Aurora's Second Beginning

l this b

e cut through the din

looked up f

g beside the table, staring d

arlier, the morning

beautiful

g warm light across the quiet garden. Birds sang f

d woken up befo

ora moved carefully, trying not to make a sound. Margaret Stone did not like noise in the

ir back and began

repared fresh fruit, warm bread, eggs, and the spec

rried to Mark Ston

trying to ple

d, criticized, and treated l

ing that one day, Mark

e nev

table was neatly arranged. Aurora s

y would be

would see that

ld finally say

a deep breat

r, she heard foots

e robe, her face tired. Behind her was Evelyn,

ng," Aurora

ave a sm

did not

was use

ere not cruel like Margaret, but they never defended her either. They simply watched, a

underst

with it

garet entered t

ly arranged, her face cold as always. Mark ca

g, Margaret,

did not

and looked

hing. She picked up her fo

ra w

ly said, "did you use th

et. I kept

oes it tast

er. "I made it the

ike it," Margaret correcte

ked down a

placed her phon

ugh his messages,

ook a sl

uld no

t

aret was

n, staring at Aurora's plate. "I asked fo

s tightened aro

early to

ed. "You are married to the CEO of Stone Interna

looke

t mind

. It is the only thi

le, Mark Stone continued re

hea

ways

said

turned

ar

ed up.

is insultin

's eyes

"Mark, did you hear that? You

dropped his ph

n't start t

g," Aurora said. "I am onl

er," Mark replied. "Y

. But respect sho

med her palm

ys? In m

and's house to

om wen

, but there was

ra. You came from nothing. Your parents were nobody. And now

chest t

nsults about he

any t

omething in her ref

ised h

lk about m

ret b

did yo

Margaret anyway. "My father worked all his life. My mother raised me with lov

's face

dare

tting here while you insult me. I am tired of watching Mark

," Mark

turned

Not t

rose from

mind. My son marri

d, but it cam

ity, then he learned it from you

ret f

kept

ryone should fear you. But your daught

livia and Evelyn st

s eyes

rose slowly

of the

ked at Mar

y are back here, divorced and hurting, and yo

oke with rage. "How dare y

" Aurora's eyes filled with tears. "A mother does not

lled the d

tood s

was pale

ze to my

looked

N

d apol

I sai

ted a shaking

his woman out

oked at

d, something flic

ra s

o

uld finally

uld finally

s voice cut throug

ar

face ha

spect my mother,

stared

e disap

t, she coul

she n

ka

fro

ha

kay. I wi

ked up

ould not st

you will understand what you lost.

w tigh

t o

ked toward

l Margaret's eyes on her back, cold and satisfied. She

use she had ent

where she had tried

it with nothing but he

via and Evelyn

oc

o look a

car keys and foll

ror

d not

with her be

drive yo

is no

ill drive y

said

d the pass

of the estate

in the car

e window as tears sl

ibrated once o

at it, then

while, h

rrassed m

ftly, but there w

other insulted me for year

have control

turned

f for years. I smiled when I wanted to cry. I kept quiet when

htened around th

ended me," she con

not a

wiped h

ather's house, do no

lanced

ror

made your choice today. You ch

he drive pass

. She saw people walking to work, children laughing o

as con

lt like it

her. He had held her hands and promised t

s protect you

t laughed at

ect

peak for her in his

n front of Aurora's father'

g out, she loo

bye,

making a

ave a sa

lly stopped

t and walked t

he porch with a newspaper in his hands. W

called. "Wh

tried t

ing,

knew his

and saw Mark's car

became

k do som

s filled wit

fine

e newspaper and

e," he said gent

owed him in

chen. When she saw Aurora's face,

hispered. "Aurora

outh to answer, but

ard her and pull

aving the Stone mansion, Au

rms while her father stood ne

t in his car, wa

move for

tually, he