Chapter 60

Three hard slaps.
The first was for running away from her own wedding, ruining her life in one reckless move.
The second was for chasing after Daniel, even though she knew he was already married-returning home only to seek him out again and again, blurring every boundary between them.
The third was for spreading vague, suggestive rumors online, all in a desperate bid to salvage her reputation-only to destroy herself all over again.
“Aurora, have you lost your mind?” Daniel grabbed her wrist, yanking her away forcefully.
Eleanor stood frozen, half her face red and swelling, disbelief etched in her scream. “Aurora, why did you hit me?”
Aurora tore her arm free from Daniel’s grip and took two steps back, her mocking gaze so sharp it nearly cut through the air.
“Daniel, are you Eleanor’s lapdog now? You do whatever she tells you to?”
She had spent so long wondering why Daniel refused to divorce her. Was it lingering affection? Was it simply habit?
No. In the end, it had nothing to do with love at all.
Daniel’s jaw clenched, veins bulging at his temple as he struggled to keep his rage in check.
Eleanor’s eyes brimmed with tears, her whole posture radiating wounded innocence.
“Aurora, you’ve got it all wrong about Dan and me,” she pleaded. “I told him not to divorce-not for myself, but for you.”
Aurora arched a brow, laughter cold and cutting. “Oh, really?”
Eleanor bit her lip, shrinking under the weight of Aurora’s knowing, merciless gaze.
“You’re his wife, Aurora. I just wanted you both to be happy together—that’s all I ever wanted.” A tear slipped down her flushed cheek, her sincerity almost convincing.
“Happiness?” Aurora whispered, her voice barely audible.
Her lips curled into a bitter smile. “Happiness would be a world where you never existed.”
Eleanor went pale, swaying on the spot.
“That’s enough, Aurora. Eleanor is your sister,” Daniel snapped, his frustration boiling over.
As if there were any real difference between these words and cursing Eleanor to hell.
Aurora’s fragile composure shattered at his defense of her. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ.net
Tears shimmered in her eyes as she looked up at her husband. “Let me say this again, Daniel. You make me sick.”
“You won’t divorce me because the whole affair is a public scandal. If you did, she’d be branded the other woman for life, wouldn’t she?”
“So you drag this out, refusing to let me go. All to protect her.”
“You really are pathetic.”
She let every ounce of her pent-up pain and humiliation pour out, her words sharp and merciless.
“Aurora, that’s enough,” Daniel warned, his voice low and trembling with anger. “No, it’s not enough! Not even close!”
Aurora’s shout cracked through the air, her fury finally erupting.
“You sacrificed everything I had my life, my future for your reputation and your precious image. Why? What gives you the right?” Her scream echoed through the garden, desperate and raw.
“Stop.” Another voice cut through the chaos.
The commotion had drawn everyone’s attention; Samuel was the first to arrive.
He took one look at Eleanor, still clutching her cheek, and gently pulled her hand away. The red imprint of a slap seared across her face, and Samuel’s eyes blazed with fury.
“You did this?” His voice was cold as ice, his glare fixed on Aurora.
Eleanor’s tears fell faster, shining trails down her face.
Samuel, trembling with rage, spat venom at Aurora. “No wonder everyone hates you. You’re poison, through and through.”
“All those people online-they’re right. You were born rotten. That’s why you lost your child.”
“Even your own baby wanted nothing to do with a mother as cruel and vicious as you.”
Something inside Aurora cracked, her heart left ragged and bleeding.
She raised her hand to slap the words off Samuel’s lips.
But before she could reach him, Daniel caught her wrist in a bruising grip.
A split second later, Samuel’s hand whipped across Aurora’s face.
The slap rang out, sharp and brutal.
Aurora’s head snapped to the side, ears ringing, the metallic taste of blood flooding her mouth.
Daniel let go of her abruptly, his voice raw and hoarse. “Aurora