Brocade City, a thousand miles away, is a major city in the Southwest Region with a long history. The excitement of Chinese New Year’s Eve is no less than that of the Imperial City, and there are even programs like dragon and lion dances and lantern festivals.

The Coldwell Family had booked their New Year’s Eve dinner early, at the most expensive hotel in Brocade City - Sunrise Tower. Because of Aurora Coldwell’s return, accompanied by her illustrious fiancé, the atmosphere at the Coldwell Family’s dinner was quite awkward.

Aurora remained quiet throughout, as she had throat issues and didn’t need to engage in small talk. She watched as her stepmother and sister continuously tried to set traps for Griffith Squire, but he deflected them with ease.

The man didn’t even spare a glance for them and remained indifferent even towards Ian Coldwell. Occasionally, when he was in a good mood, he would exchange a few words with Ian, giving pointed insights that benefited Ian greatly, who looked at Griffith with eyes full of admiration.

"I heard there’s a dragon and lion dance tonight. I’d like to take Delphine to see it. Mr. Coldwell, if you’ll excuse us," Griffith stood up with a smile, his stunningly handsome face flawless, making Brooke Coldwell stare in a daze.

"I also want to see the dragon and lion dance, Mr. Elvis, could you take me along? I can also introduce you to some of Brocade City’s famous sights." Brooke stood up sweetly, dressed in D brand’s latest spring collection, custom-made and as lavish as a princess. With her exquisite makeup, she felt confident she could outshine the plain Aurora who couldn’t even speak. If Mr. Elvis wasn’t blind, he’d choose her over Aurora, just like the young men of Brocade City.

Marrying a mute bride, that’s asking to be laughed at by everyone?

Aurora tensed up, feeling somewhat embarrassed. From an early age, Brooke had contested with her over everything. When she was younger, Aurora had given in to her. But later, when she found there was nothing left to give, she realized that the etiquette her mother taught her as a socialite was meaningless for her stepmother and sister, likened to throwing buns to a dog — they never came back.

She had nothing left; Brooke had taken away Benedict, and now she wanted to take Griffith too?

She bit her bloodless lip and remained expressionless.

Brooke blinked her big eyes and waited bashfully for Griffith’s approval.

The man gave her a cold glance, raised a roguish, carefree smile, and said leisurely, "Does the second Miss want to join us?"

Brooke nodded, clutching her purse tightly and planning to stand up when she heard the man’s malicious laughter: "Sorry, you’re too ugly; I’m worried it would ruin my interest in watching the dragon and lion dance."

After speaking, the man took Aurora by the hand and left without looking back.

Brooke’s sweet smile cracked inch by inch, then she smashed her purse in distress and cried, "Mom, am I really uglier than that mute?"

"Not at all, you look a hundred times better than her." Zoe Kingston quickly embraced her daughter, her precious, soothing her while glaring at Ian Coldwell, saying angrily, "Ian, Aurora has really gone too far; how can anyone treat their sister that way?"

Ian was entirely fixated on the one billion betrothal gift from Griffith, waving his hand with a smile, "What’s there to see in the dragon and lion dance? If Brooke wants to see it, just let Michael take her."

Ian’s plan was that since Brooke was engaged to the Seymour Family, the Coldwell and Seymour families were effectively united and could monopolize many industries in Brocade City. It was a mutually beneficial arrangement. Once the older daughter, Aurora, was married off to Italy, she would help open up the European market, and the Coldwell Family would soar to unprecedented heights, thus not offending Griffith over such trivial matters.

Griffith led Aurora out of Sunrise Tower. Seeing the young girl stop walking, he turned back, raised an eyebrow, and asked, "Why aren’t you walking?"

Aurora was still immersed in the scene just now. Griffith had rebuffed Brooke and embarrassed her, making Aurora inexplicably happy inside. Was he really willing to forgo the Coldwell Family’s second Miss for a mute?

Seeing her in a daze, Griffith laughed and said, "Don’t want to see the dragon and lion dance? I’m too lazy to watch it either. Come, let’s go home, looks like you didn’t eat much tonight, let’s go back and have a special meal."

With that, the man took her delicate wrist and led her into the car, heading back to the Coldwell residence.

Aurora watched his well-defined profile in a daze and wrote on a sticky note, handing it to him: "Why are you so kind to me?"

Griffith glanced at her note while driving, his mischievous, almond-shaped eyes narrowing with amusement. He said, "Didn’t I say I owe you a favor? If I’m not kind to you, who should I be kind to, oh?"

"I have another sister. Once matters in Brocade City are settled, I’ll take you to meet her." Most of the toxins in Griffith’s body had been cleared, and his memory was recovering daily. He remembered many things about Leah and even Delphine’s past. It was no wonder he felt a sense of familiarity when he first met Aurora.

Aurora and Delphine shared a similarity: seemingly gentle but strong at heart. However, Delphine’s life had been more tumultuous. Having missed out on Delphine, seeing Aurora made him subconsciously want to lend a helping hand, not to mention the life-saving favor involved.

He was someone who repaid kindness, and since that perilous trip to Europe nearly cost him his life, the grudge had yet to be avenged. Once those matters were resolved, he could reappear before the Shaw Family as Griffith Squire and seek justice for what happened back then.

"Have you regained your memory?" Aurora quickly wrote on a sticky note upon hearing him mention his sister.

"Yes, my sister’s name is Leah. She’s lively and protective, and I’m sure you’ll like her," Griffith said with a smile playing at his lips.

Was this the prelude to meeting family and friends? Aurora inexplicably felt her cheeks warm. She pressed the car window button to let the cold night air in, clearing her mind a bit; if you don’t have expectations, you won’t be disappointed by some things.

Back at the Coldwell residence, Griffith headed to the kitchen to prepare food. Butler Zhao saw the young Miss sitting alone by the floor-to-ceiling window in the living room, looking at the quaintly designed garden, and smiled kindly, saying, "Miss, it’s Chinese New Year’s Eve today. Planning to stay up late?"

Aurora nodded, signing, "Uncle Zhao, have I been useless all these years?"

Butler Zhao shook his head with a smile, "Miss is just kind-hearted."

Aurora fell silent for a moment. After her mother’s death, her fiancé cheated on her, her father detested her, her stepmother wanted her dead, and her sister took everything from her. She wasn’t unaffected by all this; she was just disheartened, having lost everything she held dear. Even if she turned dark and retaliated against everyone, the lost things would never be regained.

But now, warmth returned to her heart. She wanted to safeguard this last touch of tenderness.

"Uncle Zhao, I’ll regain what I’ve lost, little by little." She penned these words steadily on a sticky note, pressing hard enough to almost penetrate the paper.