02:

-AURORA WRIGHT-

My eyes grew wide and lips pat open as a wave of shock hit me.

Right there on our matrimonial bed laid my husband- Ethan, and my best friend- Ravenna.

I couldn't decipher the expression on their faces. They probably don't seem bothered at all.

“You brat, how dare you go against my orders?” My mother-in-law snarled and I only blinked out the tears that had circled my eyes.

“What is go-going on here?” I asked in a cracked voice.

Ethan didn't respond but only got off the bed and moved closer to me with Ravenna standing behind him with a devil's smirk plastered on her face.

“I asked you a question, Ethan, what the hell is going on here?” I found myself yelling and before I know it, A tight slap landed on my cheek.

It's my mother-in-law.

“How dare you question the Slade family, you brat?”

I fold my lips in, enduring the pain from the slap and the ache I feel in my chest from being hurt.

I looked at Ethan, my eyes sending him thousands of questions I didn't dare to ask.

“Listen Aurora, are you just being naive or you really are a fool to not read the handwriting on the wall or you want me to spell it out for you?..” He paused, took a step closer and pulled Ravenna close as if to send a message.

“Fine, then listen. You have always been a burden to me and my family. You are fat and it irritates me because you do not fit into the standards of the Slade family. I have never loved you, and this marriage…has been a thorn in my flesh..”

All I did was stare at him. Those words.. I never thought I would hear him say something as despicable as that.

“Hear this Aurora and get this into your thick skull, you are a big fat burden to me and I wish you can just die like your father”

My eyes twitched and I felt a deep cut in my heart. It felt as if I'm being pierced with a sharp knife.

His words are strong enough to cut me deep.

“Ethan.. How could you..”

“I never wanted this marriage anyways, our parents fixed this and there was nothing I could do. I hated the sight of you but the money and your father's share of the company is what mattered to me. I needed that to become extra rich and you were just the perfect bait..”

I blinked and he continued.

“Ravenna is the woman I love and you have always been an obstacle to us”

My eyes darted go Ravenna and she stuck out her tongue at me and then smirked.

“What do you think Ethan? Don't you think it's time let her off the cliff like we have always wanted?”

My brows furrowed as I tried to understand Ravenna's words.

“What do you mean by that?” I asked, looking at the ones who have just betrayed me.

My mother-in-law, best friend and my husband.

“We have always wanted to kill you, just like your pathetic old father. So foolish of him not to realize his medication was switched..”

My lips quivered at what I just heard.

“You.. you killed my father?” I asked, biting my lower lips as tears streamed down my face.

Now, that's the thing with me.. Too weak to retaliate. I just let others bully me and then go freely. I wish I have the guts to just do something.. but, what am I to do? I am nothing now to the Slade family.

“And now, you'll die and I'll get to leave my life with Ravenna peacefully. Just die Aurora…”

Before I knew it, I was pushed with a great force by my mother-in-law.

In the process, I hit my head on the edge of the bed and fell flat on the floor, becoming weak.

My eyes were slightly open and oh.. those smirk in their faces. It's just like they have always wanted to do this and now is the perfect time.

A smoke was thrown in by Ethan while they left the room.

In no time, the room was filled with smoke and I began to cough as my immune system got weaker and weaker.

I am asthmatic and anything that has to do with smoke can worsen my condition.

I kept gasping for air and to make matters worse, my inhaler was in my bag in the living room. I am totally helpless.

Slowly, I struggled and pushed myself to the door and began to hit on it with all the strength in me.

“Please.. open up. Get me out of here”

Even I can barely hear myself. If I stay here longer, I'll suffocate to death.

“Die Aurora.. just die. You are of no use, so just die and stop being a big fat burden” I heard Ethan say and then laughters.

I stopped hitting the door and fell back to the floor. I am slowly dying.. I can feel it.

Ethan has never showed me any form of affection right from when we were kids and up till this very moment. He was just an ordinary guy, following the decisions our parents made and I liked him for that, regardless.

Maybe that was the crime I committed. Or, better still, my crime is for being so fat and robust and almost looking 40 at the age of 23.

That probably is my crime.

But, why does it have to be now? Why does he have to say it now and embarrass me more?. I hate myself more for being a plus size.

If I was slender and had the type of body Ravenna has, he probably wouldn't hate me so much.

All I ever did was try to be a good wife and this is how I get repaid? My father had to die because of their greed?

I have endured countless mistreatment for so long.. treated like a slave with no atom of value and this is how it ends? I get killed by my own husband.

My father had to pay the price too.

Anger, pain and resentment towards the Slade family rose inside of me. If there's a way I can make them pay for causing me this much pain.

If only I can fight back and wiped off those devil's smirk on their faces. If only…I have the courage to do so.

If only there's a second chance at life..But, this isn't a fantasy world where such things happen.

I'm dying anyways and they probably would throw my corpse into a refuse dump.

With a single tear and a final gasp, my body grew numb and my eyes close shut on their own. Darkness overwhelmed me and I'm aware of the fact that I've become a corpse and nothing else.