Chapter 5

James locked me in an iron cage and left me in the basement.

The basement was cold, damp, and pitch-black. I broke down sobbing, begging him not to do this.

Ever since my parents died, I'd suffered from claustrophobia. James knew that.

But he just stood in the doorway with Lillian in his arms, staring down at me through the bars.

"This is what you asked for, isn't it? You said you'd watch our wedding from inside a cage."

In the suffocating darkness, my mind began to fracture. The face of the boy who once swore to protect me kept overlapping with the man standing before me now—then splitting apart again.

I finally understood.

That boy—the one who promised to keep me safe—was dead.

I never imagined James could be this cruel. All those moments when he'd shielded me, stood in front of me, protected me—they all turned into tiny needles now, piercing straight through my heart.

I don't know how much time passed before they finally dragged me out.

The wedding march echoed in my ears. I realized they'd brought me to the ceremony.

James hadn't been lying. He really was marrying Lillian.

Lillian looked immaculate in her wedding dress, like a porcelain doll—innocent and untouchable.

She peered at me through the bars of the cage, her lips curling in contempt.

"Aurora, look at yourself. You're like a stray dog with nowhere to go."

"And how fitting—you're living in a dog crate too. It suits you perfectly."

I hadn't eaten or bathed in days. I must have looked like a wreck.

But I didn't care about that.

Because around Lillian's neck was a flash of green that made my blood run cold.

The emerald necklace she was wearing was my mother's.

I lunged at the bars, trying to grab it, but the cage held me back.

"Give it back! Give it back! You have no right to wear my mother's necklace!"

My voice came out hoarse and broken from dehydration—like something crawling out of hell.

"Aurora, why are you being so scary?" Lillian said with mock innocence. "James gave this to me."

"He said your mother died a miserable death, and the necklace needed to be worn at a joyful occasion to absorb some good fortune."

Her face twisted with glee. She picked up a metal rod and jabbed it through the bars, poking at the tattoo on my collarbone.

"Weren't you supposed to be so powerful? Didn't you say the Percy family had your back?"

"So how come you're lying here like a filthy slave in a dog cage?"

Before I could respond, James appeared backstage to collect Lillian.

"Lillian, don't waste your time on her. The ceremony's about to start, my little princess."

I sobbed and begged him. I pleaded for my mother's necklace back.

"James, please—I'll never say anything about Lillian again. Just give me the necklace back."

"You can tattoo whatever you want on me. That necklace belonged to my mother. Please."

I knelt inside the cage, pressing my forehead against the cold metal bars over and over again.

Lillian leaned into James's chest, her voice dripping with feigned sadness.

"James... I never had a mother. I just wanted to know what it felt like to have one."

"If Aurora's unhappy, I'll give it back. After all, my mom died early. I guess I don't deserve to have a mother."

Tears rolled down her cheeks.

James looked at me with pure disgust.

"Why are you arguing with a lunatic?" he said to Lillian. "I gave you that necklace. Wear it as long as you like."

He pulled Lillian into his arms and turned to me one last time.

"Aurora, when did you become so petty?"

"Lillian's only borrowing it for our wedding. Do you really have to make such a fuss?"

"No! No! Give it back!"

I screamed until my voice gave out. But he just walked away with his arm around Lillian's waist, never looking back.

I cried until my body shook uncontrollably. All I could do was curl up in the cage and listen to the wedding march playing outside.

They exchanged rings. They vowed to love each other for eternity—just like we once had.

I didn't even have the strength left to be angry. I just felt like I'd failed my mother.

'Mom... I'm so sorry. I couldn't even protect the one thing you left me.'

I closed my eyes in despair.

Then someone lifted the cage and carried it out.

A blinding spotlight hit my face. I raised my hand to shield my eyes. The crowd fell silent.

Lillian's cheerful voice rang out.

"And now, ladies and gentlemen, we have a very special auction."

"The item up for bid is Ms. Aurora Percy."

"Starting price—one dollar!"

Down in the audience, one man suddenly looked up at me in the cage, his eyes lighting up with surprise.