Aurora’s POV
I stood outside Jaxon’s house, gripping my car keys so tightly that my nails were digging into my palms.
It had been several days since my release from prison, and these two incarcerations had really opened my eyes to a lot of things. The first time I got out, I was still living like a walking corpse, unable to find any purpose. But this time was different. This time I genuinely wanted to change, wanted to start everything over. I didn’t know where this courage came from, but I thought maybe part of it was because of Thea.
That was another thing churning in my heart. Thea. She had saved me. Again.
The first time Sebastian released me, I knew it was probably because of Thea, but I was too numb then to really think about what that meant. But this time, when Chief Hawthorne told me that Thea insisted I was innocent, when I realized that without her I would have spent the rest of my life in prison, a complex emotion washed over me.
Gratitude? Shame? Confusion? I didn’t know how to describe this feeling.
I wanted to call her, wanted to say something to her, but I didn’t know what to say. “Thank you“? That sounded too simple. “Sorry I hated you for so many years“? That sounded too weird.
Maybe I’d never know what to say to her. Maybe some things couldn’t be expressed in words.
Now, here I was again. I knew Jaxon had clearly rejected me last time, but I had to try again. Last time when I came, I couldn’t even answer why I was there. This time I had to make him see that I was serious.
After taking several deep breaths, I pressed the doorbell.
This time I waited a long time before the door opened. Jaxon appeared at the door, his brow furrowing when he saw me. He looked very tired today, with dark circles under his eyes and his hair somewhat disheveled.
“Aurora.” His voice was calm, but I could hear the wariness in it. “I thought we’d already made things clear.”
“I know, I know you don’t want to see me,” I said quickly. “But I have to tell you something. I want to change, Jaxon. I’m serious.”
He leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. “Change what?”
“Change myself. Change how I treat you and Wyatt.” My voice began to tremble. “I know I was a terrible person before, but I want to learn how to be a good mother, how to be someone worthy of you both.”
Jaxon was silent for a while, then shook his head. “Aurora, when you say these things, all I can think about is how you looked when you first gave birth to Wyatt. You looked at him like he was some kind of burden, something you could finally get rid of.”
My heart took a heavy blow. He was right. I had indeed seen Wyatt as a burden once.
“You never really wanted him, even after all these years.” Jaxon continued, but his tone wasn’t angry, just incredibly tired. “Now tell
me, what’s changed?”
I opened my mouth, but the words stuck in my throat. I didn’t know how to describe my thoughts, how to prove n. ermination.
“But I want to try,” I pleaded. “I want to get to know Wyatt. Even if you can never forgive me, at least let me try to make up for the harm I caused him.”
Jaxon looked at me for a long time, and I could see the struggle in his heart. Finally, he shook his head.
1/2
Chapter 303
“I can’t risk letting Wyatt get hurt again, Aurora. He’s good now, hay, I won’t let anyone destroy that, even the person who gave birth to him.*
These words cut through my heart like a knife. I’m his mother.”
Being a mother is something you have to prove with actions, Jaxon said calmly. And you never have.”
I wanted to argue, wanted to explain, but I knew he was right. Years of hurt had already been caused. How could I prove in an instant that I could be a qualified mother?
“I’m sorry, Aurora.” He started to close the door. “I hope you can find the life you want, but that life can’t include us.”
The door closed, but this time there was no angry slam, just a firm, revocable ending.
I stood there, feeling more desperate than last time. At least last time there had been anger and passion. This time there was only cold rejection, which made me realize what I had truly lost.
Back in my car, I allowed myself to cry. Not just for Jaxon and Wyatt, but for the different life I could have had. And all of it was my own choice.
I was despondently about to start the car when my phone rang. Unknown number.
“Hello?” My voice was still hoarse.
“Aurora Sterling?” A strange mechanical voice came through the phone, obviously processed through a voice modifier.
I immediately became alert. “Who is this?”
“I’m your friend.”
“I don’t have friends,” I said with a bitter smile, “especially anonymous ones.”
“When we have common enemies, aren’t we friends?”
My heart rate accelerated. “If you’re Vanessa-”
“Smart girl.” The voice let out an electronic laugh.
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