03||~Raven.
~~~~
A small gasp tore out of her and she took a step back, her whole body trembling. Seeing her like this only fueled the rage curling within me.
This was nothing close to what she made me go through inside that hell they took me to. She killed Dad and accused me of poisoning him.
Nobody listened to me, not even the police.
Then they took me away and locked me up, kept me away from the other patients.
I lived my life strapped to that horrible bed while watching as they made the man who sacrificed everything for me suffer. I had been so naive in my past life and too stupid to see through Aurora's deceit.
"It was Elio. I swear it." Lies.
Aurora never looks away from my eyes. Never, unless she was lying, that is.
A sharp note of laughter slipped out of me and I took a step back. " I was just joking with you, why do you look so shocked?"
Her body eased a little. "O-oh."
It took everything in me to restrain myself, and walk into the bathroom. Once there, I stared at my face in the mirror, still trying to understand how it all happened.
I could still remember the feeling of having my breath blocked by that thick, black smoke. The terror I felt when it dawned on me that I wouldn't be able to avenge Dad and Vance.
My eyes trailed my pale skin, from my brown hair that matches my eyes to my slightly chubby cheeks, to my slightly swollen belly.
It was nothing like the image I saw the last time Aurora forced me to look into a mirror. A bitter taste flooded my mouth when I remembered what has happened that same day.
My hand slowly moved to my belly. "I am sorry baby, mummy wasn't able to protect you in our past life." Just three months after I married Elio, he pushed me down the stairs and my baby died.
I never even got to know it's gender or hold it.
My gaze hardened.
This debt, they all have to pay it. I would make them go through every single thing they put me through.
It took me a while to sort out my emotions, then I walked into the room. Aurora was no where to be found, but there was a red dress on the bed. Without sparing it a glance, I walked to my closet and picked out a white dress.
At that moment, I made up my mind. I would wear no other color except white, until my revenge is complete.
When I walked into Dad's office a few minutes later, the atmosphere was tense. Vance was seated on a black couch in a corner, thumb brushing absently over the gold ring on his thumb.
The same one I had given him for his thirtieth birthday. My fingers shook at the sight. He always kept it with him like an irreplaceable treasure, even until his death.
Dad sat on his office chair, a glass of bourbon held tightly in his hand.
And Aurora, she stood at a corner, looking like she would cry any moment. She was the first to call out to me. "You are here."
My steps were measured as I walked into this room. "Dad, Vance."
Vance's head snapped to mine, his gaze lingering on me for a moment before he forced himself to look away.
Dad, examined me, the disappointment in his eyes a sharp dagger piercing through my insides. I wrapped my hands around myself. "Are you ready to tell me what's going on now?"
I took in a deep breath before opening my mouth. "I am pregnant." A pause. "And Vance is the father."
Dad jerked in his chair.
Vance closed his eyes, fingers tightening around the armrest.
And Aurora?
She wasn't surprised, after all, she had been the one who followed Elio's order to drugged Vance and bring him to my room.
Dad blinked, once, then the glass slipped from his hand and shattered. "What did you just say?"
Both in my past life and this one. I never regretted getting pregnant, however, Dad's reaction had been the one thing I was guilty for.
"I am sorry." I whispered, not meeting his eyes.
Without warning, Dad dashed out of his seat and lunged towards Vance. I didn't get to react in time. The blow landed with a sickening crunch.
"How dare you lay a hand on my daughter! " Dad yelled, delivering another blow. "She is almost half your age, Vance. I trusted you!"
I could hear my pulse in my ears as I ran to separate them. "Dad! Stop it." Dad was too angry to see reason, which made him shove me back, I hit the floor hard.
Vance made no move to defend himself. His hands remained at his side as though he believed he deserved every blow. Yet, his gaze flickered to me, checking if I was okay.
This same situation had happened in my past life, when I told Dad that I was pregnant for Elio. However, unlike Vance, Elio had fought back
He had shoved Dad against the wall, making him hit his head and faint. Despite this, I still went ahead and married him.
Each mistakes I had made to break his heart flashed before me, including his death that been caused by my foolishness. Everything weighed heavily on my heart.
" Dad, please stop it." I cried, rushing in-between them once again, my hands thrown wide to shield Vance.
Dad paused mid punch, eyes wide, chest heaving. "You are protecting him?" He croaked, eyes sparkling with tears.
"It was my fault Dad. I drugged him."
Dad's pupils dilated.
It was a lie, yet this lie was the only thing that could save Vance for now. My gaze shifted to Aurora and she quickly looked down.
Vance held my shoulder. "You don't have to lie for me." He said.
I let out a deep breath. "We need to talk, Dad. And I want you to listen." When did he didn't relent, I took a step forward and touched his shoulder. "Please."
Dad nodded, shoulder curved inward as headed towards his chair. I turned to help Vance up, when he opened his mouth to speak, I shook my head, a smile tugging at my lips.
Despite how depressing this moment was, the fact that Vance was alive and right in front of me somehow made my chest feel lighter.
Once we were all seated, me beside Vance and Dad on the couch farthest from us, i finally realized the implication of what I had done.
"I was going to drug Elio, but Aurora somehow messed the drink up and gave it to Vance instead." I confessed.
"You did what?" He snapped, voice thick with barely contained fury. I couldn't speak, for a moment, I expected him to lunge for me like he has done to Vance.
He didn't.
"Why did you do it, Raven? Were you so starved of love that you had to resort to such despicable means?"
I couldn't meet his eyes.
Then, as if just realizing what I said, His sharp gaze snapped towards Aurora. "You knew all about this?"
~P-Lia~
