Chapter 140 Habitual Choices
Chelsea's eyes curved as she turned to Aurelia and asked, "Aurelia, I need to talk to Nathaniel about something private. Could you give us some privacy?"
Aurelia didn't say anything and looked up at Nathaniel. Chelsea mentioned having a private matter to discuss with him, and in Aurelia's well-known status as Mrs. Heilbronn, she wanted to see his reaction first.
The attention of the group of women quickly focused on Nathaniel.
The next moment, Nathaniel glanced at Aurelia. His gaze was calm and casual, but to Aurelia, it felt like a storm was brewing. Before he could speak, Aurelia already knew the answer.
Choosing Chelsea, no matter when or where, was his habit, as was his routine of eating and drinking.
"Aurelia, could you..." Nathaniel began.
Aurelia gave a bitter smile and interrupted him, "You two talk. I'll go get something to eat."
Aurelia turned and left, feeling bitter and uncomfortable. After a few steps, Ashley followed her.
"Aurelia," she called from behind.
Aurelia didn't turn back and asked, "What?"
Ashley hurried a few steps to catch up. "Let's talk. I heard some big news I want to share with you."
Aurelia knew Ashley had no good intentions and quickened her pace, not wanting to engage in conversation with her. Ashley, who had run away from home, inherited none of the intelligence of her siblings, especially Nathaniel. She was easily manipulated and used by others.
Ashley caught up to Aurelia and walked beside her, never missing an opportunity to annoy her.
"Aurelia, when are you and my brother going to get a divorce? It's so boring living like this. My brother only has Chelsea in his heart. They've loved and slept together, and their relationship goes way back to their childhood. Now, she's pregnant. How long are you going to be his mistress?" Ashley's words were mocking.
Aurelia suddenly stopped in her tracks. Ashley called her a mistress, which pierced every nerve in her body.
"Ashley, are you nuts?" Aurelia retorted.
Instead of getting angry at being scolded, Ashley seemed rather pleased. Finally, she got a reaction from Aurelia, and she knew her earlier words had hit a nerve.
"I'm trying to have a decent conversation with you, and why are you insulting me? Let's talk between girls. Isn't my brother avoiding you? I think he desires Chelsea; otherwise, how did she get pregnant so quickly after returning? You've been living together for three years with no news of pregnancy," Ashley said, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
Aurelia looked at Ashley, her eyes filled with disbelief. "You're a lady raised from a prestigious family. Your parents are reasonable people. How can you speak and act so rudely?"
Noble ladies despised being accused of lacking proper upbringing. The cost of their education could be a fortune most people wouldn't earn in a lifetime. To be accused of lacking manners was an insult to her entire family.
Ashley was furious. "How can you speak like this? You can't keep a man, so you take it out on me. You deserve to be a mistress, being a stepmother to someone else's child."
Aurelia, already angry, couldn't stand Ashley's provocation. "Ashley, do you know how many men Chelsea has slept with? Are you sure the child in her womb is Nathaniel's?"
Ashley was dumbfounded.Talking to Ashley made Aurelia feel like she had become just like Ashley.
Ashley's face turned visibly red, and she looked like she might strike Aurelia. "Why are you spouting nonsense? Chelsea is deeply in love with my brother. She wouldn't be with anyone else. It's you who keeps seducing rich men, even those engaged. You have no shame!"
Just then, Caleb walked over. He stood next to Aurelia and asked, "Mrs. Aurelia Heilbronn, is everything alright?"
Aurelia bit her lip and said, "Mr. Sinclair, could you explain to her? I'm tired."
Seeing Caleb's approach, Ashley's demeanor changed immediately. She appeared delicate and pitiful as if she had been wronged. "Caleb, Aurelia is scolding me, and you don't know how rude she's being. I can't reason with her."
Ashley looked on the verge of tears.
Aurelia, seeing the familiar pattern with Chelsea, felt a wave of disgust and left the two of them, walking away directly.
Caleb witnessed Ashley and Aurelia arguing and caught snippets of their conversation. Ashley's sharp and bitter words, now accusing Aurelia, left him feeling disgusted.
As he watched Aurelia's desolate figure, he once again felt that the Heilbronn family had no decent individuals; their values were skewed.
Caleb had no interest in listening to women cry, especially those he didn't like.
After Aurelia left, Caleb turned and walked away. Ashley followed after him.
"Caleb, why are you ignoring me? Grandpa asked me to invite you to dinner this weekend. Could you bring me a bouquet when you come? I like white roses," Ashley said.
Caleb, tired of the situation, stopped in his tracks. "Miss Heilbronn, we don't see fit. It's not suitable for us to be together. It would be best if you cut your losses and not waste any more time on me. There are plenty of wealthy unmarried bachelors in Imperick. Given the power of your Heilbronn family, you should have no trouble finding a match."
Ashley's face turned pale. She thought, 'It seems Aurelia had captured his soul. Damned Aurelia!'
She bit her lip, feeling wronged. "Caleb, why don't we give it a try? We come from similar backgrounds, received equal educations, and are a perfect match in every way. Why do you think otherwise?"
Caleb disliked conversing with foolish individuals. Glancing around and seeing no one nearby, he boldly began to argue with her.
"Miss Heilbronn, do you truly believe Aurelia was the one who stepped in as a mistress, as you suggest?"
Ashley confidently replied, "Of course, Chelsea knew my brother first. She's now pregnant with his child. Shouldn't Aurelia step aside?"
Caleb was astonished by her response. "Miss Heilbronn, is this your personal opinion, or does your entire family share this belief? Aurelia and Nathaniel are legally married. If Nathaniel is entangled with another woman during his marriage, it's considered infidelity. For a woman to get pregnant by cheating and then force the legal spouse to step aside is a dirty and typical scenario. How did the most innocent person become the villain in your eyes? Is this the belief of the entire Heilbronn family?"
Ashley didn't see anything wrong with her thoughts. "Aurelia took advantage of the situation while Chelsea was abroad and climbed into our Heilbronn family. That's what I call a mistress taking over."
Caleb felt tortured by what happened to Aurelia. He thought, 'How did Aurelia end up with such a strange family?'
"Aurelia blackmailed the Heilbronn family, so you had to bring her into the family. Is that so?" Caleb mocked.
Ashley didn't understand Caleb and sneered, "Aurelia is not capable of that. No one would blackmail the Heilbronn family. It's my brother who easily controls her."
"That's right. Your brother has the initiative. If he married her, it was his choice, and he should treat her well instead of thinking about other women. The Heilbronn family should also abide by the law and the principle of monogamy. Having multiple wives and mistresses is impossible," Caleb stated.
Ashley couldn't argue and stomped her foot in frustration.
Caleb felt it was torture to spend even a minute longer with her and went up to the deck to smoke.
He was pretty sure now that themarriage proposal between him and Ashley needed to be called off as soon as possible.
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