Aurora finally decided to call Jake.
"Hello, honey, are you okay?"
"Yes, of course, Aurora. Why do you ask?"
"I don't know… I've just been feeling this strange heaviness in my chest. It's weird. Please promise me you'll be safe."
"Hey, sweetie, don't worry too much. I'm fine. I have tons of bodyguards around me nothing will happen. Just relax and get some rest. I'll be home soon anyway."No, don't worry. Just hearing your voice puts my heart at peace. You're right — I need to rest."
She paused. "Bye, Jake. Please take care of yourself… I love you."
"Don't worry, Aurora. I love you too."
Aurora ended the call but the unease remained.If Jake's fine, then why am I feeling this way? she wondered, pressing her palm against her chest.What is this? I'll try Sadash. Maybe it's got something to do with her.
Sadash picked up her phone and tried calling.
Pick up, pick up, pick up, Sadash chanted inwardly, pacing the room."What is wrong with this stupid network?" she muttered. "I would've called Jake again, but he must be in his meeting by now… and he hates interruptions during that time."
Aurora tried calling Sadash as well but it wasn't going through so she called Angel.
"Hey bestie, are you okay?"
"Of course I am. Aurora, why do you ask?"
"It's nothing. I've just been feeling restless, and I had to check if you were okay."
"I'm good, Aurora. I think you're just stressed. Take a deep breath, and try to relax."
"I'll do that. Don't worry. "You still haven't told me what happened between you and Jake after that fight," Angel teased. I'll tell you everything when you're back from your trip, promise. I gotta call Sadash now. Bye love you!"
Aurora didn't wait for Angel's reply before hanging up. She immediately called Sadash again. After a few tries, the call finally connected."Sadash! Finally, you picked up. Are you okay? "Yes… I'm fine, dear." Her voice trembled. "Aurora, I need to tell you something important — it's about your real parents."
"What about them? "They're not dead."
"What?!"You've been lied to your entire life. Your parents… they're alive. And I know who they are. "Who are they? Tell me now!" Aurora cried, heart pounding.
"They're—Aahhhhhh!"
A loud scream tore through the line. Then… tut tut tut tut."Hello? Hello? Sadash?! Are you there?! Can you hear me?!"
Nothing."What the hell just happened?! Why was she screaming?" Aurora's blood ran cold. "I need to go to her — now. I knew something was wrong, I've been feeling it all day!"
Meanwhile… at Brooks Mansion
Sadash lay on the floor, her head bleeding, her breath shallow. Charles had struck her with brutal force, and now, as she drifted in and out of consciousness, the room spun wildly.
"Please… don't kill me," she whispered, barely audible. "Aurora… Jake… they need me…"I'm sorry, Sadash," Charles said, standing over her with blood on his hands. "But you know too much. We can't let you live."Rose sneered beside him, arms folded. "We'll make it look like a suicide. It's better that way. Let the world think she gave up on life."
From the shadows stepped Victor, Charles' most trusted and loyal bodyguard someone who had been with the family for over a decade. "Victor," Charles ordered, "help me get this done. Tie her up. We hang her. Then we wipe this place clean."
Victor paused for a moment. "Sir… are you sure? She's just an old woman."She's a threat. That's all she is now." Victor said nothing more. He stepped forward and helped tie the rope. Together, they suspended Sadash's body from the chandelier.
Sadash struggled, her limbs flailing weakly as her air was cut off. They had already cut her tongue her screams were muffled into grunts of agony.Her eyes welled with tears as she thought of Aurora her dear girl.I'm sorry… I couldn't protect you…
Then everything went black.
FLASHBACK – Earlier That Day
Charles had dismissed everyone in the household. All the guards. All the maids. All the kitchen staff."But sir, we can't leave the estate completely empty," the head of security protested.
"Are you disobeying my orders?" Charles barked. "I'm giving everyone a paid holiday. Just take it and go. New guards will arrive soon."Yes, sir," the man replied reluctantly.
The same orders were given to the house staff. Charles didn't wait for objections. He walked out before they could respond.
PRESENT DAY
Sadash's lifeless body swung gently from the chandelier in the center of the mansion's grand living room.Rose lit a scented candle and dropped it in the fireplace. "That should mask the scent. Let's get the hell out of here."
Victor, hands trembling slightly, wiped his gloves and nodded. "No fingerprints. It's clean."Good," Charles said. "Let's move. No one will suspect a thing."And with that, the three disappeared into the night — leaving behind a staged suicide, a tragic lie, and a silence so loud it screamed betrayal.