Michael POV:I left the house to the care of Mrs. Changretta and got started with my plan for the day. I headed to the Precinct. it was the one I had spent close to 24 hours the day before, it felt awkward going back there but some things had to be done. I pulled up in front of the police station and walked in. As expected they paused what they were all doing and stared at me briefly, all of them bemused to see me and wondered what I could want. I saw Officer Mark, I felt a surge of rage, but did my best to put it in check. I needed to be as level-headed as I possibly could. I walked towards him, and they all stopped and watched what I was going to do. I dramatically approached him. "What do you want" He said confidently and Arogantly"I need your help," I said He stared at me blankly, trying to read my expression to see if I was trying to mess with him or not. "Why on earth would I want to help you""Because it's your job" He doesn't seem to be buying that.I sighed heavily"
Aurora POV:I packed my gear and headed home. On my way home, it was still running a course in my mind, I hoped I wasn't hard on him. Well, it is very awkward, being crushed on by someone you have thought about in that light, there was no manual to letting them down slowly without hurting their feelings, but doing so only makes their fingers lingers on, which makes it harder on them and more akward for you. The only way to help them get over it is to reject them ruthlessly, it's like stepping on a worm firmly so it doesn't squirm. That's what I will do crush his heart so the feelings die painlessly.I caught myself thinking, I wasn't any different from Mr. Angelo afterall, bold of me to assume I was any better than him. Perhaps that was what he thought, when he ruthlessly reject me too. No! I'm different from him, I was trying to help someone get over me, he is nothing short of a vile human being. "Aurora, what's wrong with you, you look pale" My mom said the minute I walked."I'm f
Aurora POV:I must admit, It was great to be back at work. It was an underrated bliss to work at a job, you find so much peace of mind with. The atmosphere around the work today was a bit strange, not ill strange just strange. Probably because of the new faces I kept seeing or the series of new activities. How could I have missed so much in two days?I was staring at my computer as I went through my daily routines. I took a glance at the clothes arranged on top of each other on the desk beside the computer and the box of pieces of jewelry right on top of it. It was every single one of the clothes Mr. Jordan had bought for me, including the ones I had worn from the hospital. It was never a debate nor did it for once cross my mind if I should keep it. I did love them, they looked beautiful and befitting but they weren't mine to keep. I cease to exist the day I ever shamelessly hoard someone else's clothes. I had been waiting for Mr. Jordan, but I have reasons to believe he has been av
Aurora POV:I was so confused, that I couldn't place a finger on why the sudden change was, was it guilt? Nothing else, it had to be guilt. He had nothing to hide, what could be so hideous about his marriage breaking apart, he had to be so cold about it. Unless, of course, he did have something to hide, he did assault his wife. Perhaps, what Mr. Angelo said was true. He acts all nice because has something to hide, he is nice because deep down he is a bad man. Now, I have a decision to make, either I quit the job or ignore the fact he was a woman beater. It would be hypocritical of me to continue working for him. I will have to quit, there's no going back. I will have to quit!I didn't particularly have a straight moral compass nor act upon one, but I can never look at him the same way knowing what he did, beating the woman who had a child for him. I can't look at him the same way. I would see every nice gesture from him as pretense and him as a faker, it would only grow worse with tim
Aurora POV:I stared at him, he looked like a wet puppy.I felt sorry, I felt so sorry for him. I felt even worse for making him talk about it, I made him open a healing wound."Why did you allow her to get away with it?""I was scared" he replied."Scared? Scared of what?" I asked "I didn't want the whole town to know I was a victim of paternity fraud, I didn't know how they would react to it. Would they pity me or would they make a mockery of me, the first was as bad as the other. I would never be gazed upon with respect again, instead, I would be seen as the man jilted by his lover" "You were willing to lose your money" "I wasn't thinking about the money that time, I just lost my whole world. She was the reason I was so hell-bent on making more money to make her happy." The gaze in his eyes told me all I needed to know. He meant every word he said. "Besides, since she left I've made more money than I could ever imagine" "Did you hate her?" I asked curious "I still loved her,
Micheal POV:Officer Mark and I sat in the car waiting. "Is that her?" he asked pointing to a dark Sedan that just parked in front of a house. "Yeah, it is" I replied.He motioned to get out of the car, and I quickly held him back. Wait! You would scare her off" He eased back to his sitting position, We watched the woman get out of her car, she walked to the back of her and picked up a couple of groceries from the trunk before heading to the house.He motioned to get out of the car again, I held him back again. "Wait, let's give her five more minutes to settle down""Where Is her picture," he asked "I reached for a photograph in my dashboard and handed it to him.We waited patiently in the car, with a comfortable silence. I had obtained the CCTV camera from the motel, but it was very blurry. It was against law to have a camera to have a camera in the motel room so I had to settle for that in the receptionist. Whoever suggested the motel between the two of them knew. Either Aurora's
Aurora POV:He entered my office for the umpteenth time today. "Apollos told me he was done" "Yes sir.""Great, it should be safe from any external attack, It should be fortified from any Malware." He said with a grin. I nodded."Aurora" he called softly "Yes sir" "Could you help me out with something?" He asked"Of course sir, I certainly will" "Do you have plans for tonight?""Not, the forecast predicted first snow tonight, I was hoping to wrap under a blanket""May I borrow you again, I need you to come over to my house?" I raised my brow."May I know why?""My parents and families are coming back, We usually have a little dinner together every year. They often come this time of the year but they are back earlier than usual. I didn't know it would be tonight. We usually have a little dinner""So, how may I help you with that boss?" I asked curiously"I need you to accompany me or better still come over to my place," He said "Can you?" He askedIt doesn't seem like a bad arra
Michael POV:I had already called Cal ahead of my impromptu visit, he sounded confused over the phone so I simply hung up and waited till we met in person. He was already outside waiting for me, I could see the surprise on his face when Mark came out through the passenger door. "You both are together and not fighting""He is helping me solve a case" "Yeah I figured, how did you both find a common ground""As much as I want to satisfy your curiosity, I rather have an urgent matter to attend to Cal" He could see the seriousness on my face and figured out I wasn't in the mood for jokes."What did you want?" He asked "I want the whole CCTV footage of that night" "Why, I thought they found all they needed to already""Not yet, that's why I need to see it for myself" "I no longer have it""What do you mean you no longer have it" I asked wide-eyed "I deleted it" "Why, why would you do it" "Leo, he implored me to""Leo fucking Jordan asked you to delete it and you did. Are you spast
Epilogue Aurora POV:The warm sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a soft golden glow on the bedroom walls. I lay in bed, feeling the gentle rhythm of my husband's breathing beside me. It had been a long and arduous journey for us, but today was a day of happiness—a day to cherish the love and resilience that had brought us together.I watched him for a long time, I enjoyed watching him sleep. there was something particularly soothing about watching him sleep.As I stretched my arms above my head, my eyes fell upon the photograph on the nightstand. It captured a moment frozen in time, our wedding day. We got married on a beach in Oregon. It was the most beautiful day of my life. Michael's eyes were filled with unwavering devotion, and I couldn't help but smile at the memory. The vows we exchanged that day held the promise of a lifetime of shared dreams and unbreakable bonds.We had toured the world like he had promised leaving with beautiful memories everywhere we we
Michael POV:As I stood before the graves of my parents and Beatrice, a mix of emotions washed over me. It was the first time I had brought anyone to this sacred place. I watched as she knelt down, her face solemn and filled with respect, paying her respects to the departed souls who had unwilling been absent to shape my life."Who are they?" She askedI was yet to tell her whom they are and name on the graves gave no clues to whom they were. "The first two are my parents and the third is my elder sister" She looked taken aback"I thought you never knew them""I was lucky to find out, with some help of some friends. I wanted you to meet them too"She nodded, her eyes filled with awe. Aurora's voice trembled slightly as she spoke, her words carrying a weight of sincerity and determination. "I promise you, dear parents and sister, that I will take care of Michael. I will be there for him, just as you were. I will cherish him, support him, and love him with all my heart. You have left
Michael POV: The town recieve the news about Calhoun with mixed feelings. The next few days was spent uprooting every corrupt official on Calhoun payroll and his drug warehouse was ruthlessly shut down. It was finally Mark's funeral, I had dreaded this day because of the effects I knew it would have on me.I stood there, my heart heavy with sorrow, as I gazed upon the somber scene before me. The room was filled with mournful whispers and tear-streaked faces, each one reflecting the immense loss we all felt. "Today, we gathered to bid farewell to a dear friend, a courageous soul who had given his life in the line of duty. He was a cop, a protector of the innocent, and his untimely death"The eulogies began, each one a testament to his character and the impact he had made on countless lives. His family, friends, and fellow officers all shared their stories, their voices trembling with a mix of grief and admiration. They spoke of his courage, his selflessness, and his unwavering deter
Aurora POV: It's been days since my search and rescue. I never imagined that freedom could feel so overwhelming. After enduring the horrors of being kidnapped and held captive, the sweet taste of liberation should have been pure bliss. Yet, as I cautiously navigate this newfound freedom, it feels as though the world around me is still holding its breath, afraid to disturb the fragile existence I've fought so hard to regain.The news of my rescue spread like wildfire, and people showered me with words of relief and gratitude. They embraced me with tender hugs, their eyes brimming with tears of joy. But beneath their smiles, I sensed a subtle unease, an unspoken fear of shattering my fragile state of recovery. It's as if they see me as a porcelain doll, easily broken with a single misplaced step.Every interaction now feels calculated, as if everyone around me is walking on tiptoes, afraid to say or do anything that might trigger painful memories or send me spiraling back into the dark
Aurora POV:I stepped into the familiar warmth of Michael's house. He came back to pick me up the next morning after spending considerable time with my mother. He had insisted on staying with him for the time being and my mother was only happy to agree. It is a mix of relief and apprehension flooding my senses. The events of the past few days had been a nightmare, one that had finally released its grip on me. I glanced around, taking in the comforting sights of our living room, but the shadows of the ordeal still lingered in every corner.Michael stood beside me, his eyes filled with a mix of worry, love, and a determination to keep me safe. I understood his concerns; after all, I had been taken away from him against my will. But as much as I craved his protective presence, I also longed for a sense of normalcy and the freedom to heal at my own pace.Michael furry companions who seems to have been waiting anxiously for my return, approached cautiously, sniffing the air with curiosity
Michael POV:As I walked Mr. Eyre and Jane to the airport, the weight of sadness enveloped us, casting a somber atmosphere over our conversation. The news of Calhoun, being responsible for his daughter's death had left us both of them speechless and devastated.Jane walked in front while Mr. Eyre and I walked behind her."I can't believe it, Michael," Mr. Eyre whispered, his voice trembling with disbelief and pain. "How could someone commit such a heinous act? I can't wrap my mind around it."His words echoed the thoughts that swirled in my own mind. I struggled to find an answer, my voice choked with emotions. "I don't know, Mr. Eyre," I managed to say, my voice laced with sorrow. "We continued walking through the airport, the surroundings a blur as our conversation grew heavier with regret and guilt."I blame myself, Mr. Eyre " I confessed, "I can't help but wonder if there were signs I missed, if I could have protected her somehow. And to think I have wined and dined with her kill
Aurora POV:I stood there, watching the flames dance and devour the remnants of the cloth I had worn during my unimaginable ordeal. The crackling fire illuminated the night, casting a warm glow upon my face as i gathered around its flickering embrace. The crackling of the flames seemed to echo the tumultuous journey I had endured, a journey that had tested my spirit to its very limits."Aurora" My mother called, I turned to see her creeping on me. I saw glint of sadness in her eyes, when she saw what I was burning. What was suppose to represent a joyous day, now represents a traumatizing experience, it's existence needed to be erased."Libby and Mabel are here to see you. Should they wait for you in the Living room""Let them join me in the backyard" I replied softly "Ok dear" I heard their footsteps few seconds later, before Libby reached out and gently touched my shoulder. "We came as soon as your mother called you are back" Her voice trembled with emotion as she spoke, "We miss
Michael POV:"Are you okay, Aurora? I'm here now, everything is fine now" I held her tightly like someone would try to steal her from my hand againHer tear glands finally gave in to the waterworks. "I was so scared" she said choking on her own words. "I thought I was not going to see you again""Then I had Mark died in my arms, I watched him died, life sucking out of him slowly. Then I had to stare at his dead body for hours""You are fine now"I patted and rocked her body like one would a baby. It felt soothing to have her in my arms again. My heart races in my chest, adrenaline still coursing through my veins as I hold her tightly in my arms. We've just escaped from the clutches of danger, and the relief surges through me like a tidal wave. I can feel her trembling against me, her breath coming in short gasps, and I know she's just as shaken as I am. As I look into her eyes, gratitude and love swirl in the depths of my being. The thought of losing her, of never seeing that radian
Aurora POV: I sat resting on the wall while staring into the oblivion. I sit here, trapped in this cold, desolate room, my spirit drained and my body weary. The flickering overhead light casts eerie shadows on the peeling walls, reflecting the dismal state of my existence. My mind is numb, and my once fiery gaze has dulled into a vacant stare.Hope, once a flickering flame within me, has been extinguished. Not the long for my mother's smile and Michael touch could rekindle the hope. It has been replaced by a resignation, a surrender to the cruel fate that has befallen me. The days and nights blend together, a blur of monotony and fear. I have lost track of time, as each passing moment feels like an eternity.Calhoun intentions are unclear, his motives shrouded in darkness. If he wanted to kill me he should have already. All I know is that he holds complete control over my life, and I am at his mercy. The uncertainty gnaws at me, devouring any remnants of strength I have left. I wonde