Chapter 62
Wattpad's new update hasn't been letting me post. I'm frustrated.
The air stilled.
Shadow's dark chuckle resounded through the cell, sounding more diabolical through the modulator.
She crouched down to Bianca's level on the floor.
"You know something?" Her voice was almost conversational. "You are very stupid."
Bianca didn't respond. She barely could.
She was unrecognizable. Swollen eyes, swollen lips, an injured forehead that had never properly healed. She looked like someone the world had forgotten existed.
"You had a good boyfriend," Shadow continued. "A really good one. Long distance relationship and he still stayed loyal to you. Travelled miles to New York just for your birthday." She tilted her head slowly. "And how did you repay him?"
An evil laugh escaped her, bouncing off the concrete walls.
"Wanna know why we never sold you? Why your organs are still intact and you're still breathing this disgusting air?
" Shadow grabbed Bianca's chin, her leather glove hot against her skin.
"Me. Just me. I'm the reason you're still here.
Zane is another reason. You're here to suffer for your mistakes.
For jeopardizing the plan." She leaned closer.
"We're both at fault. But who's taking all the punishment? "
She released Bianca's chin roughly.
Bianca groaned, head dropping.
"Pl... ease..." she whispered. "I... I..."
"You what?" Shadow mocked. "Hungry?"
Bianca said nothing.
"You must be so pathetic," Shadow said, standing slowly. "Not one of your friends bothered to find out what happened to you after that night. Everyone was asking about Ginny. Ginny Ginny Ginny. Aurora's so called best friend." Another laugh. "Too bad she's nothing but a ghost now. Gone."
The word hung in the air.
Shadow looked down at Bianca one last time.
" I know what's better than food. Wanna get shagged? " Shadow said.
" N... No. .. please.... Not..... N-not again...... Pl... "
Shadow stood up. " Boys."
"N-no." Bianca said, her voice suddenly raising.
The bodyguards outside came in.
"Feed her when you're done. "
Shadow ordered and walked out.
Soon enough, slapping of skin and Bianca's cries of pain echoed down the hall, mixing with the cries of other prisoners.
Aurora was already irritated before she even got home.
The stress alone was enough to make her regret ever stepping into Leonard’s villa.
He didn’t even walk her out.
Didn’t come outside.
Didn’t say goodbye.
She had stood outside the massive gates like an idiot, arms folded, waiting. After five minutes, she gave up and called her driver to come with another car. The original one was still parked at college, because the bastard had practically kidnapped her from campus.
Typical Leonard.
By the time she got home, her mood had dropped several levels.
She pushed her door open, walked in, and threw her bag onto the bed.
A frustrated sigh left her lips.
"He's impossible," she muttered.
He called her a brat, but he was the real one.
She sat down to remove her shoes, fingers working at the straps slowly, when it hit her.
The memories, not of Leonard… no
Something else.
Older. Louder.
Her hands stilled.
Music. Heavy metal. Blasting. Screaming through speakers. The kind that vibrated through walls.
Her breath hitched.
Her brows pulled together.
The sound grew louder inside her head.
She pressed her palms against her ears, eyes squeezing shut.
It didn’t stop.
Flashes. Lights. People. A crowded room.
That birthday party. Years ago…
Her heartbeat spiked.
"Stop…" she whispered.
The sound only intensified.
Her stomach twisted violently.
Aurora shot up from the bed and bolted into the bathroom. She barely made it to the sink before she threw up, her body jerking forward as wave after wave hit her.
A knock sounded at her door.
"Miss Aurora?" Nanny Mira called.
No response.
She pushed the door open slowly.
Then she heard it.
She rushed inside immediately.
Aurora was bent over the sink, shaking, still retching.
Nanny Mira moved to her quickly, holding her shoulders gently, rubbing her back.
"It's alright… easy… easy…"
Aurora coughed weakly, gripping the sink for support.
Her head spun.
Her ears still rang faintly.
When it finally stopped, Nanny Mira guided her carefully back to the bed. Aurora sat down heavily, then leaned against the headboard, breathing slowly.
Her hands moved to her temples.
Everything felt hazy.
"I'm going to make something for you," Nanny Mira said softly. "Just rest. I'll be back."
Aurora gave a faint hum in response.
She barely noticed when Nanny Mira left.
The room felt too quiet now.
Too still.
Her eyes closed briefly, but the faint echo of that music still lingered at the back of her mind. It made her chest tight. Uneasy.
She didn’t understand it.
Almost thirty minutes later, Nanny Mira returned with a tray.
"I made spaghetti and juice," she said gently. "If I had known you'd be back this early, I would've prepared it sooner."
Aurora nodded weakly.
"Hmm." Her voice was low.
She took the tray carefully, her hands still slightly shaky. The smell alone made her realize how empty her stomach was.
She started eating slowly.
The taste grounded her.
Warm. Familiar. Comforting.
Her shoulders loosened a little.
Nanny Mira watched her quietly, making sure she was alright.
Aurora didn’t speak much. Just small hums, short nods. Too tired to form proper sentences.
When she finished, she leaned back against the headboard again, eyes heavy.
Her body finally relaxed.
The storm in her head softened.
But just before she drifted into that quiet haze, one thought slipped through.
Leonard.
His voice.
His hand on her wrist.
His calm, dangerous tone.
"Stay within reach."
Aurora frowned faintly.
Then her eyes closed.
★★★
Evening settled quietly over the mansion.
Elara sat at the dining table, her headphones on, a notebook spread open in front of her.
She was copying notes, pen moving slowly across the page. Too slowly. Her eyes weren’t really focused. She’d pause sometimes, stare at a word, then continue again.
She looked dull. Just… there.
The front door opened.
Voices drifted in.
Melvin walked in first, loosening his tie slightly. Gemma followed behind him, stepping carefully out of her heels. The moment her eyes landed on Elara, she slowed.
A maid approached quickly and took her handbag.
“Welcome back, ma’am.”
Gemma nodded absently, still looking at Elara.
Melvin pressed a light kiss to Gemma’s temple before heading upstairs. “I’ll change.”
She hummed softly in response.
Gemma walked toward the dining table.
Elara didn’t notice at first, still staring at her notes. Gemma reached out and gently touched her hair.
Elara flinched slightly, pulling one side of the headphones off.
“Auntie Gem.”
Gemma offered a small smile, but her eyes were sad.
“I wish you hadn’t heard me that night,” she said quietly.
Elara’s fingers tightened around her pen.
Gemma pulled a chair and sat beside her.
“You were so bubbly when you arrived. Loud, dramatic… teasing everyone.” She let out a soft breath. “Now look at you.”
Elara didn’t know what to say.
Her throat tightened.
She looked down at her notes again, pretending to read.
Gemma reached for her hand gently. “You don’t have to carry it alone.”
Elara nodded faintly.
Still silent.
Gemma squeezed her hand once, then stood. “I’ll make something. For you, Xan and Auri. Something light.”
Elara looked up.
“Auntie…”
“I want to.”
A small, soft smile formed on Elara’s lips. “Okay.”
Gemma returned the smile and headed toward the kitchen.
A few minutes later, footsteps approached.
Nanny Mira appeared at the dining area. “Ma’am.”
Gemma turned immediately. “Yes?”
Nanny Mira hesitated slightly. “Miss Aurora won’t be coming down.”
Gemma frowned. “Why?”
“She has a serious headache. She threw up earlier too.”
Gemma’s expression changed instantly. “What happened?”
“She came home looking stressed. Then she suddenly ran to the bathroom and started vomiting. I stayed with her. She’s resting now.”
Gemma’s worry deepened. “Did she eat anything?”
“Yes, ma’am. I made spaghetti. She managed to finish a little. She’s sleeping now.”
Gemma exhaled slowly, trying to calm herself. “Should I check on her?”
“She’s finally asleep. I think she needs rest.”
Gemma nodded reluctantly.
Elara had gone still in her seat.
Her fingers curled slightly on the table.
Gemma noticed.
“She’ll be fine,” she said softly, more to reassure both of them.
Elara nodded, but her chest felt tight.
First the truth.
Now Aurora is sick.
Everything felt wrong.
Gemma moved toward the kitchen again, but her steps were slower this time. Her mind clearly elsewhere.
Elara quietly removed her headphones.
She wasn’t listening to anything anyway.
The house felt heavy.