Chapter 2

Aurora's POV

"How dare you smash Evan's phone? Aurora, you are truly despicable!"

A sharp slap cracked heavily across my face.

My head snapped to the side, and the thick, metallic taste of blood instantly flooded my mouth.

It was my stepfather, George.

He pulled his hand back, his chest heaving heavily as he pointed a trembling finger right in my face, roaring.

"You ungrateful brat! You eat our food, you live under our roof, and now you throw a tantrum over playing a simple game with your sister!"

I wiped the corner of my mouth with the bloodstained back of my hand. Slowly turning my head, I locked eyes with the man before me—the same man who used to carry me on his shoulders and promise me the best life in the world.

"George. Every cent I spend on food and clothes comes from the trust fund my biological mother left me. As for this house..."

I looked around, my gaze sweeping over the walls that were once mine, now plastered with photos of Daphne.

"It hasn't been my home for a long time."

"Aurora, don't say that..." Daphne’s eyes reddened, tears falling right on cue.

She slipped out of Evan’s embrace, walked over to George, and tugged gently at his sleeve.

"It's all my fault. If I hadn't come back, Aurora wouldn't be so angry."

"Dad, please don't hit her. I'll give her the room back right now..."

"Shut your mouth!" Luke snapped at me, pulling Daphne protectively behind him. "Look at what you've reduced her to, Aurora!"

These were my so-called family members.

"Think whatever you want. I’m tired. Move."

I didn't have the energy to argue anymore. Dragging my stiff, aching legs, I headed for the stairs.

Tomorrow was the submission deadline for the Paris International Jewelry Design Competition. I had to finalize my last sketches.

It was my life's work, and my only ticket out of this toxic household.

"Stop right there," George’s icy voice rang out behind me.

I froze, but didn't turn around.

"Since you feel so wronged, let's settle the score right now," George said, striding over to stand right in front of me.

"For tomorrow's jewelry competition, you will put Daphne's name on your Tears of the Stars collection."

My head snapped up, staring at him in utter disbelief.

Tears of the Stars was a design that took me three grueling years and thousands of sketches to perfect.

To find the perfect cutting angle, I had pulled countless all-nighters in the polishing room, layering fresh cuts over old scars on my hands.

It wasn't just a piece of jewelry; it was a tribute to my late mother. The centerpiece diamond was the only heirloom she had left me.

"What did you just say?" my voice trembled. I could barely believe my own ears.

"I said, give the design credit to Daphne," George repeated, looking at me as if it were the most reasonable demand in the world.

"Daphne just returned to high society. She needs a prestigious title to secure her footing. You’re already a well-known designer; losing one award means nothing to you. Consider it compensation for stealing her place for the past fifteen years."

"Compensation?"

"I stole her place? She went missing because of the nanny's negligence—what does that have to do with me?! Why should my blood, sweat, and tears be used to pave her way?!"

"Aurora!" Evan stepped forward, aggressively grabbing my wrist.

"When did you become so horribly selfish? While Daphne was out on the streets, barely able to feed herself, you were hoarding top-tier educational resources."

"Now we're just asking for one simple design credit. Do you really need to be this vicious about it?"

I stared at Evan—the face I had once loved so deeply now looked utterly alien and repulsive to me.

"Let go."

"If you don't agree, you're not walking out of this house today," Luke warned, taking a threatening step closer, his eyes ruthless.

I took a deep breath, violently forcing down the bitter anguish churning in my chest.

I looked at the three men standing before me, ganging up to push me into a corner all for a two-faced woman.

"I'll say this once," I enunciated every single syllable. "Tears of the Stars is my life. No one is taking it from me. Over my dead body."

With that, I violently shook off Evan's grip, turned on my heel, and sprinted up to the second floor.

I dashed into my room and immediately locked the door behind me.

I dragged out the fireproof safe from under my bed, my fingers trembling as I punched in the passcode.

Inside lay the final sketches of Tears of the Stars, along with the centerpiece blue diamond.

If I just grabbed them, if I could just walk out that door...

I could go to Paris and be rid of them forever.

Suddenly, the bedroom door was violently kicked open.