The Secret Obsession of the CEO
Chapter 189: Strong And Courageous

Chapter 189: Strong And Courageous

Mrs. Brown pressed her lips with that question. She looked uncomfortable. "It was... Her friends told us that Laura admitted to cheating with a married man and... It’s all out now. If you watch the news, you can..."

Rory nodded. Why wouldn’t they doubt Liam? Lennon would have planned for everything. And Allison’s death would have confirmed their belief.

And it would be better if she does not ask more about Laura to her mother. She would be grieving. She can get the answers with just some taps on her phone screen. She need not prod over the wounds of this old lady.

"My Laura..." Mrs. Brown held her hand breaking her from her thoughts. "She’d scream at me for saying this, but... She was very jealous of you. Right from her first year, she got on the wrong foot with you. She talked to me about how "controlling" you were of your husband and..."

Rory wetted her lips. She thought that Liam’s loud proclamation, standing on the bench after Laura confessed to him, must have been hurtful to her. And although she had no control over Liam in that situation, Laura must have ended up hating her.

She always wondered why women hate other women so easily for whatever reason even when the man is in the wrong.

"I knew; I knew that my Laura was jealous. I told her to stay away from married men. She didn’t like me advising her, of course, but she stopped talking about you all the time. I thought she was over it. But during the final year, she started bashing you... You were the topper in your department, yeah?" Mrs. Brown asked.

Rory nodded. "Briefly, yes. But that’s not..."

"It must have been hard for you and easy for you at the same time, right?" Mrs. Brown asked.

Rory was confused.

"Your beauty," Mrs. Brown cleared her doubts immediately. She held Rory’s hand tightly.

"No..." Rory blushed. "I don’t think that I am that beautiful. And~"

"Oh, but you are!" Mrs. Brown chuckled patting her hand. Her "Look at you. How long has it been since you took a bath or a shower? You stink but look at you... I was not half as good-looking as you are now when I was in my prime on a good hair day."

"Oh...pl-please, Mrs....You are beautiful. I wish I could age as gracefully as you," Rory was so polite.

She found that her heart was becoming lighter the longer she talked to this woman. Although this woman has no need to talk to her, she was there not judging her and talking to her with something she rarely gets from others. She is not talking to her about "that day" either. She might be faking the concern. But at that moment, she wanted some fake attention rather than no attention at all.

"See, you are truly smart. I mean, people wouldn’t have been able to see past your beauty and attributed your success to your good looks..."

"Yeah, there were rumors that I was sleeping with this professor for good grades. But it didn’t last long because..."

"He was very protective of you, wasn’t he? Your husband?" Mrs. Brown asked.

Rory bowed her head. "He was..." Her lips curved to smile without her knowing. "He’d pcik a fight with anyone not thinking of the consequences... For me, he’d..." Her throat closed and she couldn’t speak further.

Tears fell from her eyes.

That’s him, alright! That was the man she loved with all her heart. Her Fizzy.

Mrs. Brown patted her hand, waiting for her to settle.

"You pretended you never cared for what others thought about you, but you did, didn’t you? We all do, to some extent. We would be lying if we’re saying the words of others don’t affect us at all. That hard exterior that you portrayed... Don’t get me wrong. You are strong. You know what..." Mrs. Brown held her cheek and made her look at her.

"I hated you. Until that day I blocked you... I projected the hate my Laura had for you onto you. I thought your husband was the killer and you were some rich trust fund kid, who makes it all happen with just a snap of her finger with the help of a powerful relative...But most of all, seeing your pictures with the baby in hand and a husband, a life... everything my Laura didn’t have even though you two were the same age..."

Rory gulped and tried to get out of her hold as she was weirded out by the darkness, she saw on Mrs. Brown’s eyes. But Mrs. Brown clutched her hands together and bowed her head. She let out a deep breath.

When she looked up, there was a peaceful smile on her face. "But you proved me wrong that day. And even now, I am amazed by the strength in your heart, Aurora. I don’t know who raised you, but they raised you right," she said, and her eyes were clouded.

"The strength you had to have to stand beside the man you knew was the killer and to look at me, who was accusing you and needlessly invoking your daughter, and speak what you believed with courage... And you did what you promised. You did it. You gave this old lady closure," she nodded and held Rory’s hand.

"Say what you may, sugar. I never had that fortitude when I was your age. I don’t have it even at this age. I second-guessed every move I made and... Let’s not talk about my... issues... Thank you, dear... Thank you for keeping your promise."

Mrs. Brown looked at her with a grateful smile. Rory’s lips trembled as she searched for words to say but her mind went blank.

Yes, she did promise her that she will bring the true killer to light. And she did that.

I did that. I did something good.

This person in front of her was really touched by her and is really grateful for what she did.

Rory let out a deep breath. She smiled and yet tears flowed down from her eyes. She was touched. She remembered why she went with Lennon. She deceived him having good intentions. She cannot feel guilty about that!

"And only God knows how many daughters have you saved...How many mothers were spared from the suffering I went through? If he was not caught, his wife would be dead now. But she is alive. You saved her life... Aurora. So, thank you." Mrs. Brown continued.

Rory still couldn’t speak, and Mrs. Brown hugged her.

"It’s okay if you feel down. It’s okay. Take your time to feel better. But remember that office you discovered and what they found from there...it gave closure to many mothers like me, and many families are grateful they could finally put their loved ones to rest. What you did was not a simple feat. I know heroes get wounded in battle at times. But they are still heroes. You are a hero..."

Rory cried in that woman’s embrace. She thought that she was alone, and no one would want her. She was worried that she is wicked and someone who would be hated. But if Mrs. Brown is right, then there is a bunch of people who are thankful for her.

"And did you know?" Mrs. Brown continued. "You exposed the corruption in the agency. That guy was protected by those who were supposed to protect the innocents. Senators, congressmen, justices... A lot of corruption is brought out. It was all because you were brave enough to face the monster."

"Corruption? They are all getting investigated?" Rory asked.

It can’t be just out like that. She wondered how involved Liam’s family is in exposing this... But more than Liam’s family, there is one other powerful figure she knows the matriarch of her is.

Agnes Roberts...

What was she planning? Did she use me as bait to bring out the corruption? Or did I walk into her plans willingly?

She was hurt by that thought at first. But then she remembered how cruel they treated Liam. They should pay for it. Who cares what happened, or who interfered... It matters that those who wronged Liam won’t have a peaceful life in the future.

Mrs. Brown stood up. "I said all I wanted to say to you," she smiled.

Rory nodded.

"But... If I am not intruding, can I add something?" Mrs. Brown asked.

Rory looked at her blankly.

"As I said, you are strong. And you are very blessed, Aurora. You are locking yourself inside this hospital room..." She let out a sigh seeing Rory’s face going planes. She did not seem keen on listening to advice.

"It’s okay," Mrs. Brown laughed. "You don’t have to like it. But let me speak. You heard me when I was talking as Laura’s mother. And I hope that you’ll listen to what I am going to say. It probably would be the words your mother would have said if she saw her daughter like this..."

Rory got angry that Mrs. Brown invoked her mother. Back then it was her daughter and now...

Her mother is dead. And no one can replace what...

But seeing the calm smile on Mrs. Brown’s face, she calmed down.

Maybe I should listen..?