loving you was a mistake

I locked myself in the guest room, my tears soaking into the pillow. My whole body trembled. I couldn't breathe. Couldn't think. Couldn't exist in the same space as him.

So I did the only thing I could. I called the one man who could save me from this madness.

"Daddy …" my voice cracked. Aurora? What's wrong? "Come get me. "Where are you?"

"Mark's house."

There was a pause. Then the calm turned cold. "I'm on my way. With Gianna. Don't move."An hour later, the deafening sound of engines roared through the estate. Mark's eyes widened as multiple blacked-out SUVs pulled into the driveway. Armed men stepped out like shadows. Then came William Riverson, my father and Gianna, composed as ever beside him.

"What the hell is this?" Mark barked, stepping outside."Step aside, Mark," William said, steel in his voice. "I'm here for my daughter."

"She's my wife! "And you destroyed her."

Mark's guards moved forward. William's men responded instantly. Guns were drawn. Tension electrified the air.

"No one is taking Aurora from me!" Mark shouted. "No one is leaving until my daughter is safe!" William snapped back.Suddenly, a scream pierced through the tension.

"STOP!"

I ran out, barefoot, in the same shirt I had worn earlier. "STOP OR I SWEAR I'LL KILL MYSELF!" Everyone froze. Mark turned, face pale. "Aurora…"

I looked around at the madness. The chaos. The men pointing weapons at each other. All because of me."You all think I can survive another minute in this house? With this man?" I shouted. "He killed Jake!"

"I didn't kill him, Aurora—"

"You had a hand in it!" I cried. "And that's enough." Mark sank to his knees."Please… Don't go. Please, don't leave me like this."

I took one long look at him broken, begging and walked into Gianna's arms. "I'm not taking a damn thing," I said when she asked if I needed my bags. "Nothing? "Nothing. I don't want a single reminder of him. Not even a pair of shoes." I got into the car. Mark didn't try to stop me again.

His guards stepped back. William gave him one final glare before entering the vehicle behind me. As the cars pulled away from the estate, I stared blankly out the window. I had left behind my home, my husband, and my love.But I had chosen peace. Even if it broke me in the process.

Aurora pressed her forehead against the tinted car window, her tears silent but endless. The city lights blurred into a smear of gold and grey as the car sped through the streets, but all she could see was the face of the man she once called home. Her chest ached with every breath, as though grief had wrapped itself around her ribs and refused to let go. Gianna sat beside her, saying nothing, simply holding her hand tight and firm like she knew Aurora would shatter if she let go.

With trembling fingers, Aurora unlocked her phone and scrolled to Angel's contact. Her vision was clouded, her throat tight. The line rang once, twice, then Angel's voice filled her ears. "Hey babe—"

Aurora broke down. "He had a hand in Jake's death, Angel… he knew something… he was part of it." Her voice was raw and choked. "I left. I left everything. I couldn't breathe in that house anymore."

There was silence on the other end of the line then a sharp gasp. "Aurora… oh my God." Angel's voice cracked. "I'm coming to you. Just hold on, okay? I'm on my way." Aurora couldn't respond. Her sobs stole the words from her lips, and all she could do was lean into the seat, clinging to the last piece of herself she still recognized.