Aurelia's POV
What I experienced there... I think this case has something to do with both Marco and Mr. Perene.
Anyway, after having such an intense meeting and acting as their free translator, I casually asked Vincent,
"Sir, today I did a very good job. I mean, I translated the entire meeting and survived that very hard time in it. So... shall we grab a treat at that café?"
I pointed towards a café that looked way too aesthetic and vintage—as if, the moment I stepped inside, I would time travel back to the '90s.
"Okay! Let's go then. Treat's on me!"
Didn't expect him to agree this quickly.
As we were walking, I noticed Austin and Evelyn giggling.
Naturally, my curious mind couldn't help but ask,
"What are you guys giggling and laughing about?"
I walked closer to them and raised an eyebrow, trying to create that suspenseful atmosphere that would make them spill whatever was on their minds.
"What... are... you talking about?"
As if saying it slowly would somehow bend lawyers' guts.
"Nothing, Aurelia. We were just laughing at our own joke," Evelyn said.
Pretentious.
Very pretentious.
"Really, Aurelia. We were just laughing at random stuff... like that garbage. It looks like a person with diarrhea!"
Evelyn looked at Austin as if he had just made the worst excuse ever.
Diarrhea... garbage?
Seriously?
"Austin... you okay?"
"Yes, yes."
Anyway, I dropped the matter because we had already reached the café.
The café saved them from exposing themselves.
Anyway, I dropped the matter because we had already reached the café.
The café had saved them from exposing whatever they were hiding.
As soon as we entered Café Biscotti & Beans, I walked straight to the counter to place everyone's order while the others found a table.
"Order whatever you want, Aurelia. And tell them I'll have an espresso," Vincent said.
"Okay, Sir."
"Oh, Aurelia! I'll have a cappuccino," Evelyn added.
"Austin, you'll have a macchiato, right?"
"Oh yes."
"Carl, you won't have anything?" she asked.
"No, I'm full. You guys carry on. I'll order later if I want."
I smiled before looking at Evelyn.
"Evelyn... I don't think they'll serve cappuccino now. It's almost lunchtime, and in Italy it's considered a bit of a faux pas to order one this late."
"Oh... really?"
"Then I'll have whatever Austin is having."
"Cool."
While I was busy placing the order...
"You saw that, right?" Evelyn whispered, glancing towards the counter.
"How quickly Vincent agreed to whatever Aurelia asked?"
Austin looked over for a second before grinning.
"He has completely fallen for her."
"I know! He's literally like, 'Whatever my woman wants, she'll get.'"
"Evelyn..."
"...True."
"But the funniest part is that Aurelia still hasn't realized anything."
"I know, right? She solves complicated criminal cases but can't solve her own love case."
Austin sighed dramatically.
"This hurts."
"I think we should do something."
"Austin, I don't think Vincent—oh... Sir—would appreciate us interfering in matters of the heart."
"Let them realize everything on their own."
"And the bond they already have."
"Alright."
"Guys."
"AAAH!"
Both of them nearly jumped.
"Carl! Can you stop appearing out of nowhere?"
Carl chuckled before pulling out a chair.
"I think..."
"...you're focusing on the wrong couple."
"Wrong?"
Evelyn frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"Evelyn," Austin said with a grin.
"I think he just admitted they're a future couple."
"Austin!"
"No! I meant duo!"
"Okay, shut up."
Carl shook his head.
"I'm serious."
"You two should start paying attention to each other instead."
"It's time you realized your own bond."
"No!"
"Him?"
"Never."
"We're just friends, Carl."
"Period."
"Ye-yeah..."
"Just friends."
Carl simply nodded.
"Whatever helps you sleep at night."
Just then, they noticed Aurelia walking back toward the table.
The conversation ended immediately.
I returned with the receipt in my hand.
"What were you guys discussing?"
"Nothing."
Three people answered at the exact same time.
...
Definitely suspicious.
I decided not to push it and simply took my seat.
Vincent looked around the table before speaking.
"By the way..."
"We're leaving tomorrow afternoon."
"So you're all free for the rest of today."
"Tomorrow, Sir?"
"Really?"
For a moment, my heart sank.
I had hoped we'd stay a little longer.
Then again...
Maybe it was for the best.
I could check out of the hotel and spend the rest of the day with Mom before flying back.
That sounded much better.
Everyone looked at me.
Maybe my disappointment was too obvious.
But they simply smiled.
After chatting for a few more minutes, our order finally arrived.
The first reaction came exactly from Austin.
"Aurelia..."
"This is what you called a little?"
"I never said I wanted to eat little."
From the corner of my eye, I noticed Vincent trying to hide a smile.
Or maybe a smirk.
Either way...
I wasn't about to provoke him.
The treat was on him, after all.
"Aurelia," Evelyn said happily.
"You ordered croissants for us?"
"No."
"These are Cornetto Ripieno."
"They're the same!"
"Yes and no."
"They may look alike, Carl..."
"But they're actually different."
"HOW?"
Before I could answer, Evelyn gave Austin a deadly side-eye.
"Why does it matter?"
"Food is food."
"Eat it."
"...Or leave it."
"...Eat."
Looking at Austin's instantly obedient face, I understood one thing.
Something was definitely cooking between those two.
Because men are always scared of their favorite woman.
...
I wonder when I'll get my man.
After everyone finished eating, Vincent paid the bill.
With full stomachs and lighter hearts, we left the café together, unaware that the peaceful afternoon would soon become the last calm moment before the investigation took another unexpected turn.
"Vin—"
"Sir..."
"I'm checking out of the hotel and going to my mom's place."
"I informed you earlier since you said we're free for the rest of the day."
"Yes."
"No problem."
"I'll book a cab for you."
"No, no."
"That won't be necessary."
"I can go by myself."
"Sure?"
"Okay."
"Your wish."
Once we reached the hotel, I went to my room, packed my belongings, checked out...
And finally...
After such a long time...
I was going to meet my mom.
One thing you should know about my mom...
She's extremely studious.
She's a Mathematics professor.
Yes.
Mathematics.
She either studies...
Or teaches.
She also runs her own tuition classes here for children.
And, for your information...
My mom once studied in California—Los Angeles.
The very same place where I studied law...
And now work.
That's exactly why she allowed me to pursue my career there instead of staying here.
After a twenty-minute cab ride...
I finally reached home.
I wondered...
How does my bedroom look now?
Is everything still the same?
How is my mom?
Ting tong.
Ting tong.
Ting toonnnnggg...
The moment she opened the door...
My heart melted.
I hugged her tightly.
She looked beyond happy.
"Mamma!!"
"Geez, Donnina!"
"You should've told me you were coming!"
"Then it wouldn't have been a surprise."
"You still haven't changed, I see."
"Mamma..."
"Why do you still look so young, beautiful... and cute?"
"Because I actually do skincare."
"Unlike you."
"Mamma!"
"Are you calling me old?"
"Now that I look closely..."
"You are getting old."
"MAMMA!!"
"I'm kidding, Vale."
"I missed teasing you so much that I couldn't control myself."
"I missed you too, Mom."
Looking around my home...
Seeing the couch where I used to spend entire days lying around...
It made me feel unbelievably nostalgic.
"Will you eat something?"
"No."
"I'm full."
The moment she sat down on the chair...
I knew this conversation was about to become ridiculous.
"So..."
"How's work?"
"Oh right—you came here because of a case."
"Everything going well?"
"Yep."
"So far, everything's going well."
"Did you find somebody at work?"
"...THAT'S your question?"
"Well..."
"I fully support love marriages."
"Marriage?!"
"Mamma!"
"I haven't even found anybody."
"So don't worry."
"If I do, I'll tell you."
"You better."
"Otherwise, if I find out myself..."
"You're dead meat."
Well...
Our conversation continued exactly the way I had missed it.
Gossiping.
Laughing.
Teasing.
Talking about absolutely everything and absolutely nothing.
And just like that...
My day ended in the warmest place I knew—
Home.
The next morning arrived far too quickly.
Which also meant...
It was time to say goodbye.
To my mother.
And to my beloved country.
Soon, our entire team gathered at the airport.
Before I knew it...
We were on our way back to Los Angeles.
Time Skip
Second Flight: Frankfurt (FRA) → Los Angeles (LAX)
We ended up sitting together...
Just like we had while flying to Italy.
"So..."
"Was it fun meeting your mom?"
"Yes."
"I was so happy."
"She still carries the same smile she always had."
"And she's healthy."
"Now all my worries are gone."
"That's good to hear."
"By the way..."
"I can call you by your first name when we aren't working, right?"
He looked at me for a brief second before answering.
"Well..."
"I never said no to that."
"It's... nice hearing my first name from you."
"HAHAHA."
I laughed.
But for some reason...
He didn't.
Instead, he simply looked outside the airplane window, lost in thought.
And somehow...
That expression told me he wasn't thinking about the case anymore.
It was something else entirely.
Something he hadn't said.
Yet.
Outside the airplane window, the clouds drifted peacefully beneath us.
At that moment...
None of us knew that once this flight landed, everything was about to change.
And nothing would ever feel this peaceful again.