She shifted the subject as well. “Alright, it’s all in the past. Let’s not talk about it anymore. From now on, our future is a new direction.”

Ian felt she was right. And to be able to follow her, he truly considered himself fortunate.

After all, it wasn’t as if he had never worked under other bosses before.

He knew exactly what those people were like, and none of them could be compared to Aurora.

They either exploited their subordinates or kept everything to themselves.

They would never pass down what they knew. But Aurora was completely different.

She treated people with sincerity, and she willingly taught everything she knew.

She even hoped he would surpass her in learning those skills.

Anything she mastered, she would share without reservation.

That alone made Ian feel he could learn so much from her.

So, following Aurora was something he gladly embraced.

That evening, Aurora returned to the villa.

The lights were still on, which surprised her.

Lucas had come back early today. It was different from usual.

As soon as she stepped into the living room and pushed open the door, she was pulled into a familiar embrace.

Baffled, Aurora pushed against him slightly and asked in confusion, “What’s going on? Why are you suddenly hugging me out of nowhere?”

“Nothing. I just missed you.”

Lucas buried his face against her neck, his voice low and muffled.

His childlike behavior left Aurora momentarily caught off guard.

This was the first time she had ever seen Lucas like this. She found herself a little unaccustomed to it.

“Lucas, did something happen?” Aurora asked gently, her voice patient.

Lucas tightened his hold on her arm, unwilling to let go.

Aurora patted his back in comfort. Something was definitely off about him today.

She teased deliberately, “Holding me this tightly–are you hiding something from me?”

The next second, Lucas’s body stiffened.

This time, Aurora noticed something was wrong.

She pulled back, stepping away with a more serious expression. “Don’t tell me you really are keeping something from me?”

From the very beginning of their time together, she had sensed something was off.

But today, Lucas was acting especially strange.

Not only had he rushed to hug her, but even his tone carried a trace of evasion.

She wasn’t a fool. How could she not notice?

That was exactly why suspicion had started to take root.

Lucas’s eyes flickered, a hint of guilt flashing through them.

“How could I possibly be hiding anything from you?”

He reached out to pinch her cheek, but she dodged, leaving his hand hanging awkwardly in midair.

He finally withdrew it, meeting her scrutinizing gaze and turning the tables.

“Why would I hide anything from you? Don’t look at me like that, Rora. If anything, you’re the one keeping things from me.

“Lately you don’t tell me anything–I only hear about what you’re doing through Megan.”

Aurora felt a twinge of guilt at his words.

Thinking carefully, she realized she had indeed overlooked his feelings these days.

She had been so caught up with the studio.

Most nights she came home and went straight to sleep, hardly leaving any time to talk to him.