Aurora POV:
I threw my body sideways, diving behind the thick base of a Roman pillar that supported the patio roof. I pulled my knees to my chest, melting entirely into the deep shadows.
My muscles locked into place instantly. It was the exact same physical response I used whenever the prison gangs started a riot in the cellblock.
The side door swung open completely. Julian stepped out into the freezing air. He had a phone pressed to his ear and a deep frown cutting across his forehead.
He pulled a cigar from his pocket and lit it. The bright orange flame flared in the darkness, illuminating the sharp, ruthless lines of his jaw.
He blew out a cloud of thick smoke and spoke into the phone. His voice was low, laced with heavy irritation.
I held my breath. He was less than ten feet away. Over the howling wind, his deep voice carried clearly to where I sat.
"Richard, you don't need to be so nervous," Julian said.
My stomach dropped. He was talking to my father.
Julian took another drag of his cigar. "The prison confirmed it. She finished her paperwork and was released this morning."
He paused, listening to whatever my father was saying. Then, Julian let out a dark, cruel laugh.
"Leave her alone," Julian said, his tone devoid of any human empathy. "Let her freeze out there for a bit. A little suffering will do her good."
I dug my fingernails so deeply into my palms that the skin broke. Warm blood trickled down my lifelines.
"She is a grateful fool," Julian continued, his voice dripping with absolute arrogance. "All I have to do is show up tomorrow, give her a hug, and she'll be right back to being perfectly obedient."
My father must have voiced a concern, because Julian's expression hardened into a vicious scowl.
"Don't forget, Richard," Julian snapped, his voice dropping to a lethal threat. "If she hadn't taken the fall, Clara would be rotting in a cell right now, and your precious medical company would have gone bankrupt three years ago."
The final nail was driven into my coffin. The pain in my chest vanished, replaced by a terrifying, absolute zero void. My parents hadn't just abandoned me; they had actively plotted my destruction.
Julian tapped his cigar against the railing. "The transfer of the company shares went perfectly. She will never know the truth."
He turned slightly, looking back toward the glass doors where Clara and the boy were playing. "Theo needs a perfect family. I will not let Aurora ruin this."
He pulled the phone away from his ear and ended the call. He stood there in the snow for another minute, taking slow drags of his cigar, looking out over the massive estate like a king surveying his conquered lands.
He finally turned around and reached for the heavy door handle.
Just as the door was about to swing shut, Julian froze. He whipped his head back around, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the dark courtyard.
He had sensed something. A shift in the air.
I pressed my spine so hard against the freezing stone pillar that my vertebrae bruised. My heart hammered violently against my ribs, so loud I was sure he could hear it.
Julian took a half-step down the stairs, his eyes locking directly onto the shadows surrounding my pillar.
Inside the house, Clara's sweet, high-pitched voice called out his name.
Julian blinked, the tension leaving his shoulders. He shook his head, muttered something under his breath, and stepped back inside.
The heavy door slammed shut. The deadbolt clicked into place.
All the strength drained from my legs. I slid down the rough surface of the pillar and hit the snow-covered ground.
I didn't cry. The time for crying was over. The despair in my eyes burned away, leaving behind a cold, mechanical deadness.
I reached into my pocket and pulled out my broken, frozen phone.
By some absolute miracle of failing battery voltage, the screen flickered to life for exactly two seconds. A notification for a delayed text message popped up on the cracked glass.
It was from Julian, sent ten minutes ago.
I stared at the glowing white text illuminating my pale, emotionless face.
"Baby, just finished a cross-border meeting. I couldn't get away. I miss you. I'll pick you up tomorrow."
I stared at the screen, and the corners of my mouth slowly curled upward into a chilling, terrifying smile.
