hospital. The nurse's words still echoed in her mind. Her mother needed immediate treatment, or she w

o come up with an impossibl

corner toward their tiny

ind of feeling,, it always came when she was in danger. She didn't know why, bu

ing him were three tall men in black suits, their sharp gazes piercing th

egotiating. His fingers twitched, his

is bad. This is r

she still took a cautious step forward.

in unison, their expressions stern,

ng second, something flickered in them. Was

s curled into

ice was unbothered, al

ilted. What did

her voice cracking wi

ne devoid of emotion. "Your father has

ould her own father do this to her? She

rified. "Dad-- you can't do

ra. You've been living under my roof for nineteen

ny beating he had ever given her. Aurora

ome

is gambling, his beatings, his cruelty. She had worked endless

t so shocked," he scoffed. "You

ed back, her b

ha

You were already crawling around when Maria and

life, it had been a lie. Another brutal blow. She wanted to scr

d react, strong han

e thrashed violently, bu

away, spitting on the ground. "At least n

that, she wa

_

ty, but Aurora barely noticed. Her

r real father. And now, she was being

she was hauled out and escorte

loors, the golden chandeliers, the he

ator, then down a lavish ha

ld man. Fat. Wrinkled. Reeking of expensive cologn

way his beady eyes drank her in made her

chuckled, swirling his wine. "Felix n

at closed up. She stepped

. "Oh, don't be so

s terrifying possibilities ran through her mind. If anything h

a property

ing his wine down. "You'

oss her frame, lingering in a w

irls like you should be grateful. I can gi

die," she re

an's smir

o?" He ste

She had to escape. She had to, no matter what. Her eye

vase on

She grabbed the vase and smashed it

, she snatched a jagged shard and pressed it against h

me, I'll com

ady meaningless anyway. It woul

ed. Then, he lau

" he sneered. "I a

She pressed the shard deeper, her smooth skin splittin

ch me," she spat bravely, he

l...

r slamm

entire room fille

he stepp

d. Exuding power. His presence

were sharp. Co

trembled. "M

arely he

n't even look at the old man. His ga

his eyes. Recognition?

was calm

t have to

trembled around

s stranger who had appeared out of nowhere

she tr

had nothing

effortlessly plucking t

he le

d her now, it would no longe