Chapter 580: Surprise
Jared remembered every small amount he had ever lent Adam, ten dollars, twenty dollars, as if they were great acts of generosity.
’As if I owed him my life for scraps...’
And now that he needed money, Adam’s refusal angered him.
"Acting all high and mighty now," Jared muttered bitterly.
He created a separate group.And began talking behind Adam’s back. Complaints. Mockery. Insults.
Some people, uncomfortable with it, quietly forwarded those messages to Adam.
Adam read them in silence. Then he let out a low, bitter chuckle.
’Jared... you really are something.’
Back when they were best friends, Jared always acted like his biggest supporter.
But whenever Adam truly needed help... He was always the first to step back.
Adam didn’t give them the satisfaction of seeing him break. He ignored all of them.
"So be it," he muttered under his breath.
Even if they called him a coward... ungrateful... selfish... "I won’t pay attention to any of it."
’They didn’t stand by me when it mattered... why should I care now?’
As that thought settled firmly in his mind, something inside him loosened. The heaviness that had been pressing against his chest lifted, and even the air around him seemed lighter, easier to breathe.
Meanwhile, Aurora had long left that tension behind.
Ever since Spencer arrived, her days had been filled with an unfamiliar lightness.
They had been going out together often, exploring places she had never thought she would visit.
And today... Spencer had promised her a surprise.
"I’m taking you somewhere nice," he had said earlier, his eyes carrying a playful glint.
Aurora, curious yet excited, had agreed without hesitation.
The first stop was a boutique.
An evening gown shop. Aurora’s eyes lit up.
She walked past rows of gowns, her fingers brushing lightly against the fabrics, silk, satin, chiffon, each one soft and smooth against her skin.
’So many... how do I even choose?’
After trying several options, she finally stopped. The gown she chose was stunning.
It was a bodycon dress that hugged her figure perfectly, fading from a deep, rich red into a soft white gradient.
Tiny glitters were embedded into the fabric, catching the light like scattered stars.
The strapless design accentuated her shoulders and collarbone, giving her an elegant yet captivating presence.
When she stepped out, the faint rustle of fabric accompanied her movement.
Aurora bit her lip slightly, a hint of nervousness in her eyes as she looked at Spencer. "How... do I look?"
Spencer’s gaze lingered on her for a moment before he chuckled softly. "Just like my wife."
His tone was teasing, almost careless, yet filled with warmth.
Aurora rolled her eyes immediately, though a small smile betrayed her. ’This guy... seriously.’
"Where are we even going?" she asked, tilting her head slightly. "Is it some kind of party?"
Spencer only shook his head, his smile widening just a little. "You’ll see."
When he came out after changing, Aurora blinked.
He was wearing a crisp white suit, clean and refined, the fabric fitting him perfectly. Under the warm lighting, he looked... almost unreal.
For a moment, she just stared.
Spencer chuckled at her reaction, then stepped forward and extended his hand toward her.
"Miss Aurora," he said with a playful bow, "would you do me the honor of being my prom date?"
Aurora froze for a second, her eyes widening slightly. ’Prom...?’
Then she saw his smile. And she understood. A soft laugh escaped her as she placed her hand in his.
"Yes."
Soon, they were in the car.
Aurora sat by the window, watching the city lights blur past. Neon reflections danced across the glass, and her heart thumped steadily with anticipation.
She had a feeling. A quiet premonition. And when the car finally stopped... her breath caught. It was their school.
The campus was brightly decorated, lights strung across trees, music echoing faintly through the evening air. Students gathered in elegant outfits, laughter and excitement filling the space.
A prom. Aurora had known about it. But she had never planned to come.
’Without him... what was the point?’
Yet now...he had brought her here. Somehow, he had even arranged a special pass for them.
The moment she stepped inside, a familiar voice rang out. "Aurora!"
Mia rushed toward her, her face lighting up with excitement. "You’re finally here!"
Aurora blinked, then narrowed her eyes slightly. ’Wait... she knew?’
Her gaze shifted, giving Mia a pointed look. "You knew all along, didn’t you?"
Mia chuckled, clearly guilty but unapologetic. "Well... the surprise worked, didn’t it?" she said with a grin.
Aurora tried to stay annoyed, but she couldn’t help smiling. ’Fine... I’ll let it go.’
"Now’s not the time to talk," Mia said, grabbing her hand. "Come on, let’s dance!"
Aurora nodded, ready to follow, but suddenly, she was gently pulled back.
Her hand was caught. She turned. Spencer.
At the same time, Mia was pulled away by Selena, and Aurora looked back at Spencer, noticing the faint stiffness in his smile.
’He’s... jealous?’
For a moment, she was speechless. Then she laughed softly.
"Alright," she said, "let’s go."
The music shifted into something soft and slow. Under dim lights, they stepped onto the dance floor.
Spencer placed his hand lightly on her waist, while she rested hers on his shoulder. Their fingers intertwined, warm against each other.
They began to move. Slowly. Gracefully.
Aurora felt herself relax, her lips curving into a genuine smile as she looked at him. ’This... feels nice.’
For the first time, she felt like she was living something she had missed out on.
A life she never had. A simple, beautiful story...growing up together, falling in love, and dancing at prom.
And one day... dancing again at their wedding.
’It would be so nice... if life could really be like that.’
As she drifted into her thoughts, Spencer gently spun her around. The world blurred for a second before she returned to him.
"What are you thinking?" he asked, a soft smile on his lips.
Aurora hesitated, then spoke honestly. "It would’ve been nice... if we had met during our childhood."
Spencer paused. Then he smiled, his gaze warm.
"It’s alright," he said quietly. "In another life... we were childhood sweethearts."
Aurora laughed softly."Yeah."
After the dance, Spencer slipped away briefly. Earlier, he had arranged for someone to record everything.
Now, with the camera in hand, he returned to her. Aurora noticed and laughed lightly.
The next moment, he pointed the camera toward her.
"So," he said, "how was the surprise?"
Aurora nodded immediately, her eyes shining.
"It was the best surprise I could’ve ever asked for."
Spencer grinned.
"Of course it was," he said proudly. "After all, who planned it? Your amazing husband."
Aurora rolled her eyes again. "You really know how to praise yourself."
She glanced around. "Anyway, should we leave now?"
Spencer shook his head. "Not yet," he said, his tone mysterious. "There’s one more surprise."
Aurora raised a brow, curiosity sparking in her eyes.
As the night reached its peak, the lights dimmed slightly.
The announcer’s voice echoed through the hall.
"And now... the couple who has captured the most attention tonight..."
A spotlight suddenly fell. On Aurora. She froze.
For a moment, she couldn’t react. Then a smile slowly appeared.
’Spencer did this... didn’t he?’
She turned toward him...only to see the same surprise reflected in his eyes.
Her smile faltered slightly. ’So... it wasn’t him?’
Before she could think further, her name was called.
She walked onto the stage, her heels clicking softly against the floor, her heart racing.
"Please welcome... Miss Aurora and Mr. Spencer!"
Applause erupted.
They stood together under the spotlight, both smiling now, wide, genuine smiles that reached their eyes.
For that moment...everything felt perfect.
Meanwhile, not a single student questioned why Spencer and Aurora were there, even though neither of them belonged to the school anymore.
It was as if the matter didn’t even need explaining. Aurora had always been well-loved, her presence warm and familiar, and Spencer... he carried himself in a way that naturally drew respect.
’Some people just belong wherever they go...’
As the event came to an end, they walked out together.
Spencer extended his hand without a word, and Aurora slipped her fingers into his instinctively, her touch soft and warm.
But in the very next second...she felt something cold encircle her ring finger.
Aurora froze. Her gaze dropped slowly, her breath catching as she saw it.
A delicate diamond ring now rested on her finger, its surface catching the faint light and shimmering softly.
For a moment, she couldn’t speak.
Then she looked up at Spencer, her eyes wide with surprise.
"You..."
Spencer smiled, a hint of mischief and sincerity blending in his expression.
"I never got the chance to officially put a ring on my girlfriend’s finger," he said gently. "So... I thought I’d make up for it."
Aurora’s lips curved into a soft smile, her eyes warming. ’He really... went this far.’
"Well," she said lightly, "since you’ve prepared so many surprises... I have one for you too."