Although Aurora's pile of gifts was neatly stacked and looked beautiful, it was completely different from Stella's gesture, which had started with the number '1.' These presents weren't numbered; they were simply gifts meant to fill a void.
Seeing that Leonard was standing before the mountain of presents without a hint of joy on his face, Aurora frowned slightly. "Leonard, aren't you going to open them?"
He seemed to come back to himself then, picking up the first box. It contained an expensive-looking fountain pen. He set it aside and opened the second, which held a leather belt. The third was a tie clip. The fourth, a scarf. He continued opening them one by one. There was even a bottle of rare, pricey liquor. Most of Aurora's gifts were practical and high-quality, not just frivolous trinkets. She had clearly put some thought into them. Yet, Leonard's expression remained neutral.
Even Simone found herself caught up in the novelty of it, like watching someone open a series of mystery boxes. She knew that picking out twenty-nine suitable gifts without a single misstep was no easy feat.
The final gift was a scroll. When Leonard unrolled it, a portrait of a man was revealed. It was him.
Leonard paused. Aurora watched him. "Leonard, I painted this for you myself. What do you think?"
For the first time, a flicker of warmth entered his eyes, and the stern set of his jaw relaxed. "This is very thoughtful of you."
Of all the gifts, this was the only one Aurora had made herself. At this stage in his life, Leonard didn't lack money. No gift, no matter how expensive, could truly move him. A genuine smile finally appeared on Aurora's face. "I'm glad you like it."



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