Chapter 5 No Welcome Party
Aurora said nothing. It was ironic, she thought.
He only started to care about her studies after her life had been
ruined.
She’d poured everything into her studies, desperate to forge her own path. Just when her dreams were within reach, they shattered against the wall of wealth and privilege.
With a few careless words, the Elvadors had condemned her to
hell.
She could have had it all. Growing up, she’d known she didn’t have the family connections others did. All she had was her determination to excel in school. Her dream had been crystal clear: Vertar University, graduate school, a PhD, then becoming a professor. She’d wanted to stand at the front of a classroom, helping others like her–fighters, underdogs–change their lives.
However, reality had slapped her hard in the face.
Instead of becoming who she dreamed of being, she became a pariah, an ex–convict despised by society. The stain on her record would follow her forever, tainting her life in every possible way.
Her hands balled into fists, nails digging deep into her palms, but she barely felt the pain.
Chapter 5 No Welcome Party
“I went to Orley High School,” Aurora said softly.
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Her quiet words felt like a thunderclap to Joshua, Celeste, and Barnett, who all stared at her in stunned silence.
Orley High School had the highest academic entrance requirements in the entire region.
It was a school for the best and brightest. Unlike Herren High School, the exclusive private school where money talked, Orley High School was about scores and nothing else.
The fact that Aurora not only got in but consistently ranked first in her year proved her exceptional abilities. With grades like hers, Vertar University would have been within reach.
“That’s impossible! You’re lying!” Barnett’s voice rose, trembling with disbelief. “Orley High is in the suburbs, over 18 miles from home. You used to ride that beat–up bike…”
He froze, the realization hitting him mid–sentence.
Aurora noticed the growing pallor on his face and curled her lips into a mocking smile. “Now you know why I’d rather ride a bicycle than go to school with Bertha. We weren’t even in the same school.
“I never had breakfast with you because Orley High started morning classes at six. I had to wake up at four, ride for two hours, and make it on time.
Chapter 5 No Welcome Party
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“I couldn’t come home for lunch–the trip was too long. With no money for food, I’d just drink water to get through until evening.” Her voice cracked. “By the time I made it home, you’d all finished eating. All that was left were scraps, but I ate them anyway. And you’d laugh, saying that’s all I deserved, watching me cat ‘like a street dog.”
“Aurora, I’m so sorry.” Celeste’s tears streamed down her face, her voice full of sorrow. “It’s all my fault. I didn’t know you suffered so much.”
“You’ve done nothing wrong,” Aurora said quietly, her eyes distant as she looked at Celeste’s tear–stained face. “You didn’t raise me, so of course you feel nothing for me. I’m used to it by now. Even if things were worse, you would think I could handle it all.” Her voice turned cold. “Isn’t that right, Mrs. Celeste Elvador?”
Celeste’s sobs abruptly stopped.
Aurora’s words echoed with a familiar sting. They reminded Celeste of something she’d said long ago: “Aurora, I’m begging you. You’re stronger than Bertha. You can endure more hardship. You survived just fine in that orphanage. I’m sure you’ll adapt to prison too. Please, take the blame for Bertha.”
The memories she’d buried for five years surged back, hitting her like a storm. Celeste clutched her chest, as though the pain might overwhelm her.
Aurora watched her falter, her expression cold and disdainful.
Chapter 5 No Welcome Party
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The place where Bertha had pushed Camille down the stairs had. security cameras.
But right after it happened, Celeste had deleted the footage that could have proven Aurora’s innocence. Without it, Aurora had no way to defend herself in court.
“That’s enough!” Barnett snapped. “Stop playing the victim. Sure, we weren’t perfect, but look at yourself! You tormented Bertha just because you were jealous of her life. People don’t like you because of who you are, not because of us. And now you have the nerve to point fingers?”
“Barnett, don’t speak to your sister like that,” Celeste murmured through her tears.
“Mom, you’re still defending her? She’s been using our guilt to act out! Otherwise, why would she push Camille down the stairs and frame Bertha? We had no choice but to send her to prison for five years. Now she’s holding a grudge and humiliating us in front of everyone at this party!”
Celeste looked at Aurora only to find her staring back with a cold, mocking smile that cut like glass.
Unable to hold that piercing gaze, Celeste looked away, guilt twisting in her stomach.
“Enough. Let’s stop this,” Joshua said, his tone heavy with authority. “Aurora, why didn’t you tell us you were coming home? If we’d known, your mother and I could’ve prepared a dress for you.”
Chapter 5 No Welcome Party
Aurora froze.
“You didn’t know I was being released today?”
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“Of course not. If we’d known, I would’ve sent a driver to pick you up. How did you get here, Aurora?”
Aurora turned her icy gaze to Barnett. “Mr. Elvador drove me here. He said you’d planned a welcome party for me.”
“A welcome party? I thought this was Bertha Elvador’s birthday celebration.”
“It is! The invitation specifically said ‘Bertha Elvador’s Birthday.‘ Since when did this turn into her welcome party?”
“A welcome party for an ex–con? Please. We wouldn’t have shown up if we’d known.”
The whispers rippled through the crowd like wildfire.
Barnett’s face burned with embarrassment. He opened hist mouth to explain but couldn’t form a single coherent word.
Aurora’s chest tightened as reality hit her. How naive she’d been. Today was Bertha’s birthday–that’s all it was to Joshua and Celeste. They hadn’t even remembered she was getting out today.
And Barnett’s promise of a welcome party? Just another empty lie to shut her up.
Chapter 5 No Welcome Party
The tiny spark of hope she’d let herself feel now seemed. pathetically foolish.
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Aurora turned to leave, unwilling to endure any more pretenses.
But before she could step away, a young girl in a white feathered designer gown rushed toward her. Aurora tried to dodge, but with her injured leg, there was no way to move fast enough.
They collided with a loud bang.
The impact knocked Aurora to the ground. Pain shot through her elbow and leg, sharp and unrelenting.
Her pale face grew even paler as she clenched her jaw, waiting for the pain to subside.
When she finally looked up, she saw them huddled around the girl in white, cooing and fussing.
“Bertha, sweetie, are you alright? Where does it hurt? Are you injured?”
The girl’s eyes welled with tears, her face flushed pink. “Dad, Mom, Barnett… it hurts so much…” she whimpered.
They swarmed around her, hands fluttering anxiously. “Where exactly does it hurt, darling? Did Aurora hurl you when she ran into you?”
Barnett whirled on Aurora, face twisted with rage. “Can’t you
Chapter 5 No Welcome Party watch where you’re going?”
