The CEO’S Unplanned Heir novel (Aurelia and Leopold)
Chapter 1013

"Lisbeth," Aurelia voiced her concern with a furrowed brow. "What's gotten into Raines lately? He's lost so much weight. Everyone's worried sick." Lisbeth pursed her lips, hesitating for what felt like an eternity before she murmured, "It's simmune system complication. He's had a bone marrow transplant and is on the mend now. Just needs to focus on getting his strength back." "Whose marrow did they transplant? Elfreda's?" asked Aurelia.

"Mhm," Lisbeth nodded, a hint of relief in her voice. "Thankfully, Elfreda's a match. They had the transplant early, and he's responding well to the treatment." "Gosh, you should have told us sooner, Beverley chided gently. "If Elfreda hadn't been a match, we could have started testing ourselves to help him." Lisbeth sighed wearily. "Raines didn't want to tell you. After all those years abroad, he still feels disconnected from everyone here." A shadow of sadness crossed Beverley's features, "We need to do better with Raines. Let him feel the warmth of the Stirling family." But Aurelia's greatest fear was that if the Raines who had returned was an imposter, the real Raines must be in grave danger, possibly even silenced permanently.

Lisbeth was the key. They had to coax more information out of her.

"I'll send a few staff who know about wellness to your house tomorrow. They can help Lisbeth with Raines’ recovery." Lisbeth waved off the offer. "Thanks, but no need. We've got enough hands at home." Aurelia patted her hand reassuringly. "Lisbeth, we're family. Lethelp, please." Meanwhile, Fredric handed over a big apple to Raines in the card room.

"Here, Raines. I know how much you love this stuff. Got the biggest piece for you." Raines accepted it with a grateful smile. "Thanks, Fredric." Arnold and Leopold played their cards silently, a tangible tension filling the air.

"The last tthe four of us played bridge like this was the night when Dad passed away. We stayed up all night, keeping vigil," recalled Fredric. "You two were just as tight-lipped then." He clapped Arnold on the shoulder. "I know you've got a thing for Aurelia. You had a good run and even had a kid together. But she's chosen to get back with Leopold. It's tto move on. Get someone new." Arnold's jaw tightened slightly. Aurelia was one of a kind, irreplaceable.

"Fredric, I'm good. I respect Aurelia's choices. I won't pressure her. From now on, she's just the mother of my child, my sister-in- law." Clever as he was, Arnold avoided open confrontation with Leopold.

That way, Leopold had no grounds to deny his daily interactions with Aurelia.

Leopold's icy gaze flickered in the dim light, unreadable.

"Let's hope you keep your word, Arnold." Fredric chuckled. "That's the spirit. We're all brothers here. United we stand, divided we fall." Raines bit into the apple, voicing his thoughts leisurely. "The way to a woman's heart is as unfathomable as the ocean's depths.

Who can truly know who they love? Like Lisbeth, sometimes, she gets all worked up over nothing, and I'm left wondering what's on her mind." In Arnold's view, Aurelia's choice of Leopold was motivated by circumstances, not love. On the other hand, Leopold believed that Aurelia's heart belonged to Arnold and that she had been forced to return to his side.

But Leopold was patient, confident that he'd win her heart back eventually.

Fredric shrugged with a knowing smirk as he said, "Swomen are enigmas, tough nuts to crack. But isn't it the chase, the mystery that makes them all the more enticing?"

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