CHAPTER 443: CHAPTER 443: TESTING

Meanwhile, Aurora found herself restless even after Jules accepted Lucas’s proposal.

There was still a theory she wanted to test, one she had been quietly mulling over ever since she discovered the strange connection between the rebate system and the people who entered her life. If her theory was correct, then today would confirm something significant.

So she waited.

The next day, Jules arrived at their home for the first time as Lucas’s fiancée. The Waters household welcomed her with warm enthusiasm, making sure she felt as though she were already a part of the family.

Even the usually reserved Adam had come early, pretending he just "happened" to be passing by.

Olivia rushed to help take Jules’s bag, Adriana offered her water, Theodore tried cracking jokes, and Lucas hovered near her like an anxious guardian.

Aurora observed all of this silently. ’She fits well here... Lucas looks genuinely happy.’

When the moment felt right, Aurora slowly reached for the diamond necklace she had prepared earlier.

Without drawing attention to herself, she subtly gestured to Emily. Emily understood immediately. With her usual grace, she walked toward Jules with a velvet box resting in the palm of her hand.

Jules spotted the box and froze. Her eyes widened with surprise, then confusion, and finally hesitation.

She glanced toward Mary, almost as if silently asking permission. Mary gave her a gentle nod, signaling that it was alright to accept it.

Jules finally reached out, but her fingers trembled. The moment she lifted the lid, her breath hitched. Inside lay an intricately designed diamond necklace, delicate yet shimmering with luxury. She shut the lid at once.

"I... I can’t take this," Jules said immediately, shaking her head. Her voice carried both embarrassment and disbelief. "This is too much. I really can’t."

Emily’s tone softened as she insisted, "Please take it. I chose this especially for you."

Jules bit her lower lip. ’How can I accept something like this? Even when I was married before... I could never afford anything half as expensive. And now... Lucas’s family isn’t rich either. How can I take such a gift?’ She looked troubled, torn between politeness and practicality.

Before she could protest further, Mary stepped in with a gentle smile. "You should keep it, Jules. It’ll look beautiful on you during your engagement ceremony."

Those words made Jules pause. She looked at the necklace again and felt her resistance weaken. It was undeniably stunning, far more exquisite than anything she had ever owned. The design was elegant yet unique, something even a wealthy woman would treasure.

But the price...

’This must cost at least fifty thousand dollars... How could I possibly take something so valuable?’ Her stomach tightened with discomfort.

She shook her head again. "Mary, Aurora... this is too expensive. I really... really can’t..."

But no one paid attention to her refusal. Mary gently patted her shoulder.

"Don’t overthink it. Just take it, dear."

After repeated insistence from everyone around her, Jules had no choice but to accept the gift.

She finally tucked the velvet box into her bag, still wearing an expression of disbelief.

Once the matter was settled, she began chatting with Mary about mundane topics, trying to regain her composure.

Meanwhile, Aurora waited quietly upstairs. She tried not to stare at her phone, but her fingers tapped against the table impatiently. Two minutes passed. Nothing.

’Hmm... nothing yet. Maybe because Jules isn’t biologically connected to me? If she is truly my blood relative... then perhaps the rebate system doesn’t work on her. That must be it.’

Aurora sighed in mild disappointment. She slipped the phone into her pocket... and then her phone buzzed.

She glanced at it... and froze. The notification glowed brightly across the screen: $100,000 credited to her account.

Her breath caught.

’...What?’

For several seconds, she stared blankly at the numbers. Then the realization struck her.

’So it’s not just my parents. Anyone who becomes genuinely connected to my family... fiancé, spouse, or someone who sincerely joins our circle... Do they all trigger the rebate system? And not just the double rebate... this is the same return as when I spend on Mom and Dad...’

Her heart pounded with excitement. ’This is huge. This changes everything.’

Her first instinct was dangerous... she wanted to give even more gifts to her soon-to-be sister-in-law. Diamonds, designer dresses, maybe even an apartment. Anything that would allow her to test the limits of the system.

But there was something more important she needed to do first.

Now that her parents knew about her hacker identity, she no longer had to hide where the money came from. They trusted her explanation, believing she earned her wealth through her "freelance hacking gigs."

’Since I no longer have to pretend... I can finally spoil them without worrying.’

Once Jules left that afternoon, Aurora wasted no time.

She called for a family meeting.

Within minutes, everyone gathered in the living room... including Alex, who appeared particularly cheerful. Aurora narrowed her eyes slightly.

’He looks like he’s spent time with someone he really likes...’

But she brushed the thought aside.

Everyone settled down, and Aurora stood before them with calm confidence.

"I called all of you here because I want to give you rewards... for your support during everything that’s happened recently."

Everyone blinked in confusion.

Emily, on Aurora’s signal, brought out a neat stack of contracts and began distributing them around the room. One by one, each family member took a contract and flipped it open.

A heavy silence fell.

Each contract contained the ownership papers of an apartment... luxury units located in the same high-rise building where they currently lived.

Jaws dropped. Even Theodore’s usual humor disappeared. Adriana placed a hand over her mouth. Alex stared without blinking.

Mary and Adam, however, were the most stunned. Their hands trembled slightly.

"Aurora... this... this can’t be right," Adam whispered.

Mary’s eyes filled with disbelief. "This apartment... the one we’re living in... it’s under joint ownership? Fifty-fifty?"

Aurora nodded calmly.

"Yes. As you already know, I’m Light... the hacker. I’ve been doing this for months. I’ve earned enough to be considered a millionaire now. And I realized... even after earning so much, I never gifted anything to you all. Especially Mom and Dad. So this is my way of giving something back."

Silence.

No one moved. They simply stared at the papers, unsure whether to celebrate or faint.

Then Olivia suddenly stood up and marched toward Aurora, returning the contract to her.

"I don’t want this." Her voice was firm. "You already gave me a studio apartment. That’s more than enough. I don’t need anything else."

Her reasoning was straightforward, and once she spoke, others began to understand. Aurora had gifted Olivia something long ago... this new contract would make her feel greedy.

One by one, everyone started standing up and returning their contracts, insisting they couldn’t accept such an extravagant gift.

The locals returned theirs first. Then Adriana. Then Theodore. Then Alex. Then Mary and Adam.

Their explanations were the same: Aurora should keep the apartments.

But Aurora didn’t even look at the pile of returned contracts.

Instead, she calmly said, "If you don’t want them, then donate them to charity. It’s stated in the contract... if you refuse the gift, the apartments automatically get transferred to charity."

The room froze. Five luxury apartments... donated?

The Waters family paled collectively.

If Aurora intended to donate so much property, it would make the family appear absurdly wealthy and extravagant. Tens of millions of dollars donated in a single day? Impossible for them to accept.

They exchanged distressed glances.

For the first time, they looked as if they wanted to scold Aurora.

Aurora observed their helpless expressions and chuckled inwardly. Then she softened her tone.

"From now on, you’ll be receiving more gifts from me. So stop acting like misers and learn to appreciate what’s given to you."

The room fell dead silent again. More gifts? More apartments?

Theodore opened his mouth, stunned. "If this continues... I might become a spoiled young master."

Olivia and Adriana nodded in agreement. Lucas lowered his head awkwardly, while Alex stared at the contract with a thoughtful expression.

Aurora stretched lazily. "I’m tired. I’ll go to my room."

Emily nodded and followed her.

Once inside the bedroom, Emily beamed. "Congratulations, Aurora. Now you can openly give gifts to your parents and brothers. No need to hide anymore."

Aurora exhaled softly, relief spreading through her. "Yes. Finally. I can give them everything without needing excuses."

Her phone pinged again. She checked it. Another deposit.

$20 million.

She smiled. ’This is... such easy money. I should send more gifts to my parents later. If I continue like this, I can collect plenty of pocket money.’

After Emily left, Aurora settled at her desk to continue her software development work. In between coding, she took a short break and browsed the news.

A strange article caught her eye... one with only a single view.

Curious, she clicked it.

The headline almost made her choke.

A secret mountain rich with gold had been discovered. Not just that... another mountain, a thousand kilometers away, was filled with diamonds. Both mountains were owned by a mysterious, private bank.

Whoever controlled these mines would become one of the richest people in the world.