The Returning Ex

The corners of Ian’s mouth curved upward. “Do you usually watch horror movies with such an attitude?”
Cindy solemnly nodded. “Didn’t you realize that this horror movie appears less frightening after I’d said that? I can adjust the
atmosphere with my attitude and make people less afraid.”
Ian stared at her for a while before he nodded without saying anything. It seemed as though he was only now beginning to
understand her slightly.
At the end of the month, Ian took a day off because his mother was coming. Cindy had never heard him mentioning his mother
before, but back when news of his background circulated widely on the Internet, she’d read a bit of it. Thus, she knew that his
mother, Aurora Peyton, was once a renowned singer and was a huge hit in the entertainment industry. However, she then met
Ian’s scumbag father, and her entire life was ruined.
Ian’s mother came in the morning, whereupon Cindy and Ian both waited for her outside the community. His mother had permed
hair while wearing a tight-fitting shirt and wide-leg pants, coupled with kitten heels. Undeniably, she still looked very much
attractive.
Ian didn’t go over to his mother but stood by the community gate, so Cindy stood beside him. His mother was even wearing
sunglasses, and as she stepped out of the taxi, she studied Ian for a while before walking over. Then, she remarked, “This is
quite an easy place to find. Come, let’s go in. I forgot to have some water before leaving home, so I’m rather thirsty.” She acted
as though this was her own territory.
Cindy was a tad awkward, not quite sure how she should greet her. Nonetheless, Aurora didn’t even look at them, walking into
the community area herself. Ian turned, and at the same time, he said to Cindy, “Let’s go.” With just that meeting, Cindy could tell
that Ian’s relationship with his mother wasn’t good.
After walking a distance, Aurora slowed down and waited for them. When Ian and Cindy had caught up with her, she then
commented, “I saw the news about the two of you on the Internet. Are you both truly dating?”
A tad embarrassed, Cindy didn’t quite know what to say. This is Ian’s mother, so I can probably tell her the truth, but it’s best to
have fewer people in the know when it comes to this matter. She turned and looked at Ian, telling him without words to answer
this question himself. He can decide himself whether to tell her the truth.
While Ian didn’t look at her, he understood her meaning. He merely grunted in assent as an answer to Aurora.

Subsequently, Aurora shifted her gaze to Cindy, looking her up and down. It wasn’t certain whether she was satisfied, but she
then retracted her gaze a few seconds later.
The three of them went back to their place upstairs. The moment Aurora stepped into the house, she looked around before
heading straight to the sofa and sat down. “I actually arrived yesterday, but it was too late. I didn’t want to bother you, which was
why I stayed the night at the hotel. This time, I mainly came back to see you.”
Taking a bottle of mineral water and juice from the refrigerator, Ian went over and placed them on the coffee table. “What’s to see
about me?” His words and tone sounded rather rude.
On the other hand, Cindy walked over and sat down beside him without interrupting them.
Aurora wasn’t at all offended. Slipping off her sunglasses, she placed them on the coffee table before snagging the juice and
twisting the cap open. In a single go, she guzzled half the bottle. When she put it back down, she said, “I was planning to come
some time ago, but I was delayed.”
Ian looked at her thoughtfully. “Even if you’d come earlier, I was very busy, so I wouldn’t have had time to entertain you.” He was
so brash in his speech that Cindy turned and glanced at him, gently patting him on the arm. Although she didn’t quite like Aurora
either, feeling that her affair with Bryce Morgan had dragged Ian down, she still thought that there wasn’t any need for
impertinent remarks that would make the atmosphere awkward since Aurora was already sitting here in the house.
Aurora chuckled, not at all bothered about his words and tone. “I’m actually very surprised that you debuted. But it’s a good thing
since your brilliant voice isn’t wasted,” she noted.