Mark quickly pushed himself up from his chair and moved to sit beside her on the bed, his brows knitted in concern. "Uh… uh… why are you crying? It's okay that guy already got what he deserved."
He hesitated, his hand halfway to her cheek, but pulled back at the last second, unsure if his touch would comfort her or make her retreat.Then, to his shock, Aurora suddenly leaned forward, wrapping her arms around him and burying her face in his chest. Her body trembled as she broke down in sobs.
"I can't take it anymore… this life is so unfair to me. What have I done to deserve this?" she whispered through her tears, her voice breaking.
"Aurora… please, calm down," Mark murmured softly, his large hand gently stroking her hair. "I'm sorry," she pulled away, her eyes red and swollen, glancing down at his now tear-soaked shirt. "I messed up your shirt."It's fine. It's nothing," he said with a small shake of his head. "I assure you, it's nothing."Mark… can I ask you a question?"
"Yeah, sure. Anything."
"Why did you get married to me?"
His eyes searched hers. "Why are you talking as if you were forced into this marriage?" Mark chuckled, but it was dry, empty. "That's it you've said it yourself. I was forced. I had no idea my party was actually a betrothal."
"What?!" Aurora's voice rose. "So you mean to say you didn't know? That your father sold you to me?"
"W–what nonsense are you spouting? He had the nerve to sell me? Like I'm… his property?" Mark's voice hardened. "Of course you are his property you're his daughter. He has the right," she shot back.Mark rolled his eyes.
"That's enough! I am tired of making everyone understand THAT MAN IS NOT MY FATHER!" Aurora's voice erupted, shaking the room.
Mark froze. His eyes widened in disbelief. "What? Charles… is not your father?"
"Yes. I'm not their daughter—I was adopted."
"You… were adopted?" He leaned forward, his curiosity sharpening. "Listen, tell me more. So you mean to say… this marriage happened without your consent?"
"Yes!" Her fists clenched. "How dare him? He had the nerve to sell me to a stranger. My life was perfect when Jake was alive… Jake always protected me from that man ever since we were young. But now… he's gone. Gone forever. And I will never forgive the person who killed my Jake."
Her voice trembled as she wiped away the tears streaming down her cheeks.Mark felt something twist in his chest. The word stranger coming from her lips pierced him deeper than he wanted to admit. But he swallowed the pain, forcing himself to keep listening. What truly made his blood run cold were her next words. "Aurora… what do you mean Jake always protected you?" he asked, his voice low.
She looked away, her tears falling freely again. "He always saved me from that bastard… that man tried raping me three times." Mark's entire body went still. For a moment, the world around him faded. His blood began to boil, a rage unlike anything he'd felt before threatening to break loose. If hell itself had a limit, he was standing right on the edge. Charles… was going to die. By his hands.But in front of Aurora, he forced himself to remain calm.
"I… I don't even know what to say," he said, his voice tight. "How can he… do such a thing? I mean…"
"It's okay. No need." Her voice was hollow. "The fourth time… it was Jake." Mark's eyes flickered with shock. "He also… attempted to rape me," she whispered, "but his was unintentional. He was going through so much… at his weakest point in life. And I… I couldn't support him. That pain pushed him to… act like that. But even then, he came back to his senses… and apologized."
Her lips trembled. "Jake was the love of my life. I've known him since I was twelve. The very first day he came to our house, I fought with him and even ordered him to apologize to me." A tiny laugh escaped her lips, fragile but genuine. "Funny, right?"