CHAPTER 402: CHAPTER 402: BID?

When Aurora reached Mia’s apartment, she knocked on the door.

After a moment, the door opened, and Mia appeared. Her eyes were red, and the moment she saw Aurora, she rushed forward and hugged her tightly.

Aurora hugged her back, gently patting her shoulder. "It’s alright. I’m here now," she said softly.

Inside the small living room, Mia’s parents were sitting on the worn-out sofa. They both looked tired and gloomy.

It was the first time Aurora had ever met Mia’s father and mother.

The moment they saw her, they frowned. Mia’s father asked in a cold voice, "Who is she?"

Mia looked back at them and said quickly, "She’s my friend, Aurora." Then she turned back to Aurora and clung to her arm.

Aurora looked at Mia’s teary eyes and asked gently, "Mia, what exactly happened?"

Mia’s lips trembled as she tried to explain.

It took a lot of patting from Aurora’s end that helped Mia finally speak.

Her voice cracked as she answered, "Father gambled away the apartment. We lost the rights to it..."

Hearing those words, Aurora’s face turned serious.

Mia’s father, who had been silent so far, suddenly shouted at Mia, his face red with anger.

"Why are you telling strangers about our problems? Are you trying to embarrass me?"

Aurora turned to him and said calmly, "You gambled away the apartment. What are you planning to do next?"

Mia’s father was stunned for a moment, not expecting such a direct question. Then he grumbled, "We will rent a room."

Mia’s eyes widened in anger. "Rent a room? We don’t even have enough money to rent a room! We don’t have any savings left!"

For a moment, her father was silent, and then he said in a low voice,

"There is someone who offered to help. She gave a good price. There’s just one condition..."

Aurora’s heart sank. She had a bad feeling about this.

Mia also looked at her father suspiciously. "What kind of condition?" she asked.

Her father hesitated for a moment before finally saying, "It’s a girl... with red hair. Her name is Ava."

The moment that name was spoken, Mia froze. She stared at her father in disbelief.

"Ava... you mean my ex-girlfriend Ava?" Mia’s voice was sharp with shock and anger.

Mia’s parents already knew about her preferences.

She had told them long ago, and although they never showed much care or support, they also never argued or judged her for it.

She had once mentioned to them that she had broken up with Ava, but now she realized they were still dealing with her.

Mia stared at her father, her eyes full of hurt. "Why? Why would you even talk to her? You know I broke up with her long ago!"

Her father looked at her with a strange gentleness, as if trying to persuade her.

"You’re only saying this because you’re still hurt. If you see her again, you’ll understand that your feelings were just confused. As long as you give in a little, everyone can be happy."

Mia clenched her fists tightly, her eyes filling with tears again.

"How could you say that? I trusted you... I didn’t even blame you for gambling away our home, and now you want to use me?"

Her father’s face turned dark with anger.

"Use you? I’m your father. I gave you life. How dare you talk to me like that? You’re being ungrateful!"

Aurora rolled her eyes and said sharply, "You didn’t give her life. Her mother did. All you did was give your sperm."

Mia’s father’s face turned red in fury as he pointed at Aurora.

"It’s you! You must be the one who keeps badmouthing Ava. You shouldn’t stay near my daughter at all!"

Mia stared at her father as if she were seeing a stranger. Her voice trembled as she said, "I’m not getting back together with Ava."

Her father ignored her words and continued coldly,

"Ava is rich now. If you get together with her, we won’t have to worry about money. She even promised to give me ten thousand dollars. Do you understand how much that is for us? It’s a huge amount. I already agreed. You’re going to listen to me. If you don’t, I’ll cut all ties with you."

Mia stood frozen for a moment after hearing her father’s words.

Her face was pale, and her hands trembled slightly. Then she let out a short, bitter laugh.

"If that is the case," Mia said in a low but steady voice, "then so be it. I don’t want to be in contact with a man like you. I have nothing more to say."

She looked at her father with eyes full of pain but no more tears. "You are not my father anymore."

Without waiting for a reply, Mia turned on her heel and stormed off to her room.

Her steps were quick and sharp, and the sound of the door slamming shut echoed in the small apartment.

"Dream on! I will never let you break off the relationship with us." MIa’s father shouted.

Aurora watched her go but did not follow.

She knew Mia needed a moment to herself.

She turned back to face Mia’s father with calm eyes.

"You will end up in jail sooner or later if you keep living like this,"

Aurora said in a firm voice.

Mia’s father’s face twisted in anger.

He stepped forward and jabbed his finger in Aurora’s direction.

"Are you trying to threaten me? Do you think you can scare me? Or do you like Mia? Is that why you came here from so far away to protect her?"

Aurora chuckled softly, her eyes cold but her tone even.

"No. I don’t have that kind of feeling for Mia. But I am her best friend, and I will take care of her. I will not let anyone hurt her again."

Her words made Mia’s father laugh harshly. He crossed his arms and looked at her with mockery.

"Do you even know how much Ava is willing to pay me for Mia? Do you know what you are up against?"

Aurora tilted her head slightly, raising an eyebrow.

"How much?" she asked.