[Chapter 3
Aurora had no interest in engaging with Scarlet’s petty provocations. She turned to leave without a
word.
But Scarlet, frowning at her attempt to escape, suddenly caught sight of a familiar silhouette approaching from the corridor.
A thought flickered through her mind–then she grabbed Aurora’s wrist and yanked her down into
the fountain with her.
Neither of them could swim.
The water churned as they thrashed and flailed, screaming for help.
Aurora’s wounds reopened in an instant, blood blossoming in the pool around her like a spreading
stain.
Cold water rushed into her nose and mouth, making her choke violently. Pain shot through every
nerve in her body.
She had no strength left to fight.
Her limbs gave out, and her body began to sink.
Just as consciousness started slipping away, she saw Sterling sprint toward the fountain–and leap
- in.
But he swam right past her.
He didn’t so much as glance in her direction. He went straight for Scarlet, lifting her out of the
water and carrying her to the edge.
Scarlet, drenched and trembling, collapsed into his arms with teary eyes. Then she cast a sidelong glance at Aurora, still submerged, and put on a show of sudden worry.
“Aurora didn’t mean to push me… It was an accident. You know she’s my only sister, Sterling. Please, just help her–pull her out too, will you?”
Sterling’s gaze turned to ice. He looked down at the girl floundering in the water, face pale and
bloodied.
“Scarlet, stop defending her. She obviously did it on purpose–tried to kill you, and then jumped in after you to play the victim. She’s still using the same pathetic tricks. Maybe it’s time she stays
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down there and reflects on what she’s become.”
His words cut like knives.
Each syllable pierced Aurora’s heart with devastating clarity.
Her face had turned purple from lack of air. Her ears were ringing. Her strength was completely
gone.
Her vision blurred, the world around her dimming as her body sank.
The last thing she saw was Sterling cradling Scarlet in his arms… walking away without a backward
glance.
Then everything went black.
She didn’t know how long had passed when a chill wind brought her back to consciousness.
Shivering, she blinked herself awake–only to find her parents standing in front of her, faces twisted with fury.
“You must be out of your damn mind!” her mother spat. “How dare you push Scarlet into the water? Were you trying to kill her so you could take her place? Be with Sterling?”
“You’ll never match your sister. You don’t deserve Sterling–stop dreaming.”
Their accusations cut through her like jagged glass, filling her veins with icy despair.
And just like that, all the pain she’d buried deep inside for years burst free.
“So I’m not worthy–but she is?” Aurora’s voice trembled with fury. “If it weren’t for your lies, Sterling would’ve never spared her a glance. You handed her everything that should’ve been mine -how shameless can you be?”
Her mother’s face flushed red with rage. Her father, livid, raised his hand and slapped her hard
across the face.
“You ungrateful brat! We’re your parents! Your life–everything you have–came from us. If we want to take it back and give it to your sister, we can! Who are you to object?”
“And if you ever dare speak the truth again, we’ll–”
The door slammed open.
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Sterling stood in the doorway, his expression dark and unreadable.
“What truth?”
The room fell silent.
Aurora’s parents stiffened, startled by his sudden appearance. Her father stammered, scrambling
for a cover story.
“We were just, uh… disciplining this disobedient girl. Trying to get her to confess the truth–why
she pushed Scarlet into the water.”
“Yes, exactly,” her mother chimed in, forcing a strained smile. “She still refuses to admit it. Your
aunt and I are beside ourselves with worry. We just don’t know how to punish her anymore…”
They exchanged a quick glance, silently agreeing to spin the story.
Sterling didn’t question them.
He turned to Aurora, his eyes colder than steel.
“If she still won’t confess,” he said flatly, “then lock her in the morgue. She can come out when she realizes what she did wrong.
Aurora’s parents lit up at the suggestion. “That’s a great idea!” her mother said quickly. “We’ll
have the guards take her now.”
Without resisting, Aurora let them drag her away, one hand pressed to the cheek her father had
slapped.
There was no fight left in her. She already knew–resistance only led to worse punishments.
They tossed her into the morgue and locked the door behind her.
She curled into herself, shivering uncontrollably as the cold crept into her bones.
The place reeked of antiseptic and death. The air was thick and stale.
She hugged herself tightly, trying to keep the cold out, trying to stay conscious.
Her mind drifted.
She thought of the nights long ago at the Blackwood estate–stormy nights when she and Sterling
huddled together for warmth.
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He would take off his coat and wrap it around her. He would hold her hand tightly in his. He would whisper, again and again, “I’m here. Don’t be afraid.”
That boy no longer existed.
The memories, once sweet, now tore at her like claws.
Time dragged on, second by second. Hunger gnawed at her belly, cold dulled her senses.
She didn’t know how much longer she could stay awake.
Then, finally–the door creaked open.
Sterling stepped inside, his face expressionless, eyes sharp as a blade.
“You’ve been in here a day and a night. Do you admit your mistake now?”
“I do,” Aurora rasped, her voice hoarse and broken. “It was all my fault.”
Satisfied, he gave a small nod and turned to leave.
Aurora struggled to her feet, barely able to stand. She staggered after him, whispering to herself.
My mistake… was believing your promise.
My mistake… was loving you at all.
Chapter 3
