Chapter 14
Aurora
“Who’s there?” I got up with a start, my eyes darting to the door as the knock repeated.
My brows furrowed in confusion as I tried to make out who could be at the door.
I wasn’t expecting anyone.
“I’m coming,” I half-screamed when the knock sounded again.
Reluctantly, I got up from the bed, getting clad in a tank top and biker’s shorts.
I walked up to the door, throwing it open for the person to come in.
My heart somersaulted a thousand times when I was met with Nathalia carrying three shopping bags in her hands.
Her eyes dropped to the floor before I could look at her as shame enveloped her.
“The Alpha and Luna said I should give you this. Get dressed in thirty minutes because you’ll be going shopping. They’ll be waiting in the car,” she said, her eyes still glued to her feet.
I stretched my hand to receive the bags from her with utter shock.
Didn’t my parents take me shopping last week? And the week before?
I already had a closet filled to the brim with everything I needed.
I didn’t think this was important.
Why didn’t they use the money to take care of the pack?
I didn’t like the idea that they would spoil me rotten with luxury.
Well, I couldn’t blame them, they wanted to make up for the years that we were separated.
Though I assured them that their gifts were more than enough for me, they won’t hear of it. To them, nothing is too much for their beloved daughter.© NôvelDrama.Org - All rights reserved.
“Each bag contained the dress you’ll wear, your shoes, and jewelry,” Nathalia’s voice shook as she instructed me, placing the bags in my hands carefully.
Omg!
They got me everything from Deevah. It was the most expensive brand!
Happiness swelled in my heart as I hurriedly checked them out, smiling sheepishly like a child who just tasted chocolate.
From the corner of my eyes, I saw Nathalia swallowed hard before shutting her eyes tightly.
She was close to breaking down in tears.
A bad feeling settled within me at my behaviour.
Maybe I shouldn’t have reacted that way.
Pity stirred up in me as she forced a smile before turning to leave.
She must be feeling a stab of pain in her heart at the turn of events.
Despite the bad way she treated me in the past, I was moved by compassion. It was something my mother and I had in common.
Once upon a time, she enjoyed all the privileges of shopping in the most expensive stores, living a luxurious life without having any care in the world.
But there was now a twist of fate.
Everything that was happening was a Deja vu. Except this was in reverse. I was the one living my best life now while she took my place.
We stood in uncomfortable silence as several thoughts ran wild in our heads.
I didn’t know why I couldn’t let her go. The strange urge to help her pricked my conscience.
What was wrong with me?!
“If…you need…ehm…anything… I can assist.” I stammered, struggling to find the right words as her appearance shattered my heart.
Once the high and mighty Nathalia, now reduced to the lowest of the low in a flash of light.
I couldn’t help the question twirling in my head as I stared at her sunken eyes.
Even if she was not my sister as I once thought, I still cared about her.
How was she coping with her new life?
How were the workers treating her after the ill manner she treated them in the past?
Was she suicidal? Her appearance screamed depression as expected.
What was her reaction anytime she saw her former parents?
And how does she feel now that she is an orphan? Alone and scared?
The fact that she had no one to talk to would make things worse for her.
I blinked my eyes to restrain tears as memories of how she was almost killed flashed in my head.
After my father had killed her mother in blinding rage, he pulled out the dagger from her heart, turning to Nathalia shortly with a wicked look plastered on his face.
It took everyone’s intervention to stop my father from driving the dagger into Nathalia’s heart.
We kept convincing him that it wasn’t her fault. Valerie was the one to be blamed before his fury subsided.
One thing was convincing him not to kill Nathalia, another thing was sweet talking him to keep Nathalia as his adopted daughter since they’ve shared memories, but he refused vehemently, emphasizing that he wouldn’t father the daughter of a whore and a cheat.
The pain he felt from the betrayal by his mistress and his driver drove him nuts and made him make rash decisions. But at least it was better than banishing or killing Nathalia. She shouldn’t be punished for the sins of her parents.
“I don’t need anything from you.” Her weak voice snapped me out of my thoughts. “You’ve done more than enough and I’m grateful that I’m alive.”
My jaws dropped in awe as I stared at the girl before me with widened eyes.
Was this Nathalia speaking to me politely?
Or Was I dreaming?
Didn’t know she had an atom of respect until now.
We stared at each other for another minute as uncomfortable silence stretched.
My eyes hovered over her body, studying every nook and cranny.
Despite trying to hide her feelings, they were pronounced.
She no longer looked like the pompous Nathalia I knew. She had lost a lot of weight. They were bags forming under her the dark circles on her eyes. Her collar bones were pronounced and her face looked like it had seen better days.
Her cheeks were flat and her fair skin was now tanned as sun death with her mercilessly every day when she performed her tasks.
I was certain that she cried herself to sleep every night.
Irritated by the uncomfortable silence as I was speechless, I walked away from my door, proceeding to shut it as my hand held the knob.
“Thank you for saving my life,” she whispered before leaving.
I was about to get drowned in pity again when I remembered her instructions.
Fuck!
I had wasted time. I hope my parents weren’t upset.
In a flash of light, I showered, getting clad in the outfit they bought for me.
I didn’t even spare a second to look in the mirror because I knew I was gorgeous.
I grabbed my phone and walked out of the room to meet my parents.
“You look breathtaking, just like your mother.” My father’s words made my heart swell with joy as I made my way to the garage.
My mother wouldn’t stop blushing hard at her husband’s compliment.
“I’m sorry I wasted time,” I mumbled an apology before hugging them.
“It’s okay, my darling.” A smile curled on my lips as my parents took turns to kiss my forehead tenderly.
“After shopping, Daddy and I will take you to get ice cream. I know you are not a child, but their ice cream is the best in town. Your father can testify to that,” she gave a hearty laugh.
“After that, we will run in the woods. It’s something we did regularly with Nathalia,” he went silent for a while. “But we would love to do it with you. I would love us to connect more as a family if that’s okay by you,” he stared at me as if waiting for my permission.
“It’s more than okay.” My voice shook with tears, but I was quick to stop it.
Tears welled in my eyes at their sweet gesture and I didn’t know when I started crying, despite blinking hard and fast.
For the first time in my life, I was shown affection by my parents.
To even think that they threw a big party for me to celebrate was more than what I could ask for.
I was given everything I had cried and prayed for after twenty years of suffering.
Thank you, moon goddess.
Everything was beautiful with my loving parents beside me, guiding and supporting me each day.
For the first time in a long time, my life was beginning to make sense.