Chapter 21

Aurora barged into the room and, as expected, saw Wendy lying lifelessly on the bed. Her body was covered in bruises and welts. Her arms and face bore dark marks; her lips were smeared with blood, and her disheveled clothes revealed lash marks beneath.

“Mom!” Sebastian sobbed before collapsing at her side, crying uncontrollably.

Aurora’s gaze darkened, her chest tightening painfully. They had only parted at noon, and Wendy had been perfectly fine. How could things have deteriorated so quickly?

“Bash? Don’t cry, Bash, I’m here. Don’t be scared.”

Hearing Sebastian’s cries, Wendy snuggled closer, her voice weak and frightened.

“Mom! Aurora, please save her!” Sebastian pleaded, tears streaming down his face.

Taking a deep breath, Aurora stepped forward, carefully helping Wendy sit up.

“Aurora…” Wendy began, panic evident in her voice. “Why are you back? You shouldn’t be here! You need to leave right now!” She panicked the moment she recognized her daughter, her hands trembling as she gripped Aurora’s arms.

“I’ll take you to the hospital,” Aurora insisted, trying to keep her voice steady.

“No! Not to the hospital, Aurora. That would cause too much trouble,” Wendy pleaded, her red-rimmed eyes brimming with tears. “I know you mean well, but going to the hospital will only worsen things. Ryan and the rest of them… they won’t let me off. I’m more worried about you and Sebastian. They won’t spare us.” Aurora understood Wendy’s tears all too well.

If news of domestic abuse got out, Ryan’s reputation would be ruined, and the entire Klein family would be dragged down with him. Rosalie treasured the family’s wealth and status more than her own life. If this scandal came to light, Sebastian would surely suffer the consequences, and even the Quigley family would face relentless pressure from the Kleins.

“I’m fine. Just need a few days to rest, and I’ll be back to normal.”

Wendy struggled to her feet. She was clearly used to this by now. Being the wife of a wealthy family looked glamorous on the outside, but what went on behind closed doors was another story. She didn’t dare go back to her parents and tell them about it.

“You’re just going to keep putting up with this?” Aurora’s voice was sharp as she looked at the bruised and battered Wendy. “Do you think staying quiet will magically make him stop? The more you endure, the more power you give him. If you can’t stand up for yourself, at least think about Sebastian! He’s growing up watching his mother suffer like this. What kind of future does that give him? Do you want him to live like you? Silent, submissive, barely scraping by under Alexander’s and Whitney’s thumbs?”

Looking at Wendy’s broken expression, Aurora felt a mix of frustration and sorrow. Over the years, the years of manipulation and abuse from the Klein family—and Ryan in particular—had completely worn her down. Wendy wasn’t always like this. Aurora still remembered a time when Wendy was confident, full of life, and ambitious. At a young age, she became a department manager, earning the respect and admiration of many. That was what Bryce had seen when he chose her as the Klein family’s daughter-in-law.

But after the wedding, everything changed. Wendy gave up her career to become a housewife…

Aurora’s words hit Wendy like a hammer. She trembled, whether from pain or fear, and tears silently rolled down her cheek. She instinctively reached for Sebastian, holding him close.

Aurora continued, her tone sharp and unrelenting, “If Sebastian mattered to them even a little, they wouldn’t be treating you like this. They don’t care about you, Mom. They never have. Wake up! This so-called ‘family of prestige’—what’s prestigious about them? Do you really think your silence and sacrifices are helping them?”

Her words struck a deep nerve, leaving Wendy visibly shaken.

“You need to stand on your own two feet, Mom,” Aurora said firmly. “That’s the only way to change things for Sebastian and the only way to protect him. When you’re strong, they’ll have no choice but to respect you. You were a star at your job back then. What happened to the old you?”

Wendy shook her head, her voice cracking with desperation. “Aurora… I… I don’t know how to do that anymore. If I even try to fight back, they’ll take Bash away from me. Do you understand? He’s threatened me before. He said he can make me disappear or, worse, prove I’m unfit as a mother.”

“And you know he can! With the Klein family’s influence, what chance do I have? Even the Quigleys are at their mercy.”

She sank into sobs, clutching Sebastian tightly. Her voice was choked with pain. “The last time I tried to resist, he nearly had me committed to a psychiatric ward. He got a doctor to write a report saying I was mentally unstable. Do you know what that would have meant? It would’ve meant I wouldn’t even have the right to raise Sebastian.”

“If I leave, Ryan will take everything from me. And without me, do you think Alexander and Whitney would let him live a decent life? It's all about Sebastian’s life will…”

Aurora’s heart sank when she saw the raw despair in Wendy’s eyes.

“You don’t have to worry about me,” Wendy whispered, gripping Aurora’s wrist. “Go live your life. Be happy with Owen. You’re lucky you got out of this hellhole. Don’t let them drag you back in. Ryan is furious because you’ve escaped his control, and that’s why he’s lashing out at us.”

“Did something happen with Alexander or Whitney? What happened to Stella? Rosalie came back jumping like a madwoman…”

Wendy’s grip tightened, and her voice trembled with urgency. “Aurora, just stay away. Don’t come back. Please, for your own sake. Being far away from us will be a good thing for you.”

Chapter 21

Aurora’s chest felt heavy, and her bright eyes darkened with cold resolve.

“So, that’s what’s going on,” she thought. She had ignored the calls from Ryan and Rosalie, refusing to be their pawn. But now, it seemed like Whitney had complained to them, and Ryan had taken out his anger on Wendy. They thought they could use Wendy to manipulate her.

“It seems they’re trying to force me out of hiding. Well, we’ll see if they can pull that off,” Aurora thought.

Aurora’s lips curled into a bitter smile. If Whitney thought she could push her around, she clearly hadn’t suffered enough yet.

Taking a deep breath, Aurora met Wendy’s tear-filled gaze and said softly but firmly, “Trust me, Mom. Things will get better. If you’re ready to fight back, I’ll find a way to help you leave this life behind with Bash.”

Wendy froze, her tear-streaked face filled with disbelief. “Do you really think that’s possible?”

Aurora nodded with determination. Leaning closer, she whispered, “Get yourself together. Give me a little time. I promise you, I’ll make sure you and Bash can leave with your dignity intact. I’ll get you everything you deserve.”

Wendy’s hands shook as she clung to Aurora, tears streaming down her face again. “No… Aurora, don’t do anything reckless. All I want is for you to stay far away from here. Don’t let us hold you back. Please, just leave. Run as far as you can, and don’t look back. You don’t know what they’re capable of!”

Wendy’s words carried a weight of hopelessness, but Aurora’s resolve only grew stronger. If the Klein family thought they could keep her chained down, they were about to learn just how wrong they were.