Reborn Heiress: Taking Back What Is Rightfully Hers!-Chapter 686: The Assassin

Sometimes when Aurora visited her grandfather, she would catch him staring at her, lost in thought—as if he were seeing the young Grandma Carter through her.

"Your Grandma Carter was an old acquaintance of mine," the old man said with a faint smile.

Aurora quietly exhaled in relief. "An acquaintance? Did you hate my Grandma Carter? But... she passed away so long ago."

"You’re right. I did hate her. She died before I could develop the medicine... and I hated myself for it too," the old man murmured, sipping his red wine slowly. "I know you love Everett. That pampered young man... I just wanted to see if he truly had the desire to marry you—if his heart was steadfast enough to love you."

Aurora couldn’t make sense of what he was saying. "Sir... what do you mean by that?"

The old man chuckled calmly. "I simply wanted him to understand that marrying you comes with a certain risk. I wanted to see if he dared to go through with it."

Aurora felt a wave of frustration. Who talked like that? What right did he have to interfere in her relationship with Everett?

She wanted to lash out at him, but for Everett’s sake, she swallowed her anger. "You’re really overstepping, sir. My relationship with Everett is none of your business. Besides, your actions—they’re criminal, aren’t they?"

The old man smiled indifferently. Criminal? That didn’t bother him.

"I’ve done many bad things in my life. But no one’s ever caught me. And besides, the drug I created doesn’t harm people. I simply paused their time for a while. When they wake, they’ll still be young and healthy."

Aurora felt slightly relieved. At least Everett wasn’t in any immediate danger.

"If... if I don’t get the antidote, does that mean he’ll stay asleep forever?"

She finally voiced the question that had been gnawing at her, her fingers nervously stirring the soup in her bowl.

The dishes had already been served—an abundant meal—but Aurora had no appetite.

"That’s right. Which is why tonight, you must satisfy me. Don’t worry, I won’t lay a finger on you, but you must ensure I have no regrets."

The old man said this with a light chuckle, though a glint of coldness flickered in his eyes.

Aurora hesitated for a moment, then gave a soft nod. She no longer wished to argue with this strange man.

Some people just live in a different world, with their own distorted values. You’ll never truly understand why their morals are so twisted—or why they do such bizarre things.

"Let’s have dinner first," the old man said, smiling. Aurora tensed slightly, but seeing his harmless smile, she forced herself to relax and tried to eat with her usual grace and calm.

She had always eaten slowly and elegantly—and tonight was no different.

As they ate, the old man kept watching her closely.

"Your voice is quite lovely. Your Grandma Carter... she had a beautiful voice too. I was madly in love with her back then, but I never understood why she chose your grandfather over me."

Aurora looked up quietly, her gaze flickering but saying nothing.

"You know why, don’t you?" he asked, his tone suddenly growing cold. "Tell me. I want to hear it. You’re a bystander—you must have some insight."

Aurora paused, then lifted her head and looked him straight in the eye. "You really want to know?"

"Yes."

"If I tell you, you have to promise not to get angry. And you can’t back out of giving me the antidote," Aurora said gently. "Uncle, you have to keep your word."

The old man’s eyes narrowed, a sharp chill flashing within them. Aurora almost flinched—but held her ground.

"I think what’s been haunting you all this time," she said softly, "is that you never understood why Grandma Carter chose my grandfather instead of you. That’s why you came up with this plan—to lure me here, to get the answer you’ve been craving."

"Grandma Carter once told me about someone when she was still alive," Aurora continued.

The old man’s eyes lit up. "Alright, I promise you—no matter how you perform tonight, I will give you the antidote in the end."

Aurora let out a breath of relief and paused. "Grandma Carter told me that, in her youth, there were two men who pursued her madly. They were the most unforgettable men in her life."

"One of them was my grandfather. I don’t remember the name of the other one. She said Grandpa was kind, even-tempered, and suited her temperament as a spoiled rich girl. Marrying him would lead to a stable, comfortable life. But... the other man—he was the one who truly moved her heart."

The old man stared past Aurora, as if he was seeing a ghost from his past—a woman he once loved and lost.

His expression flickered with both excitement and confusion.

"I couldn’t understand it back then—why she chose my grandfather over the man she loved most. But she said it was because that man had a dangerous look in his eyes. He was domineering. They would always be fighting if they were together. And she didn’t want to spend the rest of her life arguing with a man. So she chose Grandpa."

The old man’s gaze remained unfocused, lost in memories.

Aurora said nothing more. She quietly sipped her soup.

A long moment passed.

Then the old man blinked, returning to the present. He raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Your Grandma Carter was right. I was very domineering back then. When she didn’t choose me... I wanted to kill her."

Aurora saw the flicker of murderous intent in his eyes and felt a chill run through her. This man—he held a serious grudge. That’s why he had sought out Grandma Carter’s descendant.

Because she looked so much like Grandma Carter... that’s why she was the one he picked?

"Back then, I came from a wealthy family. But... that wealth was all blood money. I was an assassin."

Aurora nearly jumped out of her seat.

She froze, unable to hide the fear in her eyes.

She was just an ordinary woman—how could she not be afraid sitting across from a man who openly admitted he used to kill for a living?

But then again, she had already guessed the kind of man she might be dealing with when she came here. So instead of panicking, Aurora gradually calmed herself down.

"Your Grandma Carter was a smart woman. She didn’t know I was an assassin, but she still chose not to be with me. I spent the first half of my life living in the shadows, constantly on edge, knowing that any slip-up would cost me my life. Eventually, I gave it all up and turned to medicine. I made something of myself. But by then, she was already gone."

The old man chuckled softly, and the killing intent in his eyes slowly faded, replaced by a flood of memories.

Still, Aurora remained uneasy.

"I saw some pictures of you online," he said. "And I noticed how much you looked like her. That’s when I suddenly wanted to meet you. But the past is the past. What I really want to know now is—someone as beautiful as you, like a rose with thorns... who’s brave enough to pluck you?"

"Everett looks a little like your grandfather," he continued with a mocking smile. "And that really bothers me. I wonder—if he knew that being with you would constantly put him in danger... what would he do?"

Aurora’s heart skipped a beat. "Sir, you really have too much time on your hands."

"You’re right," he replied casually. "I’m bored. I just wanted to see if you’re as pragmatic as your Grandma Carter. But I didn’t expect you to have the guts to actually show up tonight. You don’t even care about your life."

His gaze was distant—neither fully admiring nor entirely dismissive.