Chapter 5
Chapter 5
Looking at Eleanor, whose eyes were as red as mine, I hesitated and then shook my head.[]
Over the years, she’d been caught in so many of Stella’s traps just trying to stand up for me.[]
Eleanor was hot headed but not very cunning, Stella could dig a pit right at her feet in broad daylight, and she wouldn’t even notice.[]
And Gideon, using his status as the heir to the Bernard Corporation, always sided with Stella, often leaving Eleanor in tears of frustration.[]
I was about to leave this place for good. I couldn’t let her make any more enemies on my account.[]
“It’s okay, Eleanor. I’m just running in to grab my ID and passport. I’ll be right back out.“[]
I took a deep breath, gathered the heavy skirt of my gown, and walked into the Durand family home.[]
The moment I stepped inside, I saw her: the supposedly “heartbroken and crying” Stella, lounging on the sofa, twirling a lock of hair around her finger and grinning at me.]
“Oh. Aurora, you’re back? I seem to recall Gideon leaving less than an hour ago. Is the wedding over already?“]]
She then feigned surprise, covering her mouth with her hand. “What happened to your dress, Aurora? Gideon can be so cruel. No matter how much he dislikes you, he really shouldn’t have poured wine all over you. After all, that was a gift from your mother.“[]
Seeing my completely impassive expression, the smirk in her eyes finally began to fade.]]
Honestly, I couldn’t muster an ounce of anger. All I felt was a profound, chilling sorrow.[]
Even she remembered it was a gift from my mother, but Felix, he had forgotten.[]
Before she could speak again, I cut her off.[]
“It wasn’t Gideon.”
She froze. I continued, “It wasn’t him. It was Felix.“[]
The expression on Stella’s face hardened. She opened her mouth to speak several times, but no words came out.[]
“From now on, you don’t have to fight so hard. Felix, Gideon, you can have them both. I don’t want any of it anymore.“[]
I tried to sidestep her to get to my room, but she followed me, grabbing my wrist.[]
I didn’t know what I said that set her off, but Stella became incredibly agitated.[]
“Let you have them? What do you mean, let you have them? It’s because you’re useless! You never stood a chance against me!”
“I don’t need anyone’s charity! I won! It was me who won!“]
She was wearing that nasty, spiteful expression she only ever showed me in private, her face contorted with a manic glee.]
“Aurora Durand, you lost! You lost to me! Hahahaha!”
I thought she had gone insane. My wrists ached where her fingers dug into my skin.[]
“Stella! Have you lost your mind!“[]
I couldn’t take it anymore and gave her a shove. I didn’t even use much force.
But she let out a piercing scream and went crashing into the display cabinet against the wall.[]
With a tremendous crash, the entire cabinet toppled over.
The treasures I had cherished for over a decade were now nothing but a pile of shattered pieces.[]
I was staring, dazed, at a broken glass jar on the floor when I was suddenly shoved hard from behind.[]
“Get away
from her! And to think I came here to apologize to you. I take my eyes off you for one second and you’re bullying Stella!“[]
Gideon, who had just arr
