Aurora sat on the bed, dazed as if she had just opened her eyes.
Past the crystal-paneled door, a terrace where a glimpse of white could be seen.
Whoosh.
The winter wind blew fiercely. The fluttering of white curtains couldn't block it, and her body trembled.
Aurora glanced at the empty spot on the bed. A mark of someone who had lain on it earlier was still there, but it was ice-cold to the touch.
Tonight, yet again, Dominik didn't stay home.
It wasn't surprising to see the man she married gone before the dawn breaks or don't return home until midnight. He is a grown man capable of doing anything he wants.
In the beginning, Aurora questioned where he had been. Dominik avoided answering. No matter how much she wanted to know, he remained silent and never explained.
The way his eyes showed a hint of annoyance silenced the question bubbling up, as if she didn't have the right to question him.
The hushed voices and sneaky glances she received from the housekeepers were all too telling.
Aurora knew all along where her husband had been...
But tonight was certainly strange. Dominik came home early and brought gifts, ate dinner with her, and stayed in bed until they fell asleep.
With him acting as he did three years ago when their marriage had just started, Aurora couldn't help but feel a twinge of hope.
Maybe her marriage wasn't completely doomed yet.
But her wishful thinking was proven wrong as the clock struck midnight.
Dominik left their bed, hurrying off in the middle of winter to no one knows where.
Sitting in bed, Aurora wondered if there was an emergency at the company. But she quickly shook off this thought from her mind.
Who would rush off to the office past midnight during winter?
Even knowing that, Aurora didn't say a word of complaint. The bruises from the mistake last week were still there on her body. It was growing faint, possibly disappearing without a mark like many others in the past, but it was a testament to how her life and marriage with Dominik had been.
Aurora pulled a shawl and wrapped herself with it as she put her feet on the floor. It was cold, sending chills down her body.
She curled her toes as she endured the cold and walked to the terrace, the door slightly ajar, letting biting wind slip into her room.
Whoosh, whoosh.
The wind, as if it knew what she was going to do, picked up.
But Aurora closed the door before it could freeze her up.
"Ha..."
The firmly closed door rattled. She stepped back and went back to her bed. However, sleep has been disrupted by her husband's nighttime routine.
She took her phone from the bedside table and unlocked it. A couple of messages were left unread.
Opening the messaging app, Aurora quickly noticed the number with the name 'Alfred'. It had been sent to her several days ago and was never opened.
[This month's bills haven't been paid. When are you going to send money?]
[Don't ignore me. Do you want to see me and your mother die?]
[Didn't I let you marry a wealthy man? Why is it so hard for you to ask him to help your father?]
Aurora clenched her hands tightly, fighting back the tears stinging her eyes.
How could she possibly forget?
It was her father, Alfred, who had made her marriage to Dominik happen.
It wasn't because they fell in love and got his permission to marry, like most traditional parents and marriages.
Rather, he lost his money gambling and turned to his daughter. He sold her off just as easily as one would throw away a useless item.
Aurora took a deep breath, her chest tightening as she saw the last message, which was sent yesterday.
[Your husband is more sensible than you. He sent me money when I messaged him. Don't forget to be thankful to him.]
Warm tears finally dripped down her cheeks. Like a dam finally released from being held back, her emotions overwhelmingly swept into her.
Her breath came intermittently in gasps...
Why can't her father understand? Dominik was not the lawful and generous son-in-law he believed he was.
For every cent that came from him and was given to her parents, the more she was subjected to torment and a life in the abyss.
How long can she endure?
Dominik made sure she was unable to leave and escape. A life and marriage on paper, but a guillotine hanging above her head.
It was all too much, even for her. She couldn't bear it any longer.
Even if she couldn't escape from Dominik, she should at least have a moment of reprieve.
Glancing at the time on her phone, Aurora wiped the tears from her face and rubbed her eyes until they're raw.
Aurora hurriedly took a coat from the closet. It wouldn't be enough to keep her warm in this weather, but she didn't mean to stay outside for long.
She didn't change out of her nightgown, intending to go out and return before the housekeepers notice she went out.
Reaching the gate, Aurora placed her hand on her pounding chest and stared warily at the house.
'No one should be awake.'
Even as the world outside was just right outside, her feet refused to move.
It won't take long. She just had to forget about everything for a moment before returning to the prison she came from.
'Dominik won't come back soon.'
Even after reassuring herself with this fact, Aurora finally sighed.
She pushed the gate open and slipped out.
For once, instead of accepting the situation she's in, Aurora turned away from the shadows of fear that had imprisoned her.
And for the first time, it felt great to be alive again.