Chapter 219 Listen to Uncle Joe
Time flew by, and four years had passed.
At Coral Bay Airport, Aurelia was giving the nanny detailed instructions about the two babies' routines.
"Dahlia, Jacob and Dorothy need to drink warm milk before bed. Dorothy likes to wear the strawberry-patterned pajamas, and her strawberry bear is in the suitcase. Jacob's dinosaur is packed too; remember to take them out when you get to the hotel. The weather in Imperick is dry, so make sure they drink plenty of water."
Dahlia West was a professional nanny hired by the Semona family. She had been taking care of the two children since they were born and had done so diligently for the past four years. The children were very attached to her. However, this time they were going far away to Imperick, and Aurelia was extremely worried.
Dahlia reassured her, "Ms. Semona, don't worry. I've got everything under control and will take good care of the little ones."
Aurelia cast a fleeting glance at Joe, who was engaged in a phone call nearby, and let out a soft sigh. She felt hesitant about allowing the two children to depart with their uncle.
Joe finished his call and walked over, picking up a child in each arm.
"Don't worry. Nothing will happen. Promise your mom that you'll listen to me in Imperick and not run around. Once I'm done with my work, I'll take you to the aquarium."
Aurelia looked distressed. "Joe, please bring them back as soon as you're done."
Joe's business had been booming in recent years, expanding from Coral Bay all the way north to Imperick. The Semona family's real estate buildings could be seen all over the country.
This time, he was attending a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a major project. When the two kids heard Joe was flying to Imperick, they insisted on going along, and Aurelia couldn't persuade them otherwise.
As the children grew older, they became more determined. Imperick, being the capital city, was a place many of their kindergarten friends had visited with their parents. They often discussed their experiences at museums and science centers, making Jacob and Dorothy envious.
The two clever kids knew their mom wouldn't agree to let them go, so they pestered Joe until he finally gave them permission.
Jacob said, "Mommy, don't worry. I'll definitely listen to Uncle Joe. If he asks me to play with Barbie dolls, I won't ask for dinosaurs."
Dorothy added, "Bye, Mommy. I'll take pictures of the big sharks at the Imperick aquarium for you, and there are beautiful mermaids too."
Aurelia was helpless. Since they were already at the airport, she couldn't take the kids back and dampen their spirits. She had promised to let them go with their uncle and couldn't go back on her word.
"When you get there, listen to Joe and don't run around. Wear your phone watches and keep them charged. Don't accept anything from strangers or go anywhere with them."
The kids had heard these instructions so many times that they were almost tired of them.
"Got it, Mommy."
Aurelia continued to remind them, "Promise me!"
She was very worried. "Joe..."
There were many things she couldn't say in front of the kids, but Joe understood with just a look.
"Don't worry. I won't let them come into contact with anyone they shouldn't. We'll visit the famous spots in Imperick and come right back."
At that moment, the announcement for their flight came over the loudspeaker.
"It's time to check in. You should get back to work. We'll video call you once we reach the hotel. Jacob, Dorothy, say goodbye to Mommy."
The two kids waved their little hands, and Aurelia followed them all the way to the check-in gate, only leaving after they had gone through.
For the past four years, Aurelia's studio had grown from a small workshop with just three people to occupying an entire floor of an office building.
The business had expanded significantly, with many celebrities, wealthy wives, socialites, and soon-to-be-married couples coming to customize jewelry.
Finding a few hours to bid them farewell was no easy task for Aurelia. She typically led such a busy life that she could barely find a moment to catch her breath.
Just as she got back to her car and was about to return to the studio, her assistant called.
"Anna, a lady has come to customize jewelry and specifically requested you to design it. When will you be back? She's been waiting in your office for half a day and says she won't leave until she sees you."
Aurelia put her phone on speaker and started the car, slowly driving out of the parking lot.
"I'm on my way now. If there's no traffic, I'll be back in about forty minutes. You can start by discussing her requirements."
Her assistant, Aurora, sounded troubled. "Anna, the lady doesn't want to talk to anyone else. She only wants to see you."
Aurelia's eyelid twitched. It seemed like this was a demanding customer.
It took her exactly forty minutes to get back to the studio. After parking the car, she quickly went upstairs. Aurora was already waiting for her at the elevator.
"Anna, you're finally back. I've already served her two cups of coffee, three cups of fruit tea, and a plate of fruit, but she hasn't even looked at me. She keeps asking when you'll be back."
Aurelia listened to her assistant's report as she walked inside.
Pushing open the office door, she saw a woman sitting on the sofa with one leg crossed, drinking tea. Aurelia's face showed a hint of surprise. Over the years, it was well-known in the circle that Anne Studio didn't take orders from Imperick.
She was stunned for a few seconds before regaining her composure and said with a smile, "Miss Sinclair, what kind of jewelry are you looking for? I can recommend some suitable brands for you."
Nova pouted and said, "Ms. Semona, are you really going to turn down money? I only like your designs. Don't you know that four years ago, my mom wore a set of jewelry you designed to her birthday party and stole the show among the ladies? Mrs. Heilbronn's face was priceless."
Hearing the name "Mrs. Heilbronn" made Aurelia inexplicably irritated. If she had known that the order she accepted four years ago would eventually be worn by Mrs. Sinclair at her birthday party, she would have chosen bankruptcy for Anne Studio rather than accepting that money.
"Miss Sinclair, you know Anne Studio doesn't take orders from Imperick."
Nova was a savvy person. She had been rejected many times over the past four years, but it was always over the phone by an assistant. She never even got the chance to speak to Aurelia before being turned down.
This time, she was preparing for her engagement and came in person, hoping to order a unique, one-of-a-kind set of jewelry. However, none of the brands on the market appealed to her. Even the limited-edition pieces from major brands were hard to come by.
Comparatively, Aurelia's designs were more accessible, and Nova recognized her talent.
Observing Aurelia's cold demeanor and her evident displeasure upon hearing the name Imperick, Nova made the decision to bring up her brother as a form of support.
"Anna, my brother said you used to be an international top designer, the kind that ordinary companies couldn't hire. I only trust you. What should I do? If you don't want to take orders from Imperick, I'll move to Coral Bay. After all, my brother has already moved here."
Caleb had moved to Coral Bay in recent years to pursue Aurelia, practically relocating Sinclair Media's headquarters.
Nova knew her silly brother was there to chase his goddess. She had secretly investigated and found out that he frequently visited Anne Studio, always getting rejected but persistently trying for four years.
She had long accepted that this beautiful designer would eventually become her sister-in-law. However, Caleb had not succeeded in the past four years, so she did not have the courage to change her address for him. Instead, she referred to herself by her own name when speaking to him.
Aurelia remained silent for a moment. She couldn't take this order, knowing that Nova's social circle consisted of Imperick's socialites, which would inevitably attract attention.
"Miss Sinclair, you're wasting your time here," Aurelia said helplessly.
As they were talking, there was a knock on the office door, and both of them looked over, surprised.
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