Chapter 44

That was a pretty woman, about the same age as Evelina.

Her appearance might not immediately draw the eye, but the ensemble of her features created an undeniable allure.

Warmth emanated from her; when Florrie walked through the door, she greeted Florrie with a smile that was both gentle and inviting, saying, "Florrie, you're back?"

This greeting, simple yet heartfelt, conveyed deep affection.

To an outsider, she could easily pass as Florrie's older sister due to her mature charm.

Recognizing the voice, Florrie expressed her surprise. "Aurora, what a surprise! What brings you here?"

While Florrie was not displeased to see her, she was taken aback, knowing Aurora's typically hectic schedule. She added, "Your visit must have been quite the effort; Aglonard is not just around the corner."

Aurora replied with concern, "With your surgery upcoming, I felt it was important to be here."

She moved towards them gracefully, her eyes quickly flicking to Evelina before she took Florrie's hands in hers.

Her gesture subtly implied that she saw Evelina as just a helper, even though it was delicately done.

Florrie, asserting her preference, said, "I appreciate it, but Evelina's support is all I need."

She clung to Evelina's hand, her comfort visibly anchored in the latter's presence.

Turning her attention to Evelina, Aurora asked politely, "And who might this be?"

Florrie proudly responded, "This is Evelina Marsh, invincible and revered by all-a true gem." She was enthusiastic in her praise, ensuring Aurora recognized Evelina's importance.

Aurora had never heard such praise from Florrie, and a flicker of envy was evident in her eyes upon hearing Florrie's words.

She had been secretly impressed by Evelina's beauty even before the latter entered the room.

Evelina's appearance was distinctly commanding, a rare type of beauty that even the elite of lreah would acknowledge as exceptional.

Anxiety surged within Aurora. Jasper had left Ireah just days ago, and already a woman of such allure was by his side?

"Hello, Evelina. Isn't it interesting that we both carry the Marsh surname?" Aurora maintained a gentle smile,but her words were tinged with subtle implications.

She was, after all, from the illustrious Marsh family of Ireah.

"Hello, it's nice to meet you," Evelina replied, maintaining politeness but with a reserved tone.

Aurora represented herself as Jasper's fiancee from the Marsh family.

Despite Jasper's apparent disinterest, Aurora had set her sights on securing their marriage, a fact well-known to Florrie who had observed her consistent efforts to win him over.

Evelina chose not to linger around Aurora, particularly with the surgery impending. Any distraction could prove costly, akin to the stakes at the shooting range.

In high-stakes surgery, unlike a shooting contest, there is no room for error.

Feigning exhaustion, Evelina said, "I think I'll head to my room for a bath."

"Are you staying here in the villa?" Aurora demanded.

She had arrived loaded wih her travel bags, only to learn from the housekeeper that during this sensitive time, visitors were not permitted to stay overnight-an explicit directive from Jasper.

So how come Evelina was exempt?

"Absolutely, Evelina stays as my personal physician to monitor my health," Florrie explained, hoping her response would also deter Aurora from considering an extended stay. Yet Aurora insisted, "Florrie, I'd like to stay with you as well. After such a long journey, it feels unsafe to seek accommodations elsewhere..."

Florrie found herself unable to reject the request, and Evelina didn't feel it was her place to intervene.

"I'll check with Uncle Jasper," Florrie said, her youthful indecisiveness leading her to yield.

From the doorway, Jasper's authoritative voice interrupted, "No need for that."

He had just wrapped up some urgent business at the Russell Group's local office and walked in just as Aurora expressed her desire to stay over. He quickly dismissed the idea.

Tears formed in Aurora's eyes as she looked at him imploringly. "Jasper, why can't I stay?"

Jasper glanced at Evelina, relieved to see she appeared unaffected by the situation before he allowed himself a subtle sigh of relief.

"To prevent any potential misunderstandings," he explained crisply, his voice reflecting a hint of annoyance."You understand, don't you?"