Chapter 61
1208words
It wasn't news that she was engaged anymore.
"Look who it is!!!" Mason squealed from afar, rushing towards her with a bright grin, "It's the latest bride."
She rammed her elbow into his side and he coughed, "I'm not married yet, Finley. Tone it down."
Mason grimaced, rubbing his side, "Alright, tigeress. Take it easy."
Aurora threw him an offended glare, giving that same look to the people staring and whispering, "Where's Nat?"
Mason was already busy with his phone, thumbs rapidly hitting the screen, "Dunno, called her this morning and she said she was out of the country," He stopped walking and she faltered, turning to face him, "What's that even supposed to mean?"
"I think she means that she no longer in the country," She answered sarcastically and he gave her a 'duh' look.
Mason curved his hand, "I obviously know what it meant, what I don't understand is why she suddenly had to leave."
Aurora shrugged, "Ask her."
"She's not responding to my texts," He added after a moment's beat, "Or calls."
"Then wait till she comes back."
Aurora backtracked at the entrance when a figure shot out, nearly sending her toppling backwards. She was about to yell at the person when her eyes fixed on a pair of bright blue eyes.
Louisa appeared just as surprised as she was, gaze widened and mouth parted slightly. Aurora didn't know why but a stab of guilt pricked her chest on seeing the girl and she frowned,
What was that about?
As if on cue, Louisa's eyes fell on the shining stone on her finger and her expression faltered. Aurora quickly hid the hand behind her purse but it was too late already, she had seen it.
When Louisa looked up, there was a smile on her lips albeit terse, "I heard about your engagement, congratulations."
This made her raise a brow, "Why are you congratulating me?"
Louisa blinked, "Excuse me?"
She sighed, shaking her head in an aggravated manner, "Never mind," She walked into the class, ignoring the dozens of questions Mason was rapidly shooting at her.
The rest of the day went the same way it began, people staring, some whispering, others going as far as pointing and one professor had actually made the whole class cheer for her. By the time they were done with classes, she was ready to crash into her bed.
But of course, nothing she wanted ever came easy. Professor Monroe had called for a brief meeting, informing them that the tryout contest was going to begin days from today and the best dance out of her and Louisa would be chosen to represent them nationally.
At that stage, Aurora wasn't even sure she wanted to compete anymore. Her life was in shambles, Evan was still out there plotting and her mother was ingesting something that could possibly destroy her mentally. The national contest was the last thing on her mind right now.
But nonetheless, she pretended to be interested, filled out the form given to them and submitted before picking her purse and meandering out. Calvin had called already that he was outside so she headed towards the parking lot,
"Rochester!?"
She paused, looking over her shoulder at the blonde who was running towards her. When Louisa was a few paces away, she turned fully,
"What is it?"
Louisa was panting softly but there was determination in her gaze, "When I congratulated you earlier, why did you respond like that?"
Aurora cocked her head to the side, "Did you seriously stop me to ask that question?"
"Yes."
She scoffed, "Well, what do you think?" She stretched her hand, showing off the ring on her finger, "I have to wear this burden and be constantly reminded that I'm going to live unhappily for the rest of my life knowing that my husband is clearly in love with someone else."
Louisa said nothing and she sighed, shaking her head. She made to leave when the girl spoke up again,
"And what about you? Who do you love?"
For the briefest moment, familiar dark eyes flashed in her mind but it dissapeared as quickly as it came. Her shoulders sagged and in the tiniest voice, she responded,
"I have no clue," However, even as she said that, Aurora deep inside that that was a lie.
She walked away quickly, ignoring the heavy feeling that had wrapped around her heart. Luckily, Calvin was out in front and she trudged towards the car and sunk into the backseat. The drive home took quicker than she'd imagined and soon, she was out the door and climbing the steps that led to the front door.
The moment she walked in, Aurora knew instantly that there was something wrong. She moved slowly, clutching her phone desperately.
When she curved around the corner that led to the living room and walked into the large open space, her eyes went wide in shock.
Catastrophic would be too small a word to describe the state of the room, everything was in shambles. From the large class tables to the flower vases, even the pictures and ornaments, they were all in disarray and in the center of all of it was her mother, curled up in a ball with her hands to her ears.
"What's going on here?" Her trembling voice asked and their attention shifted to her. Rosa first, then Glenn and finally her father who was trying to comfort Miriam, "What the hell happened here!?"
Rosa held some broken frames, her usually smiling eyes were filled with fear and Glenn looked like who wanted to run away from that spot. They all had similar expressions of terror and her heart sunk lower.
Her father shook his head warningly, "Go to your room, Aurora."
"What?" Her face crumpled and she took a step but her father's eyes flashed.
"GO TO YOUR ROOM!" His thunderous voice boomed and she flinched.
In all her years that she'd known Harry Rochester, he was never a man to raise his voice, maybe at his wife but never at her. Never.
Her widened eyes darted to her mother was still curled up and shaking before returning to her father's. He had a pleading look and she gulped down the bubbling anxiety,
Without another word, Aurora turned on her heels and sped out of the living room, her heart hammering beneath her chest.
Her shaky hand pulled open the drawer and she retrieved the small sealed plastic bag inside, revealing the two pills she'd safely tucked away.
She had no doubt that her mother was having another episode and the cause was none other than this.
This had to end. She wasn't going to quietly sit back and watch anymore, she had to stop Evan once and for all.
And she knew just how she was going to do it.
