ENTANGLED BY THE KNOT

ic of the party drowned out her silent footsteps. Her heart raced with anticipation, hoping to navigate the sea of guests unscathe

ra spoke softly, trying to captu

San

yes filled with disdain. "What took you so l

placed the drink in front of Sandra. "I-

narrowing. "This drink is warm! Where's

'm sor-sorry, San-Sandra. I-I forgot. I ca

GOT"she

nt mistake," Tim interjected, attempting to diffu

y mistake Aurora made was being born!" she spat out, accompa

words, and she lowered her gaze, conce

led brat! It isn't a big deal" Tim's voice ros

Aurora instead of standing beside her in front of their friends. The betrayal cut deep, fuelin

wicked smirk tugging at the corners of her lips, Sandra's eyes locked onto her target. Without hesitation, she extended her arm and forcefully pushed the tray of delicate glasses,

or, creating a mesmerizing mosaic of shattered fragments. The atmosphere grew tense, filled with a mixture of shock, curiosity,

m buzzed with anticipation, waiting to see how Aurora would react, how she would handle this calculated assault on her dignity. The

hant expression. It was a deliberate act of hum

, her eyes blazing with fury at the commot

across the room, sharp and filled with contempt, as she directed her accusation towards her mother. "Mom, can you bel

Tim could say anything further,

dra retorted sharply, her ga

accusation pressed upon her, amplified by the judgmental gazes of the guests around them. Sh

of doubt in their eyes. Aurora's face flushed with a mix of humiliation, anger, and a determination to prove her innocence. She knew

cked eyes with her Aunt, silently pl

I didn't..." But bef

ed Aurora across the face, the force of the blow sending her stumbling back. Pain sear

argot's voice dripped with venom as she continued her tirade. "You're nothing but

ore into Aurora's, filled with disdain. "Your parents died, leaving us to take care of you, and what do we get in return?

with the pain of her cheek stinging from the slap. The room around her seemed to fade into a haze as she struggled to comprehend the depth of their disdain. In that moment, she felt utterly

g attention. She swiftly shifted her focus to the guests, a composed smile graci

nce as she painstakingly cleaned the sha

with detached amusement. His cold gaze met Aurora's, his indifference a sharp blade

. She fought back the tears, refusing to show her vulnerability in the face of their cruelty. D

d with dreams of escape, were now clouded with desperation. She longed for a life free from the

**

lief. The remnants of the chaotic party lay scattered around her, and she had just finished cle

r own separate pursuits.Aunt Margot, comfortably settled in her lavish bedr

just as her thoughts seemed to materialize, Thomas eme

icult for her to find her voice. She tried to shrink into herself, her s

udible. "U-Uncle T-Thomas," she managed

mmed it on the counter. "Do you even understand the

oice barely audible. "I-I d-didn't mean t-to c-

ith a venomous blend of anger and condescension. "I've had enough of

hose guests tonight? I've been tirelessly pursuing their contract for the past six months. I could have secured lucrative deals, bu

wished she could find the courage to speak up for herself, to defend her actions, but the fear

er, her voice barely above a whisper

to escalate. In a fit of rage, he lunged forward and grabbed her wrist with a harsh grip, his fing

you think?" Thomas sneered, his words dripping with d

she managed to stutter through her

eyes cold and unyielding. The pain radiating from her wrist inten

-Thomas," she choked out, her voi

eled in the power he had over her, relishing in the sight of her vulnerability and pa

're nothing but a burden, a weakling. This is you

bearing down on her. The pain in her wrist intensified with every passing moment, the torme

couldn't continue living in this cycle of fear and pain. Summoning every ounce of str

voice quivering with both fear and determination.

Do you have any idea of the cost of the glasses you broke t

n't do- any-anythin

e the blame on my daughter for your own

inish her sentence, Thomas ra

"What do you have to say for yourself?" William demanded,

y audible. "I-I d-don't w-want to c-cause any m-more

leaving behind red marks as a p

e could fully grasp my fleeting sense of relief, Sandra came storming into the room, her face contorted with rage. He

andra exclaimed, her voice fi

unleashed a barrage of words, fuel

itiful excuse for a human being?" Her voice seethed with venom as she drew closer.

orce of the blow sent her head spinning, her vision momentarily distorted. Pain radiated th

pted in her temple, causing Aurora to cry out in anguish. The room seemed to spin, and she struggled t

e. Desperation surged within her, as she pleaded with her uncle to cease the torment, yet her pleas fell upon indifferent ears. The echoes of her own anguished screams reverbe

. The wrath that emanated from Sandra's eyes and resonated in every syllable of her voice held a par

all because of you, Aurora," Sandra seeth

in ruins because of you! Tim ended things solely because of your wretched presence. You are a despicable bitch! He felt sorry for you at the party and shamefully d

ir. Gasping for breath, Aurora's desperate cries intertwined with the excruciating pain, a relentless struggle

ith my face in a resounding slap. Her words were filled with malice an

cefully against the wall. The impact reverberated through

e entered the room. "You're ruining your nails for someone like her. You j

n air of annoyance. "I have a kitty party tomorrow, and I simply cannot have my friends witnessing her i

her insignificance in their eyes. Helplessness and despair flooded my bei

in her ears, a haunting reminder of the cruelty that surrounded her. Each painful moment seemed to solidify the not

ective hatred bore down on her, threatening to crush what little strength remained within. But amidst the darkness, a flicker of resilie

d cousin had retired to the luxurious bedrooms, leaving her with a meager portion of the kitchen floor

The pain of her stutter, something she had battled with all her life, felt magnified in th

e would find the strength to overcome her stutter and the courage to stand up for herself. In the quie

her voice echoing in the silent darkness. "One d-day, I will b-break free

he vowed to endure, to hold onto hope, knowing that one day her suffering would t

he gently examined her injuries, taking note of her drowsy state and the evident pain etched on her delicate face. Th

providing solace and healing to her physical injuries, yet he carried the weight of his own inaction, hindered by the fear of losing his job. The hospital w

ries of Marco, Aurora's father, flooded his consciousness-memories of a man who had selflessly supported him, enabling him to pursue hi

knew that he could no longer remain a passive bystander; he had to take a stand. The urgen

olution, for someone who could aid in this quest for justice. And t