Aurora stirred, her body aching with every slight movement. The faint beeping of machines and the sterile smell of disinfectant filled her senses. Slowly, she opened her eyes to find a white ceiling above her. Turning her head slightly, she saw a woman standing by the window, her silhouette framed by the pale morning light.
The woman noticed her movement and turned her voice soft but distant. "You're awake. Let me call the doctor."
Aurora's breath caught in her throat. The voice was familiar yet tinged with an unfamiliar coldness, "Cassandra." Memories flooded back, not her own but those of the original Aurora. Cassandra had been a steadfast friend, kind and supportive, but the original Aurora had repaid her kindness with cruelty, pushing her away in her stubborn pursuit of love.
As Aurora grappled with the emotions surfacing from the borrowed memories, the doctor entered. He performed a thorough check-up before declaring, "Your vitals look good, but you'll need to rest for a few more days. You suffered a concussion, and your body is weak from severe trauma. Don't push yourself." With that, he left the room, leaving Aurora alone with Cassandra.
Cassandra sat on a nearby couch, her expression unreadable as she began peeling an apple. She avoided looking directly at Aurora, her hands working methodically, the only outward sign of her restrained anger. Aurora's voice was hoarse as she whispered, "Thank you for saving me, Cass."
Cassandra didn't respond immediately, instead slicing the apple into small pieces and placing a plate on the bedside table. "Eat it," she said curtly, her tone lacking warmth.
Aurora knew she deserved this treatment. I am not the original Aurora, but the damage she caused is mine to repair, she thought. Summoning her courage, she muttered, "I'm sorry Cassandra, for everything."
The simple words had an immediate effect. Cassandra froze mid-motion, the apple peeler falling onto the plate with a soft clink. She turned slowly, her eyes red at the corners, and let out the anger she had bottled up.
"Aurora!" Cassandra shouted, her voice breaking with emotion. "Do you have any idea how much you've hurt me? I was always your friend, but you treated me like an enemy! I told you not to abandon your studies. I warned you not to marry that man, but you wouldn't listen. You chose to believe the lies your precious sister fed you and stubbornly clinged to that man and turned your back on me!" She paused, her voice trembling. "If Maria hadn't called me, you would've died on that mountain road. You were battered, bleeding, and barely alive, also your clothes were torn. What kind of devil is your husband to do this to you?"
Aurora watched her friend, warmth flooding her chest despite the harsh words. Cassandra's anger was rooted in care, and it made Luna realize just how foolish the original Aurora had been to abandon someone so loyal.
Cassandra took a shaky breath and continued. "What has that bastard done to you, Aurora? How can he be so heartless after everything? You saved his life once! And now this?!" Her voice cracked as she muttered, "You're not thinking of going back to him, are you?"
Aurora snapped out of her daze, shaking her head firmly. "No, Cassandra. I'm done with him. I've been a fool, but not anymore." She took a deep breath and met her friend's gaze. "I've already signed the divorce papers. I just need to collect the final documents from city hall. This marriage is over."
Cassandra stared at her, disbelief flickering across her face before softening into cautious relief. "Are you serious?"
"Yes," Aurora said with a small smile. "I've suffered enough. I've finally realized there's no point in chasing after love that isn't real or sacrificing myself for people who don't care."
For the first time in a long while, Cassandra's lips twitched into a faint smile. She still held some doubt, but seeing Aurora's determination gave her hope. "Good. It's about time you grew some sense."
Aurora spent the next week in the hospital, regaining her strength. Cassandra visited her every day, bringing her meals and keeping her company despite her lingering anger. Aurora felt gratitude swell in her chest, vowing to cherish this friendship and make amends for the original host's mistakes.
When her discharge day arrived, Cassandra handled the paperwork and helped Aurora pack her things. As they walked out of the hospital, Cassandra asked, "Where will you go? Back to the Smith family?"
The mention of the Smiths sent a dangerous glint through Aurora's eyes, but she quickly masked it. Not yet, she thought. I'll deal with them in time, but for now, I need to recover. "No," she said aloud. "I'll go to my apartment."
Cassandra raised an eyebrow. "You have an apartment? Since when?"
Aurora hesitated, then smiled faintly. "It's a small place. Grandpa Brown gifted it to me as thanks for saving Alexander." It was a lie, but a harmless one, she thought.
Cassandra didn't press further. Together, they made their way to the apartment. When they arrived, Cassandra's eyes widened in surprise. The complex was one of the most luxurious in Summer City, located in a prestigious neighborhood surrounded by high-end amenities and corporate offices.
"'Small place,' huh?" Cassandra muttered, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Was this part of your dowry from Alexander?"
Aurora scoffed internally at the thought. "No," she replied simply. "It was a gift from Grandpa Brown."
Cassandra eventually let it go, choosing not to press further. She helped Aurora settle into the apartment before bidding her goodbye with a small, encouraging smile. As the door closed behind her friend, the faint echo of her footsteps fading down the hallway, Aurora leaned against the door and exhaled deeply, allowing herself a rare moment of stillness. She surveyed the penthouse. Though spacious and elegant by most standards, it wasn't her first choice—not even close. Her true sanctuary lay elsewhere, a secluded villa with breathtaking views of the sea, designed as a haven where she could escape the world. But that was out of reach for now.
This place, modest compared to her other properties, would have to suffice. It lacked the high-tech security of her villa and her more valuable estates, but that was precisely why she chose it. It was unassuming and inconspicuous, a place that wouldn't draw attention. As Aurora, she couldn't risk accessing her other properties yet. Doing so might alert her subordinates—people she wasn't certain she could trust after the explosion that had ended her previous life. For now, this apartment was safe. It was functional. And, more importantly, it gave her the anonymity she desperately needed.
After taking a warm bath to soothe her aching body, Aurora opened a laptop she had stashed in the apartment for emergencies. Luna had wealth, but Aurora didn't, she mused. Cassandra had paid for her hospital expenses, and Aurora was determined to repay her. She also needed funds to purchase the herbs required to detoxify the poison still lingering in her system.
The first step was to assess the current state of Aurora's finances. Her fingers flew across the keyboard as she logged into various accounts, taking note of what she had access to. The original Aurora had been careless with money, relying on Alexander's wealth, but Luna had no intention of doing the same.
Sitting back in her chair, Aurora stared out at the city skyline, determination burning in her chest. The original Aurora had been weak and naïve, but Luna wasn't. She'd been given a second chance, and she wasn't going to waste it.
The Smiths, Alexander, and all those who had wronged her would face retribution. But first, she would rebuild herself. Brick by brick, she would rise –not as Aurora the victim, but as Luna, a force to be reckoned with.