loving you was a mistake

The black Riverson convoy rolled through the golden gates of the estate like a presidential motorcade. Aurora sat motionless in the back seat, her red-rimmed eyes staring blankly out the window. William Riverson, her father, didn't speak a word beside her his face set in an unreadable mask of fury and regret. Gianna sat in the front, her jaw clenched. As they pulled up to the marble steps of the mansion, security and staff rushed to receive them, but the air was too heavy for pleasantries.

Kim stormed out the moment she heard the engines. "Aurora!" she gasped, pulling her daughter into a tight embrace. But Aurora barely moved, tears soaking her mother's blouse. "What happened? Why did William bring you back? What's going on?" William gestured for the staff to leave. "Inside. Now. There's something everyone needs to know."

In the grandeur of the Riverson living room, Kim sat beside Aurora, holding her daughter's hand tightly. William stood before them, pacing. "Tell me what's going on, William," Kim pressed, her brows furrowed.

William finally stopped, eyes flashing. "Mark had a hand in Jake's death. Aurora found out." Kim gasped. "What?! No, no that can't be—Mark?" She turned to Aurora. "Sweetheart, are you sure?"

Aurora nodded slowly, lips trembling. "I saw the video… He shot Jake, Mom. I trusted him and he—he broke me." William exhaled heavily, then dropped the real bomb. "That's not all. Jake didn't die from the bullet. He was poisoned." Both women turned to him in shock.

"It was Charles," William said, venom in his voice. "Your foster father. He injected the poison into Jake's bloodstream after the shooting. I found out later after it was too late. I told Mark about it two years ago, thinking I was just …... I didn't know then I was talking to the accomplice."

Aurora stood abruptly, swaying like the floor had tilted under her. "You knew and didn't tell me?" Her voice was sharp, wounded. William held up his hands. "I didn't tell you because you were fragile. Jake's death destroyed you, Rory. You barely ate, barely slept… You almost gave up on life. I couldn't risk reopening that wound."

"That wasn't your choice to make!" she yelled. Gianna touched Aurora 's arm, silently pleading for calm, but the damage was done.

Before any more words could be exchanged, the sound of high heels clicking dramatically across marble announced a new presence.

Olivia.

She walked in, flanked by her daughter Ivy and Ivy's two-year-old daughter, Freya. Olivia's smug grin was unbearable.

"Well, well, isn't karma just poetic?" Olivia said, surveying the room like a queen surveying the ruins of a fallen empire. "I guess this is what happens when you humiliate my son and drive my daughter into divorce. Looks like your perfect life with your killer husband crumbled right under you."

"Mom, stop," Ivy said firmly, stepping forward.

"I'm just saying," Olivia continued, ignoring her, "maybe next time Aurora Riverson will think twice before ruining other families."

"That's enough!" Ivy snapped, shocking everyone. "You're always turning someone's pain into your personal parade. You came to gloat while she's barely holding it together? Grow up, Mom."

Olivia looked like she had been slapped, but Ivy didn't back down. Freya tugged at her mother's hand, confused by the tension.

Aurora turned and walked away, unable to bear another moment. Kim quickly followed her up the stairs, arms wrapped tightly around her daughter.

In the privacy of her bedroom, Aurora finally collapsed on the bed. "I loved him, Mom… with every piece of me. And he… he destroyed me." Kim smoothed her hair gently. "Sweetheart, you're stronger than this pain. You survived before, you will again." Aurora whispered through tears, "Then why does it feel like I'm dying?"

Kim didn't answer. She just held her, rocking gently as the sky outside darkened, and the storm inside Aurora's heart raged on.