Page 31 of Darkest Deception

And I deserve it, don’t I?

When have I ever given her any reason to come back to me? To seek me out? To trust me?

My blood pumps hard against my eardrums. The silence is deafening. My lips dry as I open and close my mouth, trying to start a conversation or to just apologise.

Will she even forgive me?

She won’t.

She doesn’t have a reason to.

Tears pool in my eyes, but I blink them away quickly.

It’s okay.

At least she is happy.

Your older sister will stop looking after you now.

Remo will protect you. He will keep you safe. I know it.

Don’t worry, little sister. Don’t worry anymore. And don’t fear.

I stand next to Aurora, detached, caught up in my head.

She slowly drags her attention to me. Her chocolate eyes are soft, a painfully beautiful combination. Her brown hair cascades down her back in soft waves, and she wears a cream dress with matching heels. She’s always loved wearing them. Not to mention the designer bag, the watch, and the diamonds decorating her. All of that is new, they must be gifts from Remo. He spoils her, and I couldn’t be happier.

“Aurora, how are you?” I bite my lip, keeping my tears at bay.

“Just fine,” she says quietly.

Your voice is still just as soft, just as sweet.

Silence follows.

Your eyes still hold dreams, Aurora.

Aurora lets out an empty laugh.

“You aren’t even going to apologise for anything? You’re not going to say you feel bad for what you did and how you treated me?”

You don’t know how much those thoughts haunt me every night.

I swallow as a minute passes. I walk around and sit on the chair in front of her.

“I—” A lump forms in my throat, choking my words. So I try again. “Would you believe me if I said yes?”

The indifferent look in her eyes confirms she won’t.

“I didn’t—” My voice gets stuck in my throat. “I’ve wronged you, Aurora.” My voice cracks. “I did so many bad things to you, and I left you when you needed me. I left you standing, fighting alone, when you needed your big sister, all to one day get the approval, the love, of a man whom I called my father, and yet I lost everything in between.”

Aurora’s eyes water, the soft brown now a muddy colour, reflecting her broken heart.

“Twenty-nine years you have been by my side, twenty-nine years of me leaving you to fend for yourself. H-How do you think I will ever forgive myself?” Leaning forward, I drop my knees to the cold hard floor, grasping her hands in my own trembling ones.

“The bullying in school when people liked you more than me, taunting you for doing what you loved, letting the abuse in our house happen to you instead of standing in front of you to protect you…” I shake my head, my chin quivering with the intense rush of emotions.

“Ambrose—”

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