Aurora

“Do you think she can see us?” Mia’s voice slithered into my ears, laced with mockery.

“Even if she can, she will never be as good as you,” Francis replied, his voice dripping with assurance.

Mia scoffed. “Of course, she can’t. How can a blind, deaf and dumb woman know what’s happening in front of her? And since she’s asleep… let’s make the best of it.”

I watched as she pressed a kiss to his lips, her fingers trailing over his chest. He smirked, but his hunger wasn’t sated. He pulled her closer, their bodies just inches apart. Then, he claimed her lips with greed, his hands roaming over her curves while she melted against him.

This was the man I was supposed to marry tomorrow.

Every girl dreams of a loving family, a safe home, a childhood filled with warmth. Mine? Mine was filled with shadows, cruelty, and betrayal.

I am Aurora Driscoll, the first daughter of the Driscoll family — one of the wealthiest and most renowned families in New York City.

But from the moment I was born, I was unwanted.

I had a twin sister, but she never took her first breath. I did. And for that, my father cursed me.

For twenty-three years, he called me a jinx, a bringer of sorrow. He always said I should have been fed to wild dogs or buried alive.

Then I discovered the truth.

The will as the properties are in my name. And my father’s affair and his other daughter — Mia.

The memories sliced through me like a blade.

I was five when my mother ignored my frantic calls from the office, too busy in a meeting to answer. Desperate, I ran to the driver and begged him to take me to her.

That was the last time I ever saw light.

That was the day my father and his lover tampered with the car’s brakes.

The crash should have killed me. Instead, it left me blind, silent, and trapped in a world where my own family saw me as nothing more than an inconvenience.

“The doctor confirmed she’ll be in this state for the rest of her life,” Francis said nonchalantly, zipping up his pants.

I watched them, Mia and Francis, sipping wine after their betrayal, toasting to their twisted affair.

I exhaled, letting my body sink into the chair inside the limousine. I rolled my eyes — just enough to remind myself that the act wasn’t over.

Let them think I’m broken. Let them believe I’m powerless.

Tomorrow will come, and with it, my reckoning.

---

The morning arrived faster than expected.

I sat still as the makeup artist added the final touches to my face, oblivious to the truth. Mia approached, all smiles, placing a hand on my shoulder.

“You look so horrible to look at,” she whispered, thinking I couldn't hear her.

I merely smiled.

Then she handed me a glass of water. The last thing I would ever accept from her.

I drank it.

Francis entered the room, grinning like a man who had won a war. He strolled toward Mia, grabbing her, squeezing her, staking his claim on the woman he truly wanted.

And then he turned to me.

I tilted my head slightly, expecting a kiss.

He smirked and pecked me instead — mocking me — before sticking out his tongue in amusement.

As we left the room, my father and his wife, Eleanor, stood waiting. Their eyes held nothing but disdain.

I ignored them. I was blind, after all.

Mia led me to the car. The moment I stepped inside, a strange dizziness washed over me. I blinked, trying to focus, but my limbs felt… heavy.

Something was wrong.

The car moved, but soon, I realized we weren’t heading to the wedding venue.

We were going somewhere else.

The driver stopped.

Mia took the wheel.

The car sped up. My fingers trembled as I reached for the door, but my body was failing me. I couldn’t move.

The cliff appeared before us like an open mouth, waiting to swallow me whole.

Mia parked. She turned to me with a smirk, then reached into the safe.

A knife.

She sliced her own arm, wincing as blood trickled down her skin.

“Enjoy your ride to hell, dear sister,” she whispered before stepping out.

The door locked.

A loud thud echoed as she shoved a fallen tree behind the car.

Gravity did the rest.

The car tilted forward.

I closed my eyes.

Heaven has called.

Or maybe — just maybe — hell was waiting for my return.

Aurora

Pain clawed through my body as I stirred, my limbs aching with every slight movement.

Where am I?

Did I die? Am I in heaven? Hell?

I forced my eyes open, a sharp whimper escaping my lips. A warm hand reached for me, steadying me, helping me sit up.

I lifted my head slowly… and my gaze locked onto the most mesmerizing pair of eyes I’d ever seen.

He was perfect.

Sharp jawline, tousled dark hair, and eyes so bold, so piercing, that they seemed to unravel me in one glance.

A cruel twist of fate — to survive death, only to wake up to someone so beautiful.

“Hi,” he said gently, his voice deep, rich, intoxicating. It dripped with something I couldn't quite place — danger, mystery, maybe even salvation.

My heart stuttered.

But as my gaze drifted lower, I saw his rumpled shirt, the slightly worn-out fabric.

A pauper.

Just my luck.

I cleared my throat, forcing composure back into my voice. I wasn’t about to reveal my secret just yet. “Where am I? I... I can't see anything.”

His hopeful expression crumbled, replaced by pure sympathy. “Oh my God. I'm so sorry. You're in the hospital.”

“Hospital?” I feigned confusion. “What happened to me?”

He explained that he had been passing by when he saw a woman sprinting out of a parked car, leaving another inside — the car that was rolling toward the edge of the cliff.

That woman was Mia.

And I was the one she left behind to die.

But he had saved me.

A voice from the television caught my attention.

“The first daughter of the Driscoll family has been declared missing on her wedding day. Sources report that a group of armed men attacked her vehicle while she and her younger sister were en route to the courthouse yesterday morning.”

I turned my head slightly, silently pleading that my picture wouldn't appear. But reality was never that kind.

There it was — my face flashing across the screen.

The glass of water in his hand slipped, shattering on the floor.

“You’re… the first daughter of the Driscoll family?” His voice was laced with disbelief. “But… you’re blind. And deaf. How are you even responding?”

The walls were closing in. My perfect illusion — gone.

I had to think fast.

Before I knew it, the words slipped out of my mouth:

“Let's get married.”

“What!” His brows shot up in shock.

I didn’t hesitate. I sprang up, the pain in my body suddenly forgotten.

"Please," I insisted, my voice urgent. "Marry me. We can divorce later. I will give you whatever you want. Money. Power. My life. Just keep my secret."

His lips parted slightly, but then he shook his head. "I can’t just marry you. I don’t love you."

"Marry me!" I snapped, my patience running thin. "Do you want to keep living as a nobody? A pauper? I can change your life. But you have to keep my secret."

This was my only way out. The will had been clear — whoever I married would inherit my mother’s fortune. That was why my father was so desperate to force me into marriage with Francis.

And now, I was about to throw a wrench in all their plans.

Did my mother know this would happen?

Was this her way of ensuring my survival?

He studied me for a long moment, then exhaled sharply. Without another word, he paid the hospital bills. I didn’t bother to ask where he got the money from. Some questions weren’t worth asking.

Minutes later, we were in a taxi, heading to the magistrate court.

An hour after that… we were married.

As we stepped outside, a victorious sigh escaped my lips. I turned to him and stretched out my hand for a handshake. He took it, his gaze never leaving mine.

"I think I’m in love with you already," he said suddenly. "You’re exactly the kind of woman I always wanted… smart, fearless, beautiful."

Heat crept up my cheeks, but I pushed it away.

This wasn’t about love.

This was about revenge.

I had a family to destroy.

I laced my fingers through his, gripping his hand tightly. "Husband, shall we?"

He smirked, something dark flickering in his gaze. "Yes. Let’s make their lives a living hell."

Then he leaned in, his voice dropping to a whisper.

"And don’t forget… you said your life is mine."

A slow shiver ran down my spine.

What does he mean by that?

Never mind.

All that matters is ruining my family.

Aurora

I quickened my pace as we stepped out of the bank, my heart thrumming with excitement. My personal account was finally funded, and more importantly, my mother’s account had been reactivated.

Progress.

Beside me, my so-called husband matched my stride, his presence oddly comforting.

Wait. What the hell is his name again?

I hadn't even checked when we signed the marriage certificate earlier.

As if reading my mind, he smirked. "I know what you're thinking. I'm Raphael. Raphael Rodriguez."

Something about that name felt… familiar.

“My husband has a pretty name, huh?” I teased, giving his bicep a playful tap.

We flagged down a taxi and stopped at a boutique to change into something less conspicuous. Once we were done, Raphael’s phone buzzed.

“What?” His voice rose, his entire body going rigid. “What the hell happened?”

My breath caught. I instinctively reached for his arm. "What is it?"

His expression darkened. "My mother."

Panic clawed at my chest. "And?"

He exhaled sharply. "She fell down the stairs."

Without hesitation, I grabbed his wrist. "Then let's go see her."

But he stopped me.

"Wife," he said, voice firm yet gentle. "Go. Your mission is bigger than mine. She will be fine." He pulled out his phone, quickly exchanging our contact information. "If either of us needs help, we call. Understood?"

I met his gaze, something unreadable swirling in his dark eyes. "Got it."

And just like that, he was gone.

I was alone. But I had to do this.

~~~

Standing outside MIG Enterprises, I was met with a storm of reporters.

They crowded around, shouting questions at the company’s manager, Mr. Brown.

I pushed through the mass of people and, in a bold voice, announced, "If you have questions, ask me. I’m right here."

A stunned silence followed.

Shock painted their faces. Their expressions screamed the same unspoken question: How the fuck is she alive? And how can she see, hear, and talk at the same damn time?

A man pointed. "That’s Aurora Driscoll! The first daughter of the Driscoll family!"

The whispers grew into frantic murmurs.

I climbed onto the podium, lifting my chin high. "Good day, everyone. I see the search for me was quite… intense. But as you can see, I’m alive and well. You can all relax now."

A reporter shot forward. "Miss Aurora Driscoll, where have you been? And why did you disappear on your wedding day? Don't you owe the public an explanation?"

I smiled — sharp, calculated. "Point of correction. I am no longer a Driscoll."

The crowd gasped.

Lifting my left hand, I flashed my wedding ring to the cameras, my heart thundering at the thought of my father and his despicable family watching.

"I am married," I declared.

The whispers turned into a roar.

"And for those questioning my ability to run the family business…" I took a slow, deliberate breath. "I am educated. I attended a school for special children. Moreover, according to my mother’s will, the properties she transferred to me now belong to my husband."

I let that sink in before delivering the final blow.

"My father’s time as President of MIG Enterprises has officially come to an end."

Dead silence.

Then — gasps, murmurs, pure disbelief.

I stepped down from the podium.

A reporter hurried after me. "How do we know you’re really married?"

"You’ll find out soon enough," I shot back.

But just as I turned to leave, a black car pulled up a few meters away.

The back door swung open.

Men in dark suits surrounded me.

No words were spoken. They didn’t have to say anything. I already knew who sent them.

My father.

With a steady breath, I stepped into the car.

The drive to my father’s mansion was silent, tension thick as the stolen wealth that lined his pockets.

~~~

As soon as I walked into the living room, his voice boomed like thunder.

"How dare you? And since when can you talk, hear, and see?"

I wrinkled my nose. "Why are you barking so early in the afternoon? And please, don’t spit on me. This outfit costs over thirty thousand dollars."

My sass hit its mark. His face twisted with rage.

Eleanor, his pathetic excuse of a wife, shot up from her seat, seething. "Don’t you have respect for your father anymore, you little bastard!"

She lunged at me, hand raised, but I caught her wrist midair and slapped her. Hard. The impact echoed through the room.

A satisfied smirk tugged at my lips.

Just then, laughter drifted down the staircase. A sound that made my blood boil.

Mia and Francis.

Mia's face drained of color when she spotted me.

Francis, still smirking, turned to see what had stunned her. His gaze met mine. His smirk vanished. A sharp, startled gasp escaped his lips.

I took a slow step forward, my voice dropping to a cold whisper.

"I’m back… to turn your lives upside down." I tilted my head. "Do you care for a bet?"