The HOSPITAL – LATE NIGHT – AURORA’S PRIVATE WARD FLOORThe corridors were unusually quiet. The air was thick with disinfectant. It was so cold, quiet and good for crime.Red Blackwood moved gracefully, with a smug face- as she exited Aurora’s ward. She had just finished checking in on the sleeping girl and was heading down the hall when she heard hushed voices in the doctor’s room across the corridor.She paused and peeped into the room but she couldn't hear it.Inside, Fiona stood too close to Dr. Arnold, her tone sugary, but her words anything but sweet.“…I’m just saying,” Fiona whispered, pushing a small velvet pouch across the table. “You said she hasn’t regained consciousness because the infection’s spreading. We both know where that leads.”Dr. Arnold looked down at the pouch, expression tense.“Mrs. Fiona Grey, that's a very serious course of action. I am a Doctor not an assassin."She leaned forward, eyes sharp. “You just have to say her broken leg got infected from the wat
HOSPITAL ROOM – ORLA AND FIONAOrla lay on the hospital bed, a tissue pressed to her nose, sniffling softly. Her eyes were red and puffy, her pride more bruised than her body. She kept tossing in the bed, while cursing out Aurora.The door opened and Fiona stepped in, heels clicking sharply against the floor. The moment she saw her daughter lying there, her expression softened.“My baby girl,” she said, rushing to her side.“Mummy…” Orla cried, spreading out her hands wide. “She pushed me…mummy.”Fiona pulled her into a gentle hug, stroking her back.“It’s alright. I’m here now. She’s going to pay for this, I swear,” she murmured, holding her close. “No one gets to hurt my baby like this.”Orla hiccupped, wiping her face and running nose. “That’s not even the worst part.”Fiona leaned back, concerned. “What happened?”“My hair…” Orla sniffed again, her mouth pouting like a baby. “My extensions fell off in the water. People saw. They were laughing, mum. Laughing. You know I’ve always t
RYLAN’S POVI was very worried, my vision getting blurry as I ran into the main mansion carrying Aurora. I kicked the door open furiously and carried Aurora straight to the bed, my chest rising and falling from panic.She wasn’t moving.She hadn’t opened her eyes once, since they pulled her from that freezing pool water.“Aurora..hey..stay with me,” I whispered, lowering her gently onto the mattress.Her skin was cold. Too cold like she was brought out of a freezer.“Doc!” I barked, and Dr. Arnold rushed over without a word, already pulling on his stethoscope and opening his bag. Asher stood to the side, silent for once, and Red sat in the corner like a ghost, wringing her hands, her face unreadable.“Pulse is weak,” the doctor muttered, frowning as he checked her vitals. “Skin is pale. Breathing shallow. She’s in mild hypothermic shock.”I moved closer. “Why hasn’t she woken up?”The doctor didn’t look at me. He was too focused on her. “Her body’s conserving energy. She must’ve gone
RYLAN’S POVI slammed the door behind me, the loud thud echoing through the hallway like a gunshot. The maids at the main house scamper for safety.“Good morning Sir!!” One of them said, the way they reacted like I was a scary monster. I went upstairs and knocked on Red's room, but no response so I opened the door, shutting it behind me after making sure no one was in the hallway."Aunt Red!" My voice sliced through the room, "Where are you?"She appeared from the study, wrapped in one of her silk shawls, her expression unreadable as always.Immediately she saw me and she lightened up, "Rylan," she said with a sweet smile as always. A minute ago she wasn't happy. Once she saw me, she became happy. I guess I was really everything to her. "you could have called my baby.”"I have something important to ask you." I snapped, walking right up to her. "Tell me the truth.A flicker of annoyance passed through her face, but she masked it fast."It was your mom of course," she said smoothly.
“My sis here, she’s a weakling!” Orla says with a mocking grin, turning toward her friends. “I can swear she would never do that. This is the same girl that cried over a stray cat dying. She doesn’t have the courage to slap anyone—talk less of beating someone and covering their face. Never. Not Aurora.”She and the girls burst into laughter. Loud and high-pitched, like a chorus of mean girls on stage.Let them keep thinking I’m harmless. Sometimes, that image of me in the Grey house is more useful than a raised voice.Still, a bitter taste builds in my mouth. My throat tightens, but I don’t give them the satisfaction of seeing it.I turn on my heel.“Excuse me,” I say simply, walking away.The moment I step forward, I feel something shift beneath me. My heel catches it….One of the girls had stretched her leg out, perfectly timed and completely deliberate. But I don't know who it was but it was a silver heel. My ankle twists.Everything happened so fast.My arms flail, grasping for
AURORA POV When we arrived at the Blackwood mansion, I felt very uneasy. No matter how many times I come here, something about this place makes my stomach twist. Maybe it's the silence behind the wealth. Or maybe it's the people. Or everything about this mansion wasn't right. It was like I shouldn't be here. The front courtyard is busy, decorated subtly with lanterns and fancy light on the flower hedges, glowing. I spot one of the staff waiting by the door. It's the butcher, but tonight he’s dressed neatly in a formal black suit. His usual apron is nowhere in sight, but his familiar grin remains. “Hello, Mrs. Aurora,” he greets me with a warmth that catches me off guard. “Welcome to the family.” I blink for a moment, surprised, then offer a soft nod. “Thank you.” “I am Mr Halden, May I take you to the guest corner?” he asks politely, gesturing ahead with a slight bow. “Yes, thank you,” I replied. He takes the gift box from my hands, tucks it under his arm carefully, and p