Chapter 547 Ruby
Aurelia landed with the two children and sent them home before heading to the hospital for her scheduled prenatal appointment—the very reason she had rushed back today.
The results showed the baby was developing normally, though she was slightly anemic. While her doctor had previously recommended dietary supplements, this time he prescribed iron tablets directly.
As autumn settled in with cooler weather, she stopped by the mall on her way home to buy two sets of thicker cotton pajamas. Remembering Nathaniel's complaint about his razor during their last phone call, she found his usual brand's counter and purchased an identical replacement.
The next morning, Aurelia packed everything carefully and, after breakfast, drove out with both children. The rehabilitation center had strict visitation policies, so she handed the items to the security guard. After thorough inspection with specialized equipment, the staff called inside to arrange pickup.
Nathaniel stood by the window of his room, which offered a view of the entrance below.
Knowing Aurelia would visit that morning, he had been waiting there. He watched her hand over the packages, then remain outside with the children, all three looking up at his window.
He waved frantically until finally her gaze found his, and a gentle smile curved her lips. She crouched down, pointing upward for the children. Dorothy and Jacob grinned and waved their little hands at him.
Nathaniel picked up the phone and dialed.
"Aurelia, how have you been? Is the little one giving you much trouble?"
"I'm managing. The symptoms aren't too severe—nothing I can't handle."
Nathaniel's heart ached. "If you're feeling unwell, skip the office and rest at home."
"I know how to take care of myself. You're the one who needs to stay strong—the children and I are waiting for you to come home."
Aurelia chose not to mention the upcoming collaboration between Karma Jewelry and the Heilbronn Group. The next few weeks would likely be demanding, and he didn't need additional worries while focusing on his recovery.
"I will," Nathaniel replied.
Aurelia switched to speaker phone, and the children's voices filled the line.
"Daddy, when can you come home? Jacob and I miss you so much, and so does Mommy," Dorothy said.
"Daddy, Mommy says you're fighting demons, and you're going to win!" Jacob added.
Hearing their voices, Nathaniel suddenly remembered his promise to attend their school's parent-child sports day. In his current situation, that was impossible, and guilt washed over him for disappointing them.
"Take good care of Mommy while I'm away, okay, my darlings?"
Jacob, wise beyond his years and instinctively protective of both Dorothy and Aurelia, rose to the challenge. "Of course! I'll take care of both Mommy and Dorothy. Don't worry about us."
Somehow, being reassured by his not-yet-five-year-old son actually comforted Nathaniel, warming his heart.
The following weeks proved as busy as Aurelia had anticipated. Between developing new collections and the collaborative pieces, she barely had time to eat, relying on Aurora to bring meals to her office.
One afternoon, Joe appeared in her office unannounced.
"Aurelia, why don't you move back home until Nathaniel returns?" He studied her with concern—managing two children alone while pregnant and maintaining such an intense work schedule seemed overwhelming.
Aurelia stretched her back. "Joe, I'm not that fragile. Actually, could you spare half a day to accompany me to Jacob and Dorothy's parent-child sports day?"
Joe sighed, baffled by her relentless drive. It wasn't as if they were struggling financially, yet she pushed herself to exhaustion daily. "When is it?"
Aurelia consulted her desk calendar. "This Thursday."
"I'll make time," Joe said, then walked over and began gathering the papers from her desk. "You're coming home for dinner tonight. I've already picked up Dorothy and Jacob from preschool—it's been too long since we've all been together."
Aurelia rubbed her temples. "Alright, but I'll need to work tonight."
Joe's expression sharpened. "Why tonight too? If you need more staff, hire them. This pace is unsustainable."
Aurelia surrendered, locking the files Joe had organized into her drawer. "Fine, fine. No work tonight."
As she gathered her things and stood, Joe was already holding her coat, waiting for her to slip her arms through the sleeves.
In the elevator and then the car, Aurelia finally asked, "Any luck finding a match?"
Joe's breathing hitched. This remained the family's deepest wound. Despite exhaustive efforts, finding a compatible donor was like searching for a needle in a haystack among billions of people.
The driver pulled into traffic as the cityscape blurred past their windows.
After a long silence, Joe spoke. "We've employed some unconventional methods. If nothing turns up, we'll have to accept what fate brings."
Aurelia didn't press about these "unconventional methods." Joe's reluctance to elaborate meant he preferred to shield her from the details.
That night, Aurelia stayed at the Semona Villa with the children. Many of her belongings remained there, and while organizing after the children were asleep, she discovered the ruby—the one Nathaniel had won for her at auction.
The moment she'd seen it, she couldn't look away, convinced it would perfectly complement Helen's elegance. Nathaniel hadn't initially intended to bid, but noticing her transfixed stare, he'd raised an eyebrow and asked, "You like it?"
At the time, they were newlyweds still sleeping in separate rooms, relating to each other like intimate strangers. Aurelia hadn't felt comfortable asking him to bid on her behalf. But Nathaniel, never concerned about money, had casually raised his paddle and outbid everyone by several times the asking price.
Holding the small velvet box, Aurelia's thoughts drifted to him again. She had promised Madeline a piece of jewelry and couldn't break her word. Unable to sleep anyway, she retrieved paper and pencil, working by lamplight as inspiration struck. The design flowed almost effortlessly in the quiet hours.
The next morning, she photographed the sketch and sent it to Dominic.
Aurelia: [Dominic, could you show this to Mrs. Sawyer? If she'd like any modifications, please let me know.]
His response came almost immediately: [Beautiful work. My mother will be thrilled.]
Aurelia winced at his lightning-fast reply—clearly he hadn't consulted Madeline before responding. Since he'd approved it, she'd proceed. She had designed it with elderly preferences in mind while adding personal touches: knowing Madeline loved willow trees, she incorporated delicate willow branches into the pendant and planned to engrave Madeline's initials on the reverse.
She sent the final design to production with a rush order.
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