Chapter 99

“Did you just hit me?” Thomas stared in disbelief. He was accustomed to gentler women, and Aurora’s sudden violence completely surprised him.

Aurora sneered and struck him again, in the same spot. She mused, He was trying to sneak into my room with a key. I can’t let him off easily.

Thomas reacted, his usual gentleness vanished. He braced a hand against the wall, lunged, and tried to grab Aurora by the throat.

Aurora stood firm, raising her hand and releasing a cloud of powder into Thomas’s face. It was a new concoction, and Thomas would be its first test subject.

Caught off guard, Thomas coughed, choked by the powder. Seeing the white substance on his hands, he scoffed, “You should have used lime.”

Thomas thought, She’s too naive to use flour; it’s far less harmful. Jaxon already told the servants to stay in their rooms—a perfect opportunity. I must take her down tonight. I won’t be careless again!

Aurora raised an eyebrow. Since you find that insufficient, I’ll give you more! she thought, kicking him in the groin. He screamed in pain.

Aurora coldly observed Thomas curled on the ground, then slowly clapped her hands, exclaiming, “I didn’t expect a man’s screams to be so loud!”

Jaxon, on the third floor, heard the scream. Something was wrong. He rushed downstairs to find Thomas on the floor, his face a mixture of flour and blood, looking pathetic.

Jaxon thought, Thomas, a grown man, can’t handle a little girl? What a waste! If I’d known he was so useless, I wouldn’t have let him come. How can he still accept my gifts?

Aurora met Jaxon’s astonished gaze, raising an eyebrow.

“Dad, he tried to sneak into my room to steal something,” Aurora stated, wanting to avoid delay. “Look, the key’s still in the door. Let’s call the police. His fingerprints must be on it.”

Thomas’s accusations died in his throat.

Jaxon wouldn’t let Aurora call the police; Thomas implicating him would be disastrous.

Avoiding eye contact, Jaxon helped Thomas up. “Aurora, it’s late. Let’s not bother the police. He’s our relative; be friendly.”

“Look what you did to Thomas! He didn’t even blame you, yet you hold a grudge.”

Aurora feigned surprise. “Dad, what are you talking about? He clearly bumped into the door. How is that my fault?”

Thomas was stunned. Aurora’s twisted narrative left him confused. “It was you…” he instinctively retorted. He wouldn’t let the beating go unpunished.

“Why don’t we call the police then? Let them handle it,” Aurora suggested, smiling.

Both Thomas and Jaxon paled.

Thomas secretly eyed the key. If I steal the key and flush it, I can destroy the evidence. But Aurora is quick and would stop me. My body still aches. If I fail, I’ll expose myself. After all, Aurora is Jaxon’s daughter. Jaxon wouldn’t help me!

A fierce internal struggle ensued. He was the one who was hit, yet Aurora wouldn’t let him off.

Finally, Thomas conceded, “Yes, I accidentally hit the wall.” Seeing Aurora pull out her phone, he panicked, “What are you doing? Didn’t we agree not to call the police?”

Aurora chuckled mockingly. “I’m recording, so you can’t go back on your word.”

Thomas’s face flushed, but he repeated his statement, shooting Aurora a fierce glare before slamming his door.

Only Aurora and Jaxon remained.

“Dad, it’s late. Go rest,” Aurora said, turning the key, the silver glinting.

Jaxon smiled, feigning concern, then turned to go upstairs. His face darkened. One failure is nothing. As long as Aurora’s at Crawford Manor, there will be more opportunities. Thomas is handsome and popular. He can win Aurora over. Once she’s in love, she’ll obey him. That’s how women are.

Aurora scoffed. Do you think I don’t know your plan? In my past life, I was abandoned and looked down upon; I didn't fall for Thomas then. Now I’m at Royal University, have my own company, and a bright future. How could I like that useless Thomas? Men are trash to me.

She recalled Annie’s question, a man’s face—Harrison—emerging in her mind.

Aurora pressed her forehead, dismissing the image. Annie’s influenced me. There are better ways to deal with that woman. Why did she choose this? I’ll teach her tomorrow.

Early in the morning, Aurora was awakened by a noise. An ambulance was parked in the garden. Thomas, now lifeless, lay on a stretcher.

Aurora thought, The medication finally worked, slower than expected. I need to adjust the dosage. Hopefully, this will keep Jaxon and Thomas busy. I’m tired of their schemes.

At 6:30 AM, Aurora awoke. After washing, she opened the door to find the maid mopping. “Ms. Crawford, good morning.”

Aurora nodded. “Thomas fell last night and left flour. Please mop carefully so Griffin doesn’t make a mess.”

The maid complied. By the time Aurora finished breakfast and collected her suitcase, the floor shone, leaving no trace.