Chapter 3

The next morning, both Dominic and Leo were gone. I only found out it was the day of the Thorne family's annual gathering by checking Seraphina's Ins. As Dominic's wife, to learn such news through someone else's social media felt utterly ridiculous.

But I was surprised when Dominic actually returned to pick me up. The moment I entered Thorne Manor, I heard whispers about me.

"Aurora hasn't been to Thorne Manor in years?"

"It's not that she wouldn't come. It's Emma, Dominic's grandmother, who didn't want her here. Look how lively and adorable Seraphina is, then look at Aurora. She's seen as damaged goods, utterly discarded."

Those words pierced me like daggers, but Dominic, standing beside me, didn't refute a single one. Hands in his pockets, he effortlessly made his way to his grandmother's side. Seraphina was already there, leaning on Emma's knee, charmingly.

"Grandma, Seraphina is just like she was when she was little, always wanting to cling to you." Dominic's face was filled with affection as he spoke.

At that moment, Seraphina's gaze fell on me, and she bounced over to my side.

"Aurora, I told Dominic to pick you up. You're a Thorne daughter-in-law, you should come more often."

Yet, it was she who looked like the true Thorne daughter-in-law. I stood to the side like a servant, while Dominic and Seraphina flanked Emma, Leo standing behind Seraphina.

During the family's annual remembrance ceremony, I was relegated to the very back of the procession. Dominic, meanwhile, stayed glued to Seraphina's side, even taking off his cashmere coat to offer it to her.

The outdoor memorial was long. Emma said we could wander off on our own if we liked.

Alone on the sprawling hillside, I had just closed my eyes to breathe in the wind when a voice spoke softly behind me.

"Aurora. How does it feel to be the one nobody wants? Tell me, does it hurt?"

"What does your family money matter? The Thornes never saw you as one of them."

"Emma never liked you. Dominic...well, he likes you even less."

I shut my eyes slowly, my voice tightly controlled. "Whether they like me is their concern. Not yours."

A cold laugh escaped Seraphina as she closed the distance between us. "Oh, but it is."

"Aurora, mark my words, whatever you have, I'll take it all. Your son, your husband, even your place in the Thorne family. Then you'll be nothing but trash, and no one will even spare a glance if you die!"

I never imagined my former best friend had been eyeing me with such venom all this time. Back then, when I faced a double betrayal of friendship and love, I cried until I couldn't see. But now, it seemed so worthless...

I turned to her. "Are my things so desirable that you have to snatch everything? Don't you see how pathetic that makes you?"

My words found their mark. Seraphina's face twisted with fury as she backed me toward the edge of the sheer slope. "And you think you can call me pathetic?"

"our husband is mine. Your son calls me 'Mom'. And that husband of yours? He never stopped loving me. He only married a castoff like you because I asked him to."

I stole a glance behind me. The drop was perilous. I tried to shove her away, but Seraphina only sneered, a challenge curling her lips. "Don't believe me? Let's put it to the test."

Then she lunged.

She threw herself at me, dragging us both over the edge and down the hillside.

"Dominic! Help! Aurora's gone mad!"