"Let me go!" Aurora screamed, struggling against Luca's hold. Fear filled her eyes as she stared at me.

"I'd like to speak with her, Damon, please," my mother said. I sighed and stepped aside.

Luca slowly raised her until she knelt, facing everyone.

"Why did you try to kill me?" my mother asked. Aurora scoffed.

"Because I needed you to reach my goal. If you all turned your back on Clara, she would be gone, and I'd finally have Damon all to myself," she said. I finally saw her true nature.

"So what Clara said was true? You were the one who made my mother sick so you could remain relevant in my life?" A gasp of shock rippled through the room. My mother looked like she was about to cry; my father, like me, seemed to be suppressing his anger. "You have no idea what I'll do to make you mine, Damon. I love you more than that bitch ever—" Before she could finish, I punched her across the cheek, disregarding the fact that she was a woman. I intended to do much more.

"I'm going to enjoy killing you," I muttered, straightening up. She was silent for a moment before erupting into maniacal laughter.

"You can't deny you used to love me, Damon. You turned on your own brother because of a lie I told—all of you did! Why? Because you loved me. You can deny it all you want, but I was your first love, not her! You will always belong to me!" she screamed. I frowned. Dimitri hadn't raped her, and I how could I have been so blind as to believe her over my own brother?

"You lied against my brother? Why?" Delilah asked. Aurora rolled her eyes.

"He was head over heels for me, and I hated him for it. How could someone like him fall for me? He was pathetic and easy to manipulate, and I needed to get rid of him after he discovered my secrets. It was so funny watching you all take my side over Dimitri's. And the fool didn't say anything because he loved me," she said, laughing. My frown deepened, and I clenched my fist.

"Where is Dimitri?" my mother asked. I sighed.

"He's with Clara. I sent her away because I didn't want Father or Delilah hurting her, so he went with her. He should be heading to the safe house. I'll get them after I'm done with this lunatic," I said. Aurora giggled.

"Clara is with Dimitri? He finally succeeded in getting her, huh?" she said, drawing our attention.

"What do you mean by that?" I asked, taking threatening steps toward her.

"You better not waste your time on me and go get your wife before she gets hurt," Aurora said. I immediately grabbed her face, digging my fingers into her cheek.

"What the fuck do you mean by that? Why would she be in trouble?" I demanded. She flashed a devious smile.

"Because Dimitri plans to use her as bait. Do you really think he came here for me? He came here for her, and now you've driven her into his arms. Tick-tock, you're running out of time," she responded, grinning and laughing.

"Why does he want to use her as bait? What are you talking about? Answer me!" I growled, shaking her.

"I don't know the reason either, so you'll have to ask him, my love," she murmured. I glared at her before slapping her unconscious.

"You don't believe her, right? She's insane," Delilah pointed out. I knew she was, but I had a bad feeling.

"I'll try calling him again, and you all should too. Get me a car, Luca. I'll go to the safe house myself," I muttered, pulling out my phone. "What do I do with her?" Luca asked. I paused, glancing down at the unconscious Aurora.

"Give her to the guards, and let them take turns with her, but they shouldn't kill her. I have to kill her myself," I ordered before walking out, dialing Dimitri's number. As before, it went straight to voicemail.

That bastard! If I caught him, I'd kill him!

"Have you reached him?" Delilah asked from behind. I turned and shook my head.

"He isn't answering, and Clara's phone is off. I'll have to go to the safe house myself and get her," I told her. She sighed.

"I'm coming with you. I almost attacked my best friend; I was ready to hurt her. If Luca hadn't stopped me" She trailed off, but I understood.

"I think I should come too. I need to apologize to her for judging her so quickly. She probably hates me more than she already does. I keep ruining my relationship with her," my father said, walking toward us. The guilt was evident on his face.

"You two seem to be forgetting this is my wife we're talking about. She won't be angry at you; your feelings were valid, and all the evidence pointed to her. I, on the other hand she tried telling me the truth and asked me to trust her, but I still doubted her, even if only for a little while. I'll go get her myself. You two should stay here and watch over Mother. Don't worry, I'll bring her back safely," I assured them, dialing Dimitri's number again with little hope. To my surprise, the call went through.

"Dimitri, bring my wife back to me, or I'll kill you," I growled into the phone.

"Don't call me your wife. What? You want to kill me now instead of letting me go?" I froze. Clara's angry voice filled the phone.

"Baby"

"Don't you dare call me that! Dimitri told you I was pregnant, and you still sent me away? If you don't care about me, at least care about your child! I hate you!" she screamed. My father and Delilah gasped.

"What?! Clara" Before I could finish, she hung up.

With shaky hands, I tried calling back, but her phone was off. My shaking hands caused my phone to fall and shatter.

"Damon, it's going to be okay. We're going to get her, okay?" Delilah said softly, wrapping her arms around me. I couldn't process a word.

Clara was pregnant, and I had driven her away. She probably didn't tell me because she felt unsafe.

My own wife didn't think I could protect her.

No words could describe how I felt.