"Aurora! Aurora, stop running around, you silly little girl!" Rose's voice sliced through the air like a whip. Her sharp tone made the birds scatter from the trees in the garden. Little Aurora froze in place, her tiny chest heaving from play, but her joy died the moment Rose's shadow loomed over her.
"I curse the day Charles brought you into this house!" Rose hissed. "You are nothing but a curse! Ever since you arrived, my life has been turned upside down. I can't even have peace in my own home!"
She stormed off, leaving the girl standing alone under the blazing sun. Aurora's lip quivered. Her knees gave way, and she sank onto the grass. Hot tears trickled down her cheeks. She cried silent, wounded, and alone until she drifted into sleep.
Inside the house…
"Rose! Why are you shouting again? I'm right here!" Charles appeared, frustration in his eyes. "Where's the little brat?" He snapped.
"You brought her here," Rose continued, her voice trembling with anger. "You knew she'd ruin everything. You brought her to turn my life into a living hell."
"You know why I brought her here," Charles replied coldly. To hell with your stupid plans!" Rose shouted. "Why are you still obsessed with destroying the Riversons through their own child?! You never even told me why you hate them so much."
Charles stared at her. His silence was telling.
"Don't you hate Kim?" he asked. "Of course I hate her," Rose snapped, crossing her arms.
"Then stop asking questions. I have my reasons for not telling you everything." Her eyes narrowed. "You're a fool. I know you still have feelings for Kim. Admit it." Charles slammed his hand against the table. "Enough of that nonsense!"
"You're obsessed with her beauty. You always were." Charles rolled his eyes, but his voice lowered. "You're jealous. That's all." "Jealous?" Rose scoffed.
Charles turned away, his jaw tightening. How could I tell her that Kim is the reason I hate the Riversons? That William stole her from me… That I was supposed to be the one by her side? My Kim… He closed his eyes, bitterness choking him.
"Where is the girl?" he finally asked. "In the garden," Rose muttered. Charles stepped outside, muttering curses under his breath. "I hate being nice to that girl…"
But then he saw her.
There she was Aurora. Her face relaxed, her lashes resting gently on her cheeks. Her legs curled to the side, her dress slightly lifted from the breeze, exposing her bare thighs.
She looked like a sleeping angel. She has Kim's face… her grace… her softness.
And that's when the thoughts started. If I didn't get the mother… what if—
He bit his lower lip. She's here. So close. So innocent. So… tempting. He didn't even remember kneeling. His hand, shaking slightly, reached for her. His fingertips rubbed against her private area. A chill ran through his body.
Then—
"AHHH!!" Aurora screamed, bolting upright.
"Dad?! What are you doing?!" He froze, panic flooding his eyes. "Shhh! Don't scream. It's okay. It's just between us," he whispered. "I'm your father. You must obey me."
"No!" she cried, her voice cracking with terror. "You're trying to molest me! You're supposed to be my dad… You shouldn't do this!" Those words. They cut deep. They pulled him out of his twisted haze.
"You're just a child," he whispered, suddenly aware of what he'd done. "You're twelve… and you know."
"You little brat!" he snapped, fury masking his shame. "If you dare tell anyone about what happened today, I swear you'll die by my hands!" Her body shook as tears spilled down her cheeks. "Why would you hurt me? You're my father…"
He laughed bitterly.
"I'm not your father. And Rose is not your mother either," he sneered. Aurora gasped. Her voice trembled. "W-What?"
"You were adopted."
"No… No, that's not true," she said, choking on tears. "Who are my real parents then?!"
"You'll never know. Because they're dead. You hear me? DEAD. So wipe your tears and stay quiet. Be a good little girl and live under this roof until the day I get tired… and throw you away like trash."
Her mouth opened. Her breathing grew shallow. Her world had just crumbled. Her heart had shattered. She passed out.
Right there in the garden where her identity had been destroyed, her innocence stolen, and her life forever changed.