Betrayal, Reckoning, and Aurora's Road to Recovery

Stepping out of the villa filled with the stench of betrayal, Aurora Morales felt an overwhelming sense of relief. At first, when the truth stabbed her like a sharp blade, grief and pain engulfed her like a tide. However, as time passed, she found herself gradually letting go. Compared to discovering the affair between Valentina Morales and Javier Fernández after marriage, it was a blessing in disguise to see clearly in advance, avoiding the potential entanglement of divorce in the future.

Yet, facing Ricardo Vargas from The Vargas family, Aurora knew it would be an arduous challenge.

The next morning, sunlight streamed into the dining room of the Morales family. Aurora went downstairs and saw Diego Morales beaming with joy, a stark contrast to his worried look yesterday. Aurora quietly sat down at the dining table and started having breakfast in silence. In this family, she had long been like a transparent person, with no sense of presence.

"Master, what on earth has made you so happy?" Catalina López asked curiously.

"Javier just called me. Not only does he not want the betrothal gifts back, but he also intends to add another five million. He said he wants to marry Valentina!" Diego Morales said excitedly.

Upon hearing this, the spoon in Aurora's hand suddenly stopped. Add another five million? For Valentina? Over the years, Aurora had witnessed Valentina flirting with numerous men and had often seen her coming out of hotels. Aurora really couldn't understand why Javier would be infatuated with such a woman. Could it really be that he was rich and foolish?

"Dad." Valentina descended the stairs gracefully at this moment. After hearing this, a sweet smile bloomed on her face. "Dad, keep your voice down. Javier just broke up with sister. If sister hears about the increased betrothal gifts, she'll be sad."

Diego Morales smiled and beckoned to Valentina. "You're really my sweet - hearted girl."

Aurora sneered. "So, in your eyes, the daughter who can bring you money is the good one?"

Diego Morales' face instantly stiffened. "What nonsense are you talking about?"

Aurora put down the spoon and looked directly at Diego Morales with clear eyes. "In your view, Valentina and I are like two 'banks of profit'. The one who can bring you more wealth is the one you dote on, right?"

Valentina immediately adopted a gentle tone. "Sister, you should be happy for me. Javier truly loves and cares about me, that's why he's willing to increase the betrothal gifts."

Aurora responded with a cold laugh. "Sister, you make money so easily. You can earn tens of millions effortlessly in a year. Why bother working so hard in the film industry? Instead of spending nights with those directors just to get a minor role with few lines, it's much faster to make money by stealing other people's boyfriends, don't you think?"

Valentina bit her lips, and a hint of venom flashed in her eyes. She immediately pouted her red lips, shook Diego Morales' arm, and said with a sobbing voice, "Dad, look at sister. How can she slander me like this? I got those roles through my own efforts, but sister maliciously speculates about me."

Diego Morales flew into a rage and pointed at Aurora, scolding, "Do you think everyone is as promiscuous as you? Your sister has made a name for herself in the entertainment industry through her own abilities. What's wrong with that? It's much better than you constantly spending the Morales family's money without contributing anything!"

Aurora didn't reply. She got up and walked straight upstairs, leaving only a sentence, "You can calculate carefully how much money I've spent in the family in these four years. I'll pay it back to you without a penny less."

However, Valentina, like a persistent ghost, chased after her again. She pushed the door open and entered Aurora's room, closing the door behind her. Seeing Aurora sitting by the window without makeup, immersed in a book with a pure and refined air, jealousy filled Valentina's eyes. She was indignant. Why could this woman who had lived in the countryside for eighteen years possess such an air?

"Sister, don't be angry. I'm here to apologize to you." Valentina said hypocritically.

Aurora didn't even raise her head, just continued turning the pages of the book and replied indifferently, "There's no need to apologize. Instead, I should thank you for taking over the trash I don't want."

A triumphant smile appeared on Valentina's face. "Trash to you, but a treasure to me. You have no idea how good Javier is to me. He indulges my every whim, dotes on me, and grants my every wish. Look, sister." Valentina raised her wrist, showing off a delicate bracelet. "This is a limited - edition item worldwide, designed by the famous master Alberto. Only ten pieces are sold each year. Javier queued for half a year through connections to buy it for me to make me happy."

Aurora sneered disdainfully and averted her eyes. "Just wait. What he did to me yesterday, he'll do to you tomorrow."

"Sister, you're just jealous because you can't have it." Valentina giggled coquettishly and deliberately bent down, revealing a proud curve as her V - neck collar opened wide. "I also heard from Dad that you plan to pay back the five million to avoid marrying Ricardo. How are you going to do it? Hmm..." Valentina lightly touched her lips with her finger and looked at Aurora's figure with a contemptuous gaze. "Could it be that you're counting on that so - called wild man to pay for you?" Valentina's charming face was full of mockery and complacency. She believed her alluring eyes were a powerful weapon to conquer men.

Aurora looked at her with cold and distant eyes. Valentina felt a chill run down her spine under this gaze. She was both a little scared and mostly disdainful. She thought to herself, even if Aurora had a prettier face, her figure was far from comparable. She didn't know how to please men at all and was really a perfect match for the brutal Ricardo Vargas.

"Is this really interesting for you?" Aurora asked calmly.

"Of course it is." Valentina said word by word. "Because in this family, there can only be one real young lady, and that's me, Valentina Morales. Aurora Morales, you should be content. If it weren't for your good luck, how could you have returned to the Morales family, enjoyed a life of luxury for four years, and met Javier Fernández? Now, it's your fortune to replace me and marry into The Vargas family as Ricardo Vargas' young mistress." Valentina leaned closer to Aurora, a sinister smile on her face. "I heard that Ricardo is 'handsome'. Sister, you should 'enjoy' it well." After saying that, Valentina left triumphantly.

Aurora calmly watched her leave. She took out a bank card from her wallet and was about to put it on the table when her phone suddenly rang.

"Hello."

"Miss, great news! You won the first prize in the design competition, and the master of the family is extremely happy! Also, the company you invested in half a year ago, which no one was optimistic about, has made a comeback, and a large sum of money has been added to your account."

"..."

"By the way, the master of the family said that if you have the opportunity, you can try to get close to The Vargas family. In recent years, The Vargas family has been developing rapidly. Their overseas influence is now on a par with the master's business, and their momentum is strong. But we've been unable to find out what's going on inside The Vargas family..."

A complex look flashed in Aurora's eyes. She silently put away the bank card and said, "I see."

Since Aurora ran away that night, Valentina had informed Diego Morales, and as a result, Aurora was watched even more closely. But by this time, Aurora had given up the idea of calling off the engagement. Soon, the day agreed upon with The Vargas family arrived. Aurora simply packed her luggage, planning to leave with the people sent by The Vargas family when they came to pick her up.

However, just as she was putting away the last item, she suddenly felt a heavy blow to her head. Her vision went dark, and she lost consciousness. When Aurora woke up again, she felt an excruciating headache, as if the back of her head had been split open. She slowly opened her eyes, looked at the white ceiling, and sat up slowly. What came into view was a room in a black - and - white minimalist style. She was lying on the only large bed in the room, wearing a wedding dress that someone had changed her into.

Where is this? A sense of strangeness welled up in her heart. Aurora had an intuition that this was The Vargas family, the room of the terrifying Ricardo Vargas. Aurora got out of bed, walked to the door, and was about to open it and go out when the door was pushed open first. Aurora quickly reached out and turned off the light. In an instant, the room was plunged into darkness. The footsteps at the door paused for a moment. For a moment, the entire space seemed to freeze, and the silence was suffocating. Aurora cautiously took a step forward. At this moment, a strong, calloused hand suddenly grabbed her wrist. At the same time, the door was slammed shut with a "bang". Aurora was startled. The cold touch made her whole body break out in goosebumps.

In the darkness, the man's voice sounded next to her ear. His voice was not as rough and unpleasant as she had imagined, but rather carried a hint of hoarse magnetism. "Trying to run?"

Aurora frowned tightly and struggled hard to break free. The man laughed coldly, and his laughter was icy cold, without a trace of warmth. "The young lady of the Morales family, what are you pretending to be a chaste and martyr for in front of me?"