"And what does that have to do with anything? You had a family, he had his. Why couldn't you both forget about whatever fling you had in the past?" Cecilia swallowed. "You of all people should know how addictive the emotion of love Is." Aurora looked away. "The night I had a one-night stand with your father, I had an argument with Williams. That was why I made such a reckless move and, not to offend you, I do regret it but there's an advantage to every disadvantage. Your father found out about my relationship with Williams and with them both being sworn enemies and with me also carrying his child, he forced me into marriage. I was heartbroken, Williams was bitter. We both thought we could do without each other but years passed and the feelings never faded, they only heightened. We began seeing each other again and unfortunately, I got pregnant." "Unfortunately," Aurora shook her head in disgust. "You may disagree but it would have been better for Ezekiel never to h
Aurora watched her mother cry. She still found it hard to believe all that she was saying. Once bitten, twice shy. "Williams told me if I didn't do it, he would have his men do it. The attack at the house was a distraction. I made him eat a peppery food that he hated the night before so that morning, he was running a high fever and he couldn't make it to school. I..." she bowed her head, "Patrick never suspected me again after that incident and everything returned to normal but I wasn't normal. Do you think I never felt guilty for once?" Cecilia raised her head to look at her. "If you did, it never showed." "That's why I became so hard on you!" Cecilia exclaimed, "that's why I was always so strict and harsh. That's why when I found out you were secretly seeing Sebastian, I went all haywire. I was scared. I was scared that history would repeat itself. I was scared that Ezekiel's sacrifice would be in vain. It wasn't because I hated him, I loved Sebastian like my own son." Aurora
"Let's have your stomach filled up in no time," Sebastian said, smiling widely when she got into his rented car just outside the station. She looked him over; his clean carefully pressed clothes, untainted sneakers, neatly combed hair, and beaming face. His eyes... They shone brightly at her but after what her mother had told her about him, she could see the caution in them, the hesitation, the loneliness. She reached out and pressed a soft kiss to his forehead. "Let's take a walk to the park instead and you'll tell me all about your childhood and what growing up was like," she suggested, holding onto his hand. He blinked. "Sure. Whatever you want." Parking the car, they began the short trek to the park and as they walked, he told her of his lonely days as a child, the mother he never knew, the woman that took care of him for a short period and who he never saw again, the pain and fear his father instilled in him, the people he saw die, his suicidal thoughts and the girl that bro
"What?" Aurora blurted out but Nadia had cut the call already. She stared at the phone, blinking rapidly. She looked at the dining room with its door half closed and back at her phone. Something snapped and she was suddenly rushing into the dining room. "I'm sorry, I have to go," she said hastily, picking up her bag. "Why? What happened?" Sebastian inquired, getting to his feet. She began to rush out then she stopped, looked frantically around then raced out of the room. Sebastian followed after her, muttering quick apologies to the symphony family. "Aurora!" Sebastian called out, rushing out of the home. She was about to board a cab. She vanished into the back seat of the cab and it sped off. He could only grunt in annoyance and follow after her in his car. The cab was headed for the station, he noticed after some minutes of driving. He jumped out of his car when they arrived and hurried into the station before Aurora could get out. Detective Nadia was waiting. Several officers mi
"He went after you yesterday. Didn't you see him?" Rose answered when she asked about Sebastian's whereabouts. Aurora's entire body trembled in fear. "No, I mean yes, I saw him but I left him later at night and returned to the hotel alone but he hasn't returned and... I'm so worried." Aurora got to her feet, her limbs shaking terribly. The only thought that came to her mind was that he was in danger. Someone had killed her mother, what if they went after him too? The thought terrified her and she began to cry. "Have you tried his number? Of course, you have tried his number. What do you..." "I'll give you a call later, ma'am," Aurora said quickly and cut the call then she rushed out of the hotel. * "Aurora," Detective Nadia called in surprise when she appeared in her office. "Detective Nadia, I am so sorry to bother you but Sebastian is missing, my fiance. He hasn't returned to the hotel since the previous night, his phone is switched off and he isn't in any place I know," she
A black jeep parked haphazardly by the roadside. Rose and Gwen jumped down from it and hurried to her."Where's Sebastian?" Gwen demanded at once. Aurora, with her tear-stricken face, gestured to the bloody grasses."I found this," she told them.Gwen and Rose stared at it."And?" Rose demanded, "what does this have to do with Sebastian?""He was here!" Aurora cried, "this is his blood!""How do you know that?" Rose asked calmly, seeing her agitated state."I left him here last night. His car is still parked at the morgue entrance and I found his car key right here. He is in danger, we have to help him," she answered in tears.Rose stared at the car key in her hand."I did see a car that resembles his rented one while driving here," she muttered then looked up with a determined expression, "come on, we have to report this to the station."*"What!?"Gwen and Rose looked at Aurora at the same time."Your mother was murdered? Why didn't you say anything!?""Be calm, Gwen. She is carryin
"Hey," Sebastian greeted with a smile when she entered his hospital room and took a seat."Seems like we all have a thing for hospital rooms," she joked, smiling wryly."How have you been?"He was up in a sitting position. His hand reached out and touched her face gently."I feel like I've been through hell and back. I feel like I died and I am struggling to come back to life."His thumb stroked her chin."Relax," he said gently, "take a deep breath and relax."She did so. Shutting her eyes, she breathed in deeply and released it slowly."Better?"She nodded, relaxing into his touch."Where were you?" she asked quietly, opening her eyes, "this is the third day."His eyes widened. "Third day?""You didn't know? Do you know where you were? What happened? Did you have an accident?"He chuckled. "Yes. I was hit by a car. My father saved me.""Your father?" She blurted out in shock.He laughed lightly. "I was just as surprised as you are now. He faked his death because of y... well, he lie
"Hey," Aurora said casually after picking up the call. "Hey, how are you doing?" His voice came through, ever still the same. "Fine," she answered casually, "I've missed you." He was silent then he sighed. "I've missed you too." "Are you okay? How have you been?" She clicked on the speaker icon. "I thought I was fine," he said slowly, "having a baby and all. She duped me." "What?" "She was never pregnant. She raided me. My car, money, valuables... Everything is gone." Aurora blinked. "I'm so sorry, that is..." she was at a loss for words. "I was foolish, I know, you don't have to say it and I know you must feel like I'm a bad friend. I'm only reaching out now because I've lost everything." "No, do not say that," she replied quickly, "I'm glad you thought of reaching out to me first, it means a lot." "I am scared of meeting Sebastian. He warned me, he told me to tread carefully but I didn't listen." Aurora looked at Sebastian who smiled lightly. "Can I come over?" Zik que