Chapter 40
“Do you really think Dad will take your side?” Maura continued, relentlessly criticizing Aurora’s ingratitude. “Stop fooling yourself. After you offended the Newton family, Dad’s already fed up with you. Plus, Mom’s been by his side for years, and she even gave him a son. Do you honestly believe Dad would upset her for someone like you?”
Aurora knew all this. In her previous life, Jaxon had pampered Maura, while using the excuse of "training" Aurora to exploit her, forcing her into compromising situations to secure business deals. This life was no different. Even after she topped Merrida High School, he offered no praise, only urging her to emulate Maura’s perceived poise and grace.
A frustrated sigh escaped Aurora, a hint of discomfort accompanying the ache in her chest. She thought she’d moved past it, but the pain lingered.
A rustling from the wall broke her reverie. Caleb and his men, injured and crawling toward the exit, were nearly at the door.
Aurora sneered, her voice glacial. “Looks like breaking your legs wasn’t enough of a lesson, huh?”
Sweat beaded on Caleb’s forehead. He braced himself, forcing a fawning smile as he read the situation perfectly. He awkwardly scratched his head. “Uh… I saw you were chatting with Ms. Maura Crawford, so I figured I’d give you some space. We’re just hired hands. The rest doesn’t concern us.”
Caleb had anticipated such a predicament, but he'd expected a professional fighter, not a pretty high school girl.
Maura shrieked. “You were hired by my uncle to attack Aurora! How could you chicken out? I’m telling him, and you’re not getting the rest of the money!” Her chest heaved as she lunged toward the door, attempting to prevent them from defecting to Aurora.
“Shut up,” Eric growled, his menacing expression freezing Maura in place. “Open your mouth again, and you won’t see tomorrow.”
Frustrated, Maura stomped her foot. “Thugs! No professionalism! I’m telling my uncle. They’ll live in misery!”
Caleb grinned, attempting to ingratiate himself with Aurora. “Ms. Crawford, where did you buy that powder? Fifteen thousand dollars if you tell me!” His curiosity about the powder—the key to their defeat—was intense. He believed knowing the source would improve their prospects considerably.
Aurora remained silent, prompting Caleb to raise his offer. “Thirty thousand! Any job you need.” He hoped she'd finally bite.
Brir, sitting on the ground, watched Maura sneak closer, syringe in hand, plotting a comeback. Eru noticed but remained silent, aiming to distract Aurora. “Ms. Crawford, if you tell us, we'll keep our word—"
Before he finished, a whooshing sound and Maura’s triumphant scream cut through the air. “Go to hell, Aurora!” The needle gleamed.
But before Maura could strike, a loud thud echoed as something smashed into her head. Blood splattered, silencing the warehouse.
Maura’s vision darkened as Aurora’s iron rod left a gaping wound on her forehead. Blood streamed down, blurring her vision. She struggled to regain her senses.
“How…how is this possible?” she mumbled, pressing her hand to the wound. The syringe had slipped from her grasp. She stared at Aurora, seemingly impervious to pain. “You shouldn’t have been able to dodge that!”
She wondered, I attacked from behind. Does she have eyes in the back of her head?
Aurora sneered, pointing to the overhead light. “Your shadow gave you away, idiot.”
Maura stared, dumbfounded, at her shadow. She'd been defeated by something so simple.
The warehouse fell silent for only twenty minutes before the sounds of screams and pounding returned, amplified by the chirping insects in the remote location. Caleb’s chosen spot had become his grave.
The three men, drenched in blood, huddled together, their gazes fixed on Aurora with pure terror. They never imagined a girl her age could be so ruthless.
Aurora glanced at them casually. “Since you know my sister and I were chatting, don’t interrupt, alright?”
They nodded frantically, terrified. “Got it! Got it!”
Aurora smiled, turning to Maura. “Now, where were we?”
Each step Aurora took felt like a knife twisting in Maura’s gut, fueling her anxiety.
“Stay away from me!” Maura retreated, her heart racing, a cold dread consuming her. She trembled uncontrollably.