Chapter 1

Aurora’s POV

“Aurora! Aurora!” my stepfather, Victor, screamed, his loud voice almost bringing the whole house down, making my body shake in fear.

I hurriedly stood up from the floor I was scrubbing, my hands grabbing the cleaning bucket as my tiny legs carried me to the kitchen.

I knew not to spend another minute keeping my stepfather waiting. Well, I had learned the hard way to always come running whenever he called. It had become a rule, one I no longer found odd.

The moment Victor set his eyes on me, he smashed a plate at me. I bent quickly, making the plate hit the wall before crashing to the floor.

“You still haven’t cleared the dishes?” Victor barked, his eyes looking at me cruelly.

I dared not look up, dared not maintain eye contact with him, or I would end up receiving another punishment. My body still ached from the strokes of the cane I had received yesterday. I wasn’t ready to receive another.

“Why the hell are you still standing there?” he yelled.

I quickly bent down, my hands picking up the pieces of the broken plate before my stepfather got angrier than this.

“Why are you so slow, bitch?” Victor barked again, his foot pushing me, making me fall on the broken pieces.

The sharp pieces pierced through my skin, cutting into my flesh and allowing blood to flow.

Tears rolled down my eyes, the ones I thought I would be able to hold in today.

Slap.

Clara’s hand struck across my cheek, making more tears pour down than there already were.

I looked up in tears, my heart breaking a million times as I stared at my mom.

“Your voice gives me a headache,” she yelled before walking up to her darling husband to give him a morning kiss.

Their smooching almost made me run mad. My mom, who was supposed to protect me and shield me from abuse, was there kissing the man who had made my life a living hell in my own father’s house.

“What are you staring at? Do you want those eyes plucked out?” Victor barked, making me lower my head immediately.

I knew better than to talk back.

My eyes lingered on the table where my sixteen year old sister sat, munching on her pie while dressed in a fancy gown, and here I was dressed in clothes covered with patches.

For a while, I doubted if I was truly a member of this family because of how badly I was treated, but the strong resemblance of Clara’s face on mine confirmed she had truly given birth to me.

Mom was never like this. She was caring and loving when my dad was alive. Everything changed when Dad’s will was read and I was the only one he signed all his properties and inheritance over to.

Mom made sure she collected all the documents containing my inheritance, went shopping with the money, and spent lavishly on unnecessary things. My sister was no different. She had been angry that I was Dad’s favorite.

Everything became even worse when Mom married Victor. At first, he was the sweet stepfather every daughter would wish for. Until one morning when everything changed. The morning he moved into my father’s house.

He had looked at me so cruelly that day, and ever since then, he had never stopped.

I packed the broken pieces into the waste bin, my legs moving toward the sink to clean the remaining dishes. Mom later went into the bedroom with Victor, and the next time I saw them, all three of them were dressed up.

Mom, Joy, and Victor looked like one happy family.

They didn’t even tell me where they were headed. They just walked past me like I didn’t exist.

Well, I was more than happy to finally have some alone time to myself. It was still until four p.m. before my next shift.

Yes,I work. That's the only way I could afford to feed.

I quickly finished my chores and went back into the store like room I now inhabited. It looked old and unpainted but still clean and neatly arranged.

I didn’t have much. Just two sets of clothes, a pair of slippers, and most importantly, my books.

Yes, I loved reading. Reading about crimes and law. That was the only thing keeping me sane in this house.

Dad had promised before he died that I would go to college.

But all those dreams came crashing down the moment he died.

Still, I secretly read whenever I could, something Mom must never find out about.

I rested for a while until it was almost time.

Quickly hiding the book underneath the old mattress,before rushing out of the house to beat traffic.

I arrived at the hotel five minutes early and went into the changing room to put on my uniform.

Coming out,I met the supervisor for the keys of the room to be cleaned.

Dragging my cleaning equipment along the hallway, I inserted the key into one of the doors without checking the room number.

That was the worst mistake of my life.

The moment the door opened,cold air brushed against my skin.

I froze.

Inside the room stood a man nearly half naked, a white towel wrapped around his waist.

My breath felt choked .

He was tall,dangerously tall,his body looks strong and well built,an evidence that he is a constant visitor to the gym. His broad shoulders entertained my eyes .

But staring at him I couldn’t help but feel frightened of his face.

A scar stretched across it.

He looked at me coldly, his eyes almost burning into my skin.

“Do you know whose room you just walked into?”

“I’m sorry, sir,” I apologized and was about to leave when he said something that made my eyes widen.

“Dante De Luca.”

“What?” I shivered. Only that name alone screamed fear. I was truly in big trouble. Dante De Luca was never a man known to forgive, especially not someone who had seen his face.

Rumors has it that he never unveils his face since he turned twelve years of age,now I see why.

He moved cautiously toward me. One step . Then another.

but before he could get any closer, my survival instinct screams at me .

I pushed the door open and ran.

My legs moved as fast as they could until I got away.

I ignored the confused stares from workers and guest as I rushed through the hall way.

I didn’t even ask permission from the manager.

All I knew is that I have to run away.

Far away from the man with the scar.

By the time I got to my small room,a sigh of relief left me, knowing he hadn’t chased after me.

Knowing I was safe in my room.

Little did I know I was wrong as that was the beginning of my nemesis.