Chapter 92
Alden seemed to be wandering around. Since earlier, he had been searching for Aurora’s whereabouts, which hadn’t been seen at the hospital.
Today, because there was a morning surgery schedule, Alden couldn’t go to work with Aurora. After finishing his duties, Alden tried to contact her as usual. However, his girlfriend hadn’t responded to his text messages or phone calls that he had been sending. This made him worried. He was afraid that something might have happened to her.
“Dr. Velia, have you seen Dr. Aurora?”
Alden went to visit Velia in her office. Because Aurora had mentioned yesterday that she would be leaving with Velia, he believed that she would know where his girlfriend was.
“Dr. Alden?” Velia quickly rose from her seat. She approached Alden, who was standing at the door of the room. “I haven’t seen Dr. Aurora today.”
Alden’s brow furrowed reflexively. He was certainly surprised to hear the confession of the pediatric specialist in front of him who apparently also didn’t know where Aurora was. Yet Alden had thought that his girlfriend had gone to work with Velia as previously stated.
“Really? Last night, Aurora said she would go to work with Dr. Velia this morning.”
Velia confirmed this.
“Yes, Doctor. That was the plan. But this morning, she called and said she wouldn’t be joining. When I asked why, she just said she had some matters to attend to.”Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.
Alden became even more confused. Now he didn’t know where else to look for Aurora, while she still hadn’t responded to his messages.
This was the first time Aurora had acted strangely by disappearing suddenly. Wait a minute. Or could it be that Alden was just being overly anxious in searching for her?
“Well then. Let me try looking again.”
“Is there something urgent that Dr. Alden wants to convey?” Velia asked, concerned. She felt sorry for Alden, who clearly seemed lost.
Alden shook his head.
“It’s not really urgent. I’m just confused because I haven’t seen Dr. Aurora since earlier, and I can’t reach her either.”
“Do you want me to help search?”
Velia became worried too. She took out her phone, then tried to call Aurora and got the same result. The Arab-descended woman didn’t answer any of her calls.
“She’s not answering my calls either. Let me help search, okay?”
Alden shook his head again. Knowing Velia’s busy schedule this morning, he politely declined her offer. After all, he could try to find her on his own.
“No need, Doctor. I’ll look for her myself.”
Velia nodded understandingly. She didn’t insist on her offer to Alden.
“In that case, let’s keep each other updated, Doctor. If I happen to find Aurora, I’ll inform Dr. Alden as soon as possible.”
Alden nodded and left. Once again, he wandered around trying to find Aurora’s whereabouts. Before long, he remembered something. Out of all the rooms he had checked, there was one that he had missed.
“Oh, Asher’s room.”
With big strides, Alden hurriedly made his way to the leadership room. Upon arriving and knocking on the door, he found Aurora there, chatting with Asher.
“Oh my goodness, Aurora.”
Still catching his breath, Alden exclaimed. But afterward, he felt relieved because Aurora, who he had been searching for, was indeed in her brother’s room.
“Al, what’s wrong with you?”
Asher, puzzled, asked. He got up and then invited Alden to come in and sit on the guest sofa.
“Come. Sit next to Aurora.”
Alden agreed. He took a seat next to Aurora. “I’ve been looking all over for you. I even checked the rooms and couldn’t find you. I asked Velia, but she didn’t know.”
Alden expressed what had made him anxious and panicked. Meanwhile, Asher just shook his head and chuckled.
“Aurora has been here the whole time. She’s been going to work with me.”
“Yeah,” Aurora nodded in agreement. “I’ve been with Asher all this time.”
Alden nodded in relief.
“Thank goodness. I thought you were missing. And why didn’t you answer my calls or messages?”
Aurora then checked her pocket. Realizing her phone wasn’t there, she suddenly remembered.
“Oh my goodness, I just remembered my phone is in the drawer. I’m so sorry for making you panic.”
“It’s okay. The important thing is we found you now.”
Asher chuckled again. He found it amusing to see Alden’s obvious worry and panic.
“Don’t worry. Aurora isn’t going anywhere. She won’t go missing as long as she’s with me.”
“It’s just panic. It’s not like her to not reply to messages or not answer calls.”
Alden continued to laugh hearing Aurora’s response. From this, he could tell that his colleague was genuinely afraid of losing her sister.
“But, since you’re here too, I want to discuss Savana’s case.”
The handsome face, previously filled with worry and panic, suddenly became more serious. Alden was sure that if Asher was discussing Savana’s case, there must be something important he needed to know.
“How’s Aunt Savana? Can action be taken yet?”
Asher nodded.
“Don’t worry. Next week, the legal team and the police will arrest that crazy woman.”
“Seriously?”
Alden looked pleased. That meant he could soon clear his mother’s and Aurora’s names in front of everyone.
“That’s what I’ve been discussing with Asher,” Aurora added. “Honestly, I’m tired and I want this to be over quickly.”
“Yeah,” Asher continued the conversation. “Don’t worry. This case couldn’t be rushed from the beginning. We need to find the right time so that Aunt Savana doesn’t realize she’s been targeted from the start. It’s dangerous if she finds out she’s going to be arrested. She might play the victim, pretend to be crazy, or even intentionally escape. That’s why Rayyen and I have been coordinating lately to find the right time.”
Alden didn’t expect Asher to think that far ahead. From this, he became more confident in Aurora’s statement that Asher was calculated and reliable in solving every problem.
“But, before she’s arrested, I ask that she confess to everyone that what she said was slander.”
Asher nodded in agreement.
“Don’t worry. This time I won’t show any mercy. Because she embarrassed Aurora, I’ll embarrass her in front of everyone. Just wait and see what I’ll do.”
“Anyway, if you need help or anything, just let me know. I can’t wait to see Aunt Savana being held accountable for what she’s done.”
After meeting with Asher, Alden invited Aurora to stop by the hospital cafeteria for a moment. While enjoying cold drinks, he wanted to tell something to his girlfriend.
“Tomorrow, there’s a health seminar scheduled at the Magnola building. I’d like your permission to attend.”
Aurora smiled. She nodded in response to Alden’s explanation.
“Sure. Why do you need permission? I won’t stop you.”
“I know,” Alden replied hastily. “But, one of the seminar partners tomorrow is Regina. I’m afraid you might misunderstand.”
The smile still lingered on Aurora’s beautiful face. Instead of changing her mind and forbidding it, she seemed to respond casually to the information Alden gave.
“No problem. Besides, I’m sure you won’t do anything inappropriate, right?”
“Of course not.”
“Well, then. Just relax. I won’t get jealous.”
Now it was Alden’s turn to smile. If he got the green light like this, he felt relieved and comfortable to carry out his work later.
“Thank you for allowing me.”
Aurora nodded. Then, not long after, she spoke again.
“The day after tomorrow, can we have dinner together? There’s something important I want to tell you.”
Alden checked his schedule on his phone first. Believing there was no important activity to be done, he shook his head afterward.
“No, there isn’t. My schedule is clear the day after tomorrow. So we can have dinner together. Moreover, what do you want to talk about?”
“The day after tomorrow, I’ll tell you everything. If now, there’s not enough time. Besides, you’ll have to return to work soon, right?”
Before Alden could respond, one of the nurses approached. Asking Alden to hurry to the Emergency Department because there was an emergency patient who needed immediate examination.
Meanwhile, Aurora chose to return to her own room. Unfortunately, she had to meet and, whether she liked it or not, share the elevator with Regina.
“You already know that tomorrow I have a seminar schedule with Dr. Alden, right?”
Despite this, Aurora deliberately remained silent and pretended not to see Regina. However, Regina decided to speak up and intentionally engaged in conversation.
“If you genuinely want to win someone’s heart, there’s always a way,” Regina bragged. “God knows what’s best and should be given an easy path.”
“Feel free to take it if you can.”
Aurora responded briefly. She didn’t feel like wasting energy to entertain Regina’s talk, which she considered unimportant.
“Don’t be arrogant. I’m sure Dr. Aurora already knows the gossip out there about Alden being accused of various things because he’s close to a doctor, right? Would you really let Alden be humiliated and degraded like that? Don’t be selfish.”
Aurora laughed.
“What did you say? I’m selfish?”
Regina nodded.
“Yes. Doctor indeed seems self-centered. For the sake of her own happiness and obsession, Doctor Aurora closes her eyes to the current condition of Alden and his mother, who are currently genuinely destroyed by the accusations of people out there. If not selfish, then what is it?”
“You’re exaggerating, Regina.”
Regina laughed.
“Exaggerating? Doctor Aurora is the one who’s been exaggerating by turning a blind eye.” Regina then approached a little closer. Narrowing the gap, she spoke while also making a point.
“Think carefully, if Alden can be happy with another woman, why does Doctor Aurora insist and ultimately sacrifice Alden’s and his mother’s happiness? It’s better to let go. Let Alden’s reputation return to its original cleanliness. After all, why force him to live with a woman who actually tarnishes his image in front of many people?”
After the elevator door opened, Regina innocently walked away. Leaving Aurora without giving her the chance to respond to what she had said.