Chapter 78
1249words
I love you, Aurora.
She was stunned beyond words and even till now, she couldn't believe that he had said that. Aurora felt a myriad of emotions; happiness, ecstasy and a swelling feeling that was much more stronger than the rest.
If she closed her eyes, she would be able to see the way his eyes shone with sincerity and how he looked at her with adoration.
Ryan loved her. Her. Aurora Rochester.
A giddy smile rose up on her lips and that was enough encouragement to climb the platform they'd set up at the front of the living room, grabbing the microphone from Mason. For a moment, she just stood there watching as everyone interacted with each other,
There were reporters hanging around, their large cameras hung around their necks, some of them had even begun taking discreet pictures already. From her, she could spot almost everyone and much to her pleasure, everybody that they'd invited had shown up.
She lifted the mic to her lips and gently coughed twice, "Can I have your attention, please?"
The chattering died down instantly and their attention drew towards hers. She caught her mother, who was hanging at the front side of the room, aunty Clara and her father flanking both her sides. Although, the former two were giving her encouraging grins, she didn't smile back,
"First off, can I just say how surprised I am to see the amount of people that turned up despite the late invitations?" Round of soft laughter echoed in the room and her lips quirked, "I mean, now I can see why Rosedale's motto is live and let live," Another round of laughter passed and she allowed herself to smile, grateful for the gentle ambience that had taken over the room.
She switched the microphone to her other hand, taking two steps forward, "In the invitations sent, some of you were told that I'd been chosen to dance for the national arts convention, others were told that it was a surprise celebration for my dad and a few that it was my parents silver anniversary," She paused, taking in their confused expressions and the mutterings passing around but she continued undeterred,
"However, neither of those things happened. It's not my parents anniversary nor is this a surprise party," She took in a long deep breath before dropping the final bomb, "And I didn't pass the trial contest either, all of those were just a rouse to make sure that you all showed up."
Now people were really talking, every reporter present had taken out their cameras and some of the students in her school had already brought out their phones and were recording.
"I called everyone of you tonight because I have an important announcement to make," Her gaze refused to flicker towards her parents, knowing it would only make her falter,
"As from today, I'm giving up my position as prima ballerina of the dance arts institute and I'll no longer be affiliated with the institute," Loud gasps echoed and she tightened her hold around the mic, "I'm sure most of you have heard about the rumors surrounding my family, specifically about my secret half-brother and my mother, while most of what was published is a fabricated lie, however there is a truth in everything that was revealed."
Her eyes ran over the various faces in the hall, they way they looked at her with unveiled interest and shock, "l do in fact have a half-brother and he was sent to jail for crimes he committed, one of them which includes the picture you've seen circulating the internet and everything just made me realize that it was time to finally stand up to what I want. Since the day I was born and up until this very moment, I've been living my life based on my parents wishes and commands,"
"Right from my friend choices to my career path even down to what I eat, everything was and is being monitored by my parents and I've finally had enough. Just a week ago, my engagement was planned without my notice and now the wedding is set to hold in a few months. All of these were taken into actions without regards of our emotions, especially towards Matt who is in love with another."
She pointed towards where Matt stood, hand in hand with a smiling Louisa. She returned the gesture, mouthing a discreet 'thank you' to both of them. It had taken a lot of persuasion but after they'd confessed and acknowledged their feelings for each other, both of them had agreed to her plan. Matt was more relieved to be finally free of the burden from their impending marriage.
The murmurs had gotten louder, she could hear what each of them were saying. Their approval, their surprise and the horror plastered on some of their faces. She allowed herself to turn towards the direction of her parents, Miriam looked like she was minutes away from exploding while Aunty Clara had a flabbergasted expression etched on her features.
"I'm sorry," She apologized sincerely, hoping that they saw the genuinty in her eyes, "I'm sorry but I can't keep living like this, I also have my own desires and wants. I also have dreams of my own and I want to pursue them starting from this moment."
She took a long pause and everyone fell silent with her, only the shutters of the clicking cameras were echoing in the stillness, "I want to be free," Her gaze was fixed specifically on her mother's and Miriam didn't flinch.
Aurora watched as her mother slowly removed her hand from Aunty Clara's grasp, sauntering towards the platform. She held her breath as Miriam drew closer with each daunting step and when her mother finally stopped in front of her, Aurora tried to smile.
But then it came. Quick, sharp and stinging. The slap but into her skin, causing her head to whip to the side so fast it was a miracle her head didn't fall off. She could hear the stunned gasps that echoed from the crowd and the sound of running footsteps in their direction,
"Let me go," Miriam hissed, snatching her hand away from Harry's. She raised her hand to hit Aurora again but her father was quicker this time, stopping her by the wrist,
He shook his head, "You're in front of the camera, do you really want to be doing this right here?"
Miriam glared at him and then the crowd who were all pointing and whispering to themselves. Finally, her gaze fell on Aurora and she glowered,
She took a step forward and then another so that they were feet to feet and then she leaned to whisper scathingly,
"You don't know what you have just done," Her tone had taken a dark edge, one that Aurora had never heard in her life, "Mark my words, sweetheart. You will regret this and when you come back crying, because trust me you will and when you do, it's going to be too late."
Miriam straightened and with one last hateful glare shot at her, she stomped away. Her ombre-colored silken dress flowing behind her as she stalked off.
