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PROLOGUE 2

Exhaustion and anxiety coursed through Aurora's trembling body as she longed for a moment of relief. The remnants of the chaotic party lay scattered around her, and she had just finished cleaning up the shattered mess. Her hands were now marked with cuts, still bleeding from the ordeal.

Her aunt and cousin were conspicuously absent, likely taking refuge in their own separate pursuits.Aunt Margot, comfortably settled in her lavish bedroom, while Sandra was likely engrossed in the company of her boyfriend, Tim.

A sense of fear and apprehension washed over her, and just as her thoughts seemed to materialize, Thomas emerged from the shadows, his presence looming ominously.

His stern gaze fixed upon her. Aurora's stutter worsened, making it difficult for her to find her voice. She tried to shrink into herself, her shoulders hunching, as she desperately searched for the right words to say.

She stammered softly, her voice barely audible. "U-Uncle T-Thomas," she managed to say. "D-do you n-need some-something?"

Thomas, holding a glass in his hand, forcefully slammed it on the counter. "Do you even understand the consequences of what you did tonight?" he snapped.

"U-Uncle T-Thomas," she stuttered softly, her voice barely audible. "I-I d-didn't mean t-to c-cause t-trouble. I-I was j-just i did-didn't...."

Thomas abruptly interrupted her, his voice slicing through the air with a venomous blend of anger and condescension. "I've had enough of your excuses, Aurora," he seethed, his gaze piercing and narrowed.

"You're constantly creating chaos and mishaps. Can't you accomplish anything properly? Do you even comprehend the significance of those guests tonight? I've been tirelessly pursuing their contract for the past six months. I could have secured lucrative deals, but thanks to you, everything fell apart. Margo lost her composure because of your actions, and those guests were far from impressed."

Aurora's heart sank, her stutter worsening with the intensity of her anxiety. She desperately wished she could find the courage to speak up for herself, to defend her actions, but the fear paralyzed her. She felt small and insignificant, unable to challenge her uncle's accusations.

"I-I'm s-sorry, " she managed to utter, her voice barely above a whisper. "I-I'll try t-t-to d-do b-better."

As Aurora stood there, her body trembling with fear and her spirit crushed, Thomas's anger seemed to escalate. In a fit of rage, he lunged forward and grabbed her wrist with a harsh grip, his fingers digging into her delicate skin. A sharp cry escaped Aurora's lips as pain shot through her arm.

"You'll do better! It's too late for that now, don't you think?" Thomas sneered, his words dripping with disdain. "The deal is off, and it's all because of you."

"Y-you're s-squeezing t-too tight," she managed to stutter through her tears, her voice filled with agony.

But Thomas paid no heed to her plea. He maintained his grip, his eyes cold and unyielding. The pain radiating from her wrist intensified, causing Aurora to wince and tears to stream down her face.

"Y-you're h-hurting me, U-Uncle T-Thomas," she choked out, her voice a mix of pain and desperation.

Thomas's grip only tightened further, a cruel smirk spreading across his face. He reveled in the power he had over her, relishing in the sight of her vulnerability and pain. His voice dripped with malice as he leaned in closer, his words a venomous whisper.

"Your tears mean nothing to me," he sneered. "You're nothing but a burden, a weakling. This is your place, to be controlled and hurt. Remember that."

Aurora's heart shattered into a million pieces as she felt the weight of her uncle's cruelty bearing down on her. The pain in her wrist intensified with every passing moment, the torment of his grip symbolic of the emotional and physical abuse she had endured for far too long.

Through her tears and anguish, a spark of defiance ignited within Aurora. She knew she couldn't continue living in this cycle of fear and pain. Summoning every ounce of strength she had left, she mustered the courage to speak up, despite her trembling voice.

"P-please, U-Uncle T-Thomas," she whimpered, her voice quivering with both fear and determination. "L-let me go. Y-you can't t-treat me like this."

"I'll treat you as I see fit. You deserve the pain I give. Do you have any idea of the cost of the glasses you broke today? They're worth more than your insignificant existence."

"I ..did-didn't-didn't do- any-anything, it was San-Sandra"

"How dare you have the audacity to place the blame on my daughter for your own clumsiness?" Thomas exclaimed angrily.

"B-but..." Before she could finish her sentence, Thomas raised his hand, silencing her.

"No excuses! Now," he said in a chillingly composed manner. "What do you have to say for yourself?" William demanded, his voice infused with a potent blend of anger and contempt.

"I-I'll t-try harder," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I-I d-don't w-want to c-cause any m-more t-trouble." Aurora said, her gaze fixed on the ground.

He relased her wrist, his grip leaving behind red marks as a painful reminder of his assault.

As Thomas finally released his vice-like grip on her wrist, a momentary reprieve washed over her. However, before she could fully grasp my fleeting sense of relief, Sandra came storming into the room, her face contorted with rage. Her presence alone sent a shiver of apprehension down her spine, and she braced myself for another onslaught of her fury.

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