Chapter 6

Freshening up quickly, she opened her cloth bag and pulled out a simple dress, slipping it on. As for the luxurious dresses in the closet? She wouldn’t dare touch them.

She then grabbed the only pair of shoes she owned, worn-out and long overdue for replacement. Slipping them on, she hastily combed her hair, tied it into a ponytail, and grabbed her old handbag.

As she turned to leave the room, her eyes landed on her phone. She hurriedly picked it up before stepping out.

Descending the stairs, she kept her gaze ahead. She had been warned not to venture past a certain point or take the right staircase. But why? What was beyond that?

Shrugging off the thought, she hurried toward the kitchen. The previous evening, she had been surprised to find it fully stocked with groceries, some familiar, some she had longed to try, and others she had never seen before.

The refrigerator was packed with snacks, dairy products, fresh fruits, and fruit juices, but she hadn't touched any, afraid of overstepping boundaries.

This morning, however, she grabbed a pack of cookies and a bottle of water. If she needed to replace them, she could afford to do so.

Pulling a long stool to the counter, she climbed onto it and quickly munched on the cookies. Once done, she uncapped the bottle and drank deeply before placing the remaining cookies back in the fridge.

After wiping her mouth with a napkin and discarding it, she hurried out of the kitchen.

Standing in the living room, she let out a sigh. She was supposed to clean the house, but that would have to wait, she needed to see her mother first.

"Until I return," she muttered before heading outside.

As soon as she stepped out, a sudden realization made her pause.

She had no idea where she was. She didn’t even know how the city’s transportation system worked.

Unzipping her bag, she rummaged through it, frowning deeply. She had very little money, probably not enough to cover the fare. What was she supposed to do now?

She knew no one in this place, and calling Parker for help was out of the question. Wouldn’t it be humiliating to ask her husband for money less than a day after moving in?

Still lost in thought, she nearly jumped when a car suddenly pulled up beside her.

She took a step back, eyes fixed on the vehicle.

"Ma’am," a familiar voice called out as the car window rolled down.

Recognizing the man immediately, she relaxed. It was the chauffeur who had driven her home the previous day.

"Good morning," she greeted him with a small wave.

The chauffeur stepped out of the car and walked over. "Get in," he said, opening the passenger door for her.

Aurora blinked in confusion. "Oh, that’s not necessary. I’ll just take a taxi—just tell me how to find one."

The man frowned slightly. "It’s my job to drive you, Ma’am. Please don’t make my job difficult." He motioned toward the car again.

Aurora hesitated but then remembered what Parker had said the previous day—the chauffeur was her personal driver.

"Okay," she relented, stepping forward. "But you don’t have to open the door for me next time." She climbed in, fastening her seatbelt.

"Thank you," she added, her voice warm.

The chauffeur shut the door, hurried to the driver’s side, and got in.

"Where to, Ma’am?" he asked, adjusting the rearview mirror.

Aurora frowned. "Call me Aurora," she said. Being addressed as "Ma’am" didn’t sit right with her, especially since he seemed older than her.

"Where are we heading, Ma’am?" he repeated, ignoring her request.

She sighed, giving up. Digging into her bag, she pulled out a neatly folded paper. "Unity Hospital, Surgery Unit."

Without another word, he started the engine and drove off.

Aurora studied him curiously. He never smiled and had an air of cold professionalism, just like Parker. Did her husband have a preference for distant, unreadable employees?

After a silent ride, the chauffeur finally spoke again. "We’re here."

She looked out the window, taking in the familiar hospital entrance. Unbuckling her seatbelt, she reached for the door handle.

"Thank you," she said before stepping out.

Aurora spotted the large placard with bold letters spelling out "SURGERY UNIT." Taking a deep breath, she stepped forward, her eyes carefully scanning the surroundings as she moved.

The hospital grounds were vast, with multiple long buildings spread several kilometers apart. Unlike the bustling hospital back in the countryside, this place exuded a calm, almost serene atmosphere.

"Good day. I'm here to see Lacey Smith," she said as she approached the receptionist, a nurse seated at the front desk.

"Welcome," the nurse replied cheerfully before clicking her mouse to check the records. "She’s in Ward 3. Take the elevator to the 5th floor."

Aurora thanked her and followed the directions. As she stood in front of the elevator, she hesitated, unsure which button to press.

"Aren't you getting in?" A woman beside her pressed the button and stepped inside. Aurora quickly followed.

The woman gave her a quick once-over before offering a small smile. "Which floor?"

"Me?" Aurora glanced around, uncertain.

"Yes, which floor are you headed to?"

"The 5th floor," she answered quickly. The woman pointed at the panel of numbers with glowing LED lights.

"When number five lights up, press this button. The doors will open," she explained politely.

Aurora flinched slightly as the elevator started moving, making it clear she had never ridden one before. The woman must have noticed, but she simply smiled.

"Thank you, ma'am. I really appreciate it," Aurora said, managing a small smile of her own.

When they reached the third floor, she watched attentively as the woman pressed the button and stepped out. A few moments later, as the elevator reached the 5th floor, she followed the instructions, pressing the button to open the doors.

She stepped out, exhaling in relief before heading toward the ward. It didn’t take long to find it. Without hesitation, she pushed the door open and entered.

Her face lit up the moment she saw her mother.

"Mom!" she called joyfully, rushing to her side and helping her sit up.

"My princess," Lacey greeted, her voice strained with effort.

"How are you feeling?" Aurora asked, placing a pillow behind her mother’s back for support.

Lacey studied her daughter closely. "And your husband? Is he a good man?" Her voice wavered, as though she was holding back tears.

Aurora instinctively blinked, masking her emotions. She hadn’t even met her so-called husband yet.

"He's good, Mom," she lied, forcing a cheerful tone.

"He sends his regards. He’ll come with me when he's free," she added smoothly, hiding the painful truth—her husband hadn’t even shown up for the civil marriage registration. It had been three days, yet he remained absent.

She couldn’t bear to let her mother know the truth. Not after seeing the heartbreak in her eyes when she first told her about the sudden marriage.