes filled with tears. “We tried to replace that attention and affection with money, feeling that it was enough. However, Aaron grew up to be a rebel, always throwing tantrums and causing trouble, which in the end we know; he did it all just to get our attention.”

Laurel could imagine it all. The children of rich families who never received the love of their parents, fled to destructive mischief. She grew up in a poor family, but full of love and she was grateful for it.

Unknowingly she feels sorry for Aaron who grew up surrounded by wealth, but has to do some trouble in order to get his parents' attention.

“The worst thing was that night, when the police came and informed us that Aaron had an accident. His condition was critical and we almost lost him. It was in that frantic moment that we realized that the accident had cost us, a man who may also have had a family.” Mrs Irish looked at Laurel sadly. “We all bear the guilt, Laurel, but it is Aaron who bears it the most.”

When Laurel did not say anything, Aaron's mother continued, “The day you kicked him out, saying that you hated him and that he was a worthless human being, you knocked on his deepest conscience. Since then Aaron has changed. He became a responsible person; he became someone who lived with one purpose, even though he lived it all with great pain.”

Mrs Irish's eyes blinked, holding back the tears that were about to spill. “Aaron has punished himself after that incident, Laurel, he has received his punishment.”

Laurel looked away, her eyes suddenly felt hot. Is that all true? Was it true that the accident had aroused Aaron's guilt?

“I think what Aaron really wanted was to be a hero to you, atone for all his mistakes. I can't explain anything to you, but you have to believe, Laurel, that everything Aaron did to you was because he loved you.”

Mrs Irish wiped her tears, and then stood up. Laurel followed her to her feet. “I hope you will consider all my words just now.”

Laurel frowned, trying to make a sound despite being held back. “I… I will think about it.”

“Thank you, Laurel.” With a spontaneous movement, Mrs Irish took Laurel into her arms. “I am very happy to accept you as my daughter-in-law.”

Then she left, leaving a very elegant vanilla scent in the living room.