On a phone call with Julian, Rosalyn told her father about how she felt. She felt rejected in life and all. Julian couldn't shake the fact that his little girl didn't deserve the treatment she got. Her mum kept away from her right from birth, and this must have affected her mentally.
Together in Aurora's bedroom, Julian and Aurora talked about the success of the night. After that, Julian brought up an issue that struck Aurora hard.
"It's been almost 2 decades Aurora, why don't you accept Rosalyn and give her the motherly feeling the poor girl desires?" Julian said.
Aurora was lost in words as she remembered the incident that happened about 18 years.
* * * * * *
The rain fell in a relentless curtain, soaking the streets of New York City as 17 years old Aurora navigated through the crowded sidewalks. The lights from the towering skyscrapers reflected off the puddles, creating a kaleidoscope of colours that swindled around her. She was lost_ not just in the maze of the city but also in her thoughts. Her dad, mum, and older brother had been killed brutally a few months ago, and she was now staying with her saviour and his family. She felt bad about staying with them and decided to leave. As she lingered under an awning, contemplating her next move, she felt a chill creeping up her spine.
Before she knew it, a van screeched to a halt beside her, and rough hands pulled her inside. The door slammed shut, muffling her cries for help. Her heart raced as she realized the gravity of her situation - she had been kidnapped by a mafia group that thrived on the fringes of society, exploiting vulnerable young girls like her for trafficking
The days blurred together in the dim stifling hideout where Aurora found herself. Other girls were crammed into the small, grimy space, sharing whispered tales of loss and yearning. Some had given up hope; others fought back in quiet rebellion. But Aurora wasn't about to surrender
With steely resolve, she rallied the girls, mapping out an escape plan, their shared fear transforming into a flicker of hope.
On the night of their daring attempt, adrenaline coursed through Aurora's veins as they crept through the shadows, hearts pounding in synchrony. Just as they reached the exit, a figure loomed in front of them. Heavy boots stomped down, and rough hands grabbed her-all her bravado seemed to vanish in an instant. She was dragged away, her friends' screams fading as she was pulled deeper into the lair.
Her captors brought her before the boss, a striking young man, dapper and dangerous with blue eyes that seemed to see through her. He was in his early twenties, a mere shadow of the chaos that surrounded him. Aurora stood her ground, defiance radiating from her; she refused to show fear. "You think you can intimidate me? You are just a coward hiding behind a name, "she spat, her voice steady.
He raised his eyebrow, intrigued by her boldness. Most girls cowered; they submitted. But not Aurora. He gestured for the men to leave them, an unexpected smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "I like a girl with spirit," he said, amusement dancing in his eyes. He leaned, closer examining her as if she were a puzzle to be unravelled.
"You will regret this," Aurora warned, her heart racing, not knowing if she was sealing her fate or striking a deal. She had a fleeting thought that perhaps-just perhaps - her spirit might turn this around.
He got closer to her, trying to get intimate, then stopped. "I would rather do this the right way," he said, confusing Aurora.
He called out to his boys and asked them to dress her up sexily and leave her in a well decorated room for him. After this was done, he headed to the room and met Aurora inside. He got closer to her, but she kept trying to set herself free from his grasp. While fighting for her life, he managed to rape her, leaving her in tears and sorrow. He ordered his boys not to include her with the others. He wanted her for himself; he was going to make her his woman.
While all these were happening, her saviour, Julian, who she had run away from, was in desperate search for her. He made sure to search everywhere for her with the help of the police.
A few days later, after several sexual intercourse with the mafia boss and looking for means to escape, Aurora finally made her way out of the dungeon. In her run, she came across Julian, who was searching for her. Julian tried to get the men, but he lost them.
Julian's gentle touch and soothing words calmed Aurora's frazzled nerves as he guided her home. His eyes, filled with a deep concern, met hers, and she felt a sense of safety in his presence. Aurora began to open up to Julian about her fears and dreams. She shared her desire of wanting to leave the city.
Julian relocated her to a quieter life out of the city, where she later found out that she was pregnant for the mafia boss.
The discovery of her pregnancy brought a mix of emotions. Aurora's initial desire to terminate the pregnancy was rooted in her fear of the mafia boss's influence on her child. But Julian's promise to stand by her and support her revenge plans gave her a sense of hope. He vowed to marry her, care for their child, and be her rock through the turmoil. His words were a balm to her soul, and she began to see a future with him by her side.
Their daughter, Rosalyn, was born with a spark in her eyes. Aurora's heart ached every time she looked at her, and she couldn't bear the pain. The memories of her past traumas and the mafia boss's cruelty flooded her mind, making it hard for her to connect with her child.
Even after relocating, Aurora found herself both lost and found. Julian had helped her escape the clutches of her past, but the shadows still clung to her like a persistent mist.
In her new life outside the city, where the air was purer and the noise of urban chaos faded into the background, Aurora tried to start anew. But each time she looked into Rosalyn's curious eyes, she was reminded of the life she had once led. The remnants of danger trailed her, whispering reminders of the mafia boss who had so heavily influenced her fate.
The quaint house that Julian had secured for their family stood on a quiet street, a sharp contrast to the life Aurora had once lived. Yet, even in this serene setting, the echoes of her past continued to haunt her. As she stood at the window, cooking dinner or folding laundry, the city was always just a glance away—a haunting reminder of the chaotic life she had left behind. She talked Julian into sending Rosalyn to a child care centre. Rosie was taken there and few years later after Aurora had started getting a name and prestige for herself, she decided to take back her daughter thinking she had finally gotten over the pain but on the contrary, she hadn't.
Julian suggested leaving her with their most trusted helper as her nanny in another apartment. They did just that. As Rosalyn grew up with Vanessa in a luxurious apartment, she longed to understand why her mother never showed interest. She'd catch glimpses of Aurora from afar, but their interactions were limited. Rosalyn's questions went unanswered, and she learned to live with the pain. She felt like a puzzle piece that didn't quite fit, and she wondered if she'd ever find her place in her mother's heart.
Julian, on the other hand, was torn between his love for Aurora and his desire to be a good father to Rosalyn. He visited Rosalyn regularly, taking her on outings and celebrating her birthdays. He tried to bridge the gap between Aurora and Rosalyn, but he knew he had to be patient. He saw the pain in Aurora's eyes and knew she wasn't ready to face her daughter.
Rosie didn't know why this was so, her friends had mum's who they saw freely but why was her case different?, she would always ask Vanessa and Julian but neither ever gave her the answers she wanted. She grew in pain but learnt to get used to it.
Eighteen years after her traumatic past, Aurora's conglomerate had flourished. She set her sights on revenge, tracking down her destroyers with calculated precision. The time for payback had arrived, and she was determined to make them pay, so she made her arrival back in New York.
* * * * *
Not responding to Julian, in the quiet of her bedroom, Aurora lay on the bed, pulling the duvet over her head. Julian's understanding gaze met hers, but she didn't respond. He knew she wasn't ready to face Rosalyn, not yet. With a gentle touch, he fixed the duvet and whispered goodnight. He headed out, shut the door quietly behind, and left for his bedroom. As he left, Aurora's tears flowed, her heart heavy with unspoken emotions. She cried until sleep claimed her, her mind racing with memories of the past and the future she wanted to build.