Chapter 23
invasion from. ter pop charging sound the mouse. There was no way she was about to admit she’d been the one to make the first
nie die postered. A Yeah, I slipped. I just wanted Aurora in grab my hand, but somehow
The mind was right there fin carryone biter, but she wo till trying to weasel her way out
ckle and slid an arm arenimi) Matra’s shoulders. “Manra, you are in cold,” she murmured, her right hand slowly.
cher neck, then up to the back of her head, fingers combing through her hair…
Leaning in close, bevioler diopped in a line, devilishe whisper. “Maybe you shinald head to the hospital, huh? You wouldn’t wanna catch a cold to
The
Antoras hand moved and her voice lingered brought back the soffocating memory of being forced underwater Maura’s breath hitched in pamic, and withew thinking, she stepped Auroriós hand away before envering her head and se
“Don’t moich met
Arenales het go and coldly, watched as Maura sõnni od back a couple of steps, shaking against the desk.
Already cracking, my dear sister! Aurora thought. “This is just a warm uja. Compared to what you diel to me in my past life, this is nothing!
Aloon showed Aurora avide and pointed maccusing finger at her. “What did you do to Maura! You’ve seared her half to death. Did you pinch hier or
Alison, was convinced Maurs wasn’h that fragile—she knew Maira could swim. For her to freak out like this, something had to hune happened in thai pool something Mumta did to her. And the way Aurora had slipped through their fingers more than once only made Alison more sure of her
Aurora ranoid both hands innocently and flashed a soft smile at Maura beland her. I was just comforting her. If I had any had intentions. I wouldn’t have jumped in to uw her, would 15
Alison chokes on her words. She couldn’t argue with the footage, the evidence didn’t lie. This round was a loss for them.
“You think you’ve covered all your tracks, huh? One day, I’ll figure out the truth,” Alison shot back, her voice firm, like a warrior refusing to bow to
Aurora wasn’t as fanocent as she seemed, and Alison was 100% sure
Ever since that showdown at the Lloyds banquet, Alison had a feeling that A Aurora must have done something to Mira
Damon, eyes full of concern, reached out to comfort Maura, but before his hand even got close, Erik, who had been watching him like a hawk, cut him off with a snide remark, his voice dripping with sarcasm, “Damon, Maura is Josh’s lancée. Why are you bending over backwards for her? If the Newtons find out they’ll have your head”
Damon’s hand froze in mid–air, his face neisting in shock and anger. “Why’s your mind always in the gutter? I’m just concerned about her as her classmate, and that’s all. Maybe you should read more books and clean out those filthy thoughts in your head.”
Eric shrugged and took a heavy sigh. “Well, whatever you say, man”
Auroras paze slid past Alison and locked onto Maura. What she said next put Maura in an impossible position “Maura, now that the truth’s out, I’m not even holding it against you for wanting to push me into the water. I pulled you out, and not a single thank you‘ to me? Really?“
Maura’s face flushed and then turned pale, and the struggled to keep her expression under control. She cursed in her mind. Thank you! After you dunked my head underwater three times and making ine choke on the pain of drowning, you even have the nerve to ask for gratitude! I just can’t wait to strangle you‘
If looks could kill, Aurora would be lying in a bloody heap
in by now.
Erak nodded and chimed in. “Yeah, Auror is Maura’s sister, so maybe no grand gift is needed, but a single thank you isn’t asking much.”
“Right, right, it was a life–saving moment, someone else echoed
Another student expressed his opinion. “I saw the footage. Aurora didn’t even hesitate before jumping in to save her. Saying thanks is just the decent thing to do”
The ones who had been standing with Daimon and accusing Aurora earlier, were now the loudest to back her, like they were trying to prove they ludn’t been part of the moli.
Maura suddenly found herself in a dilemma, and she bit down hard on her lip. Her hands twisted her soaked clothes so tight that water dripped to the floor laude, ber fury was rising, threatening to drown her.
“It was Aurora’s fault to begin with. Why should I thank the one who hurt me! If I thank Aurora now. I’ll be admining that Aurora saved my life and putting Aurora in the position of may savion. I will be beneath her forever, and that’s something I can never tolerate. Damn it. How can I get out of
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Chapter 23
this? Maura thought to herself
Maura was trapped, feeling like the ground right open up beneath her–and hoping it would, so she could just disappear.
about it.
Aurora gave a sdy, alusot annised smile, mimicking Maura’s usual display of magnanimity. “Forget anything, let’s not force her. After all, we’re family. No need to get all distant over a simple thank you?”
guys. If Maura doesn’t want to su
At this point, whether Maura thanked her or not, her perfect image was already starting to crack. The crowd began whispering, and it was clear Maura’s usual manipulative ways had finally backfired.
T’s just a thank you. Is slly that hard to say?” one student whispered to another.
“Maybe there’s bad blood between the sisters? But hasn’t Maura always talked about Aurora like they were close another replied.
Well. Mar
Maura’s not the real Crawford heiress, right! Now that the rightful one’s back, how could she not care? Someone else made his point. Erik tilted his head as if chatting casually with Aurora, but his words were clearly aimed at Damon and the others. “Aurora, you’re way too nice. You saved someruse and didn’t even get a thank you. On top of that, you got blamed for everything. If it were me. I’d lose it.”
Aurora let out a deep, exaggerated sigh, raising her voice just enough for everyone to hear. “Well, Maura’s my sister. Even if we’re not re blood, we still live under the same roof. How could I not save her?”
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Their conversation was like a series of sharp slaps across Maura’s face, commering her with no way out. Maura couldn’t stand the thought of Aurora flaunting the title of her “savior, but at the same time, she didn’t want to destroy the inuge she had so carefully crafted
Alison, unable to take it anymore, stepped in front of Maura and glared at Aurora. “Aurora, can you swear you didn’t do anything to Maura in the
Before Aurora could respond, Maura had already made up her mind. She stepped forward and took a deep breath, the air stabbing her lings like knives as she forced a smile. “Aurora, thank you for saving me
Aurora patted Maura on the
on the shoulder, her voice dripping with satisfaction “No sweat. It’s what I had to do”
“Who would’ve thought that using Maura’s own tactics against her would feel this swert In my past life, Maura always drove me into isolation and turned everyone against me. But today. I finally got to make Maura have a taste of her own medicine, Aurora thought with a smile.
Just then, the bell signaling the end of class rang, cutting the tension and mercifully for Maura, dragging her out of the uncomfortable moment
Aurora, clearly pleased with the situation, walked out of the security room, leaving behind a silence that sounded like chairs or tables of hiren knocked over, with things scattering across the flour
Suddenly, panicked voices followed. “Maura What’s wrong? Wake up?”
as quickly shattered by a loud crash
