CHAPTER 288: CHAPTER 288: PHOTOS

Aurora sat at a corner table and waited.

A few minutes later, Spencer walked in.

He was wearing a soft white t-shirt with a big panda face on it, paired with light blue jeans. His hair was slightly messy, but it only made him look more like a celebrity.

Aurora’s eyes lit up when she saw him.

Spencer spotted her instantly, grinned, and walked up with long, happy strides. When he reached her, he bent down and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Good morning," he said with a warm smile.

Aurora giggled. "Good morning to you, too."

They both sat down.

When it was time to order, Spencer didn’t even look at the menu. He ordered all of Aurora’s favorite foods right away: strawberry waffles, mushroom pasta, and a small caramel milkshake.

Aurora smiled and did the same. She ordered plain avocado toast, a veggie wrap, and a mint lemonade, Spencer’s usual favorites.

He blinked, surprised. "You remembered?"

Aurora nodded, trying to mask her shy expression with a nonchalant one. "I’ve noticed. You don’t like spicy food. And you always pick the plant-based stuff."

Spencer smiled widely. He felt proud. Just a month ago, Aurora barely gave him a glance. And now, she was paying attention to the tiny details of his life.

His heart felt warm.

He reached out and held her hand gently across the table. "You know what would make me even happier?"

Aurora raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"A kiss."

Aurora rolled her eyes playfully. "Don’t push your luck."

Spencer laughed. "If I don’t push my luck, how will I ever cross the line?"

Just as they were holding hands and smiling like two lovebirds, a voice suddenly rang out.

"Aurora?!"

Aurora’s face dropped the moment she heard it.

She turned her head and frowned.

Standing near the café counter was Betsy.

Betsy walked up to them and clapped her hands.

"I was just walking by and saw you two. So cute together! I’m actually here to meet someone too." She paused and then added with a sly grin, "Actually, I’m on a date."

Aurora forced a smile. "Cool. Then you should go enjoy it."

"Oh, he’s running a little late," Betsy said, sliding into the empty chair at their table without asking. "Mind if I sit here for a bit?"

Spencer and Aurora exchanged a glance. Aurora clearly didn’t like it, but Spencer gave her hand a small squeeze under the table, as if telling her, Just relax.

"So," Betsy said, leaning forward. "How long have you two been dating?"

Aurora smiled tightly. "Just enough to know when someone’s being nosy."

Betsy laughed awkwardly. "Oh, I’m just curious! I mean, you and Spencer are so different. He’s so... chill, and you’re... well, you know."

Spencer’s smile faded a little. "What do you mean by that?"

"Oh, nothing bad," Betsy said quickly. "I just mean Aurora used to ignore boys like you in school. And now look at her!"

Aurora’s eyes narrowed. "People change. Some people grow up. Others still crash dates."

Betsy’s fake smile twitched. "Well, I didn’t mean to interrupt."

"But you did," Aurora said, her tone sharper now. "So if your date is late, maybe you should wait at your own table."

Betsy opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, a waiter walked by and asked, "Excuse me, miss, are you ready to order?"

"Oh, no," Aurora said, nodding toward Betsy. "She doesn’t belong here. She was just leaving."

Betsy’s face turned red. She stood up quickly and said, "Fine! I was just trying to be friendly."

"Next time," Aurora said, smiling sweetly, "try doing it with people who actually want to talk to you."

Betsy stomped away, her heels clacking loudly as she left the café.

Once she was gone, Spencer looked at Aurora with wide eyes. "Wow... that was awesome."

Aurora rolled her eyes and sighed. "Some people just don’t know when they’re not welcome."

Spencer grinned and leaned closer. "You really are scary when you want to be."

Aurora smiled playfully. "Only when someone tries to ruin my date."

The duo then focused on their date, smiling and laughing together like nothing else in the world mattered.

But what they didn’t know was that not far away, Betsy was hiding behind a potted plant near the window, her phone raised sneakily.

She clicked photo after photo, her lips curled in a wicked smile.

"Hmph," she muttered under her breath. "Who asked Aurora to act so full of herself with me?"

Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she kept taking pictures, even when Spencer leaned in and kissed Aurora on the cheek, and later, when they kissed properly, not noticing anyone else around. Betsy’s heart twisted with jealousy, but she didn’t stop.

She followed them secretly when they left the café.

Step by step, she trailed behind them, snapping pictures of them holding hands, laughing, and just being sweet together.

A part of her was scared they might notice her, but strangely, neither of them looked her way.

Perfect.

She planned to post the pictures on the school forum. Let everyone see how Aurora, the so-called "perfect" girl, was secretly dating Spencer.

Oh, the tea would be hot! People would talk about it for days.

And most importantly, even if Aurora didn’t want to be her friend, Betsy thought being her enemy was just as good. After all, as long as she had Aurora’s attention, Spencer might start noticing her too.

At first, she only wanted to get close to Aurora because of her money. But now? She wanted everything Aurora had, especially Spencer.

She used to like him a lot, once. Maybe she still did.

Soon, Aurora and Spencer’s date came to an end. Betsy kept watching from across the street until Aurora walked away. Then she turned to leave as well.

But as she passed through a quiet alleyway, something terrifying happened.

A hand suddenly grabbed her arm and yanked her into the shadows.

"Ah!" she screamed, dropping her phone. Before she could even react, someone took her phone and stepped back. She couldn’t see the person clearly, it was too dark.

Then, a cold voice spoke, sending chills down her spine.

"If you ever try a stunt like this again, we’ll make sure you won’t even remember what’s right or wrong."

Betsy trembled, her legs shaking. "I...I’m sorry! I didn’t mean, please, I won’t do it again!"

After a few seconds, the figure tossed her phone back at her feet. She picked it up with trembling hands and unlocked it. All the pictures... gone. Every single one of them. Deleted.

Her eyes widened in horror. "Aurora... it must’ve been her..." she whispered angrily.

"She acts like an angel," Betsy muttered, teeth gritted. "But she’s really something else..."

Her anger burned stronger than her fear now. "She’ll regret looking down on me," she said to herself and stormed off, still shaking.

..........

Meanwhile...

Spencer sat inside his sleek black car, massaging his temples as his assistant stood beside the door.

"Has the situation been handled?" Spencer asked calmly.

The assistant nodded. "Yes, sir. Betsy won’t be a problem anymore."

Spencer’s voice turned icy. "Send a warning to her parents. Tell them to keep a better eye on their daughter."

"Yes, sir. I’ll arrange it."

"Did you get the photos she took?"

"Yes," the assistant said, handing Spencer a phone.

Spencer tapped through the pictures and couldn’t help but smile.

Betsy might be trouble, but she was right about one thing: she knew how to capture good photos. From every angle, it looked like he and Aurora were deeply in love.

He saved the photos carefully and leaned back in his seat, a smile still tugging at his lips.

......

At the same time...

Aurora stepped into her apartment building and headed for the elevator.

Just as she reached it, a boy suddenly popped up in front of her. Her smile disappeared the moment she saw him.

It was that boy. The same one who once made a huge fuss, acting like he was dying when he had only bumped into her. He even yelled that Aurora tried to kill him!

Aurora stepped back immediately and folded her arms.

"You again?" she said with a sigh.

The boy pointed a finger at her dramatically. "Why are you avoiding me?!"

Aurora rolled her eyes. "Because you’re bad luck in human form. I don’t need any disasters today."

The boy looked like he was going to cry. "You’re bullying me!"

Aurora gave him a blank stare. "I don’t even talk to boys like you. You’re annoying and childish."

She turned to leave, but the boy blocked her path again.

"I won’t move unless you say you like me and give me a chocolate!" he declared, standing like a guard at a castle gate.

Aurora narrowed her eyes. "If you don’t move right now, I’m going to open my bag, pull out the rat inside, and throw it at you."

The boy jumped back, panic in his eyes. "No! Don’t! I hate rats!"