Death Of Love ~ Silent Love

Chapter 3

The front door opened and the room became frozen with silence. They all couldn’t believe their eyes. Aurora stood at the door willing for them to welcome her inside with open arms and not question her about her disappearance. She was paralyzed with the fear of rejection. She hoped the prayer she made outside would help and save her. For she needed the Lord for her family to accept and forgive her after vanishing into thin air for a decade. She moved a bit closer to them but her legs were pulling her back to Spain but her heart longed for home and her family. She was incomplete without any of them.

“Mother.” Aurora called breaking the silence in the room.

Elena rose in heist from the couch and stood before Aurora. “My sunflower.”

“Mama.” Aurora run into Elena’s arms and they embraced each other.

“My baby, it is really you!”

“Mommy, I am sorry.” Aurora cried her heart out.

“I missed you so much. Please don’t ever leave me again or I’ll die.” Elena wiped the tears that were on her cheeks.

“Oh mom, you don’t know how much I missed you.” Aurora squeezed her eyes closed and tightened the hug. She felt at home after spending ten years in an estranged country. Despite that the matriarch had accepted and forgiven her, she still wanted the rest of the family to welcome her with open arms.

Elena let go of Aurora so Julieta could also welcome her back. Now she had her mother and elder sister, all that was left was the man of the house. Angel eyed Aurora from the head to feet and sat down without showing any kind of love whatsoever. Elena sat on the arm of Angel’s one-seat sofa. Aurora sat on a three-seat couch with Julieta by her right side.

“After the wedding you should leave.” Angel said as he smoked a cigar.

Elena was shocked. “Angel! What is wrong with you?”

“I do not want her in this house. She brings nothing but trouble with her. I will buy her an apartment in Los Angeles.” Angel explained. He knew that what made her leave the country would be back to haunt her and the family. For the sake of his reputation and status, he would risk anything and anyone even if it was his blood.

“Father!” Aurora’s mouth widened with shock. “I am back, and this is how you welcome me? What changed? Do you hate me?” Aurora asked while staring deep in Angel’s eyes.

“I do not hate you. I am concerned about the company. I do not want a scandal that can ruin what I have built in the past twenty years.”

“It is always money with you.” Elena commented. She wanted to say more but she knew it would end with blows on her perfectly shaped face.

“Elena, tell Margaret to prepare the apartment we have in LA.”

Aurora was left speechless. Things were no longer the same. Her big man hated her and didn’t want anything to do with her.

“You can do it yourself. I want my daughter here and with us.”

Julieta touched Aurora’s lap. “Do not mind dad, he is still angry that you left without telling anyone. I am glad you’re back. I know you have just come back but I want know where you have been all this while. This has been eating me up ever since we got to know of your disappearance. So please forgive my heist and tell me.”

“Oh God, you don’t waste time, do you?” Elena was amazed.

Aurora cleared her throat. “It is okay mom. I meet a tourist who took me to Spain.” She looked at Angel and Elena. “Am so sorry to leave without telling you mommy, daddy.”

“Is this all you can say after I wasted millions of dollars just to find you.” Angel said in anger. “You even have the guts to lie to me. I think it is best you leave the country soon after your sister’s wedding because you are nothing but trouble a-

Elena cut him. “Stop it Angel! Is that all you can say to your daughter after living ten years without seeing her? You are so unbelievable.”

“I only have two daughters, Julieta and Blanca. My Aurora…my precious died on the 27th of May 2000. As for this thing in front of me, it is nothing but a ghost.” Angel said from the depth of his heart.

Tears fell from Aurora’s eyes. “Dad please. I am sorry.”

“Angel please don’t say such. You know you don’t mean it.”

“I meant every word I said Elena. To me and the whole world Aurora is dead and buried. You are not my daughter.” After spitting out venom, Angel rose and left the room.

Elena sat by Aurora and wrapped her arms around her. “He doesn’t mean it. Trust me. He is very happy to see you. He is only heartbroken. Very soon, he will come around.”

Aurora placed her head on Elena’s shoulder and closed her eyes. “I didn’t mean to hurt anyone.”

“I know my sunflower.” Elena said rubbing Aurora’s hair.

“She cannot just appear out of nowhere and expect us to roll a red carpet. I think Angel father’s actions are justified. We have every right to know why she left.” Julieta said.

“I know Julieta, but Aurora will tell us at her own time.”

“But mom…Aurora why did you leave? Who and what made you leave?”

Aurora’s face became pale with all the questions Julieta had. There was no way to avoid them. She sat upright and looked at empty space recalling everything that happened after Prom night and what made to leave without alerting anyone.

“I do want to tell you mom. But I do not want to burden any of you with my problems. I have done something so horrible that can further divide both families. Now that there is an opportunity for the Altamira family to make up with the Santa Cruz, why should I destroy it? I am not proud of myself. I have a lot to tell you mom but will you even believe in my innocence?”

Elena’s heart pondered with fear. “What innocence? Is this about Bruno, about you both being together?”

Aurora touched Elena’s hand and smiled to calm her down. “Allow me to talk mom. I didn’t leave out of my own will. The situation I was in forced me to. I took the earliest flight to New York where I met someone. He was very kind. He was a psychology student and he took me with him to Europe. I didn’t have the time to say goodbye to you all. I am deeply sorry mom. I couldn’t think straight at the time. I was heartbroken.”

Julieta’s heart melted with Aurora’s words. “I am sorry to force you to talk. When you feel ready, I am here to listen to my little sister as always.”

“Would you like some juice or coffee?” Elena asked. She wanted the conversation to end seeing Aurora was overwhelmed with pain.

“Juice. I would like to have some juice.” Aurora said and wiped the tears in her eyes

“Martha! Martha!” Elena searched for Martha with her eyes, “where is that woman?”

“She went to the market with Mia.” Julieta answered.

“Oh.” Elena reclined back on the couch…

“Mom, you won’t believe what Victor said. He wants us to add more floors to the hotel in San Diego.” Blanca said as walked to the living area.

Aurora heard a voice identical to hers and rose from her seat in much heist. She turned around and watched the sophisticated lady walking towards her. She was waiting for this moment, to face the person who made her senior year a living hell. Her face become pale and she couldn’t control the fear in her. She thought after the decade she was away; she would be strong enough to match up against Blanca Altamira.

Blanca saw Aurora. Her eyes widened and the knots in her stomach tightened. Her heart was about to explode on seeing a duplicate of herself standing before her. The person who took Bruno from her. How could she? Her high school life was miserable without the love of her life. She didn’t know what would happen now that Aurora was back. Would Bruno leave or stay? If it were up to her, she would kill Aurora with her bare hands and be with her knight in shining armour.

“Look who is back if it isn’t the prodigal child!” Blanca laughed.

“Blanca, is that how you welcome your twin back?” Elena asked.

“Let her be mom. I can care less.” Aurora said as she folded her arms to hide her shivering fingers.

“I never thought you would come back after all that happened.” Blanca said.

“After all, this is my home and I cannot run forever.” Aurora said gathering the boldness to speak to her worst nightmare.

“I am glad you are done running away from the truth, that Bruno is mine and he will never be yours.”

“Don’t worry about that. I am not here for your ‘darling’ Bruno.” She quoted the word darling and rolled her eyes at Blanca. “You must be intimidated with my return, that Bruno might leave you for me? After all you did to me, I might as well consider taking him away from you.”

Blanca let out her devilish smile. “You will never change, will you? You are still the stupid, naïve b***h I was born with. A savage being. You have no morals.”

Aurora stood her ground. “And you are still the arrogant and snobbish b***h I regret being identical to. A chicken that hides behind her little minions and daddy’s money.”

Julieta’s mouth widened with shock. Did she just say that? Oh my gosh! Aurora has changed.

“What is wrong with you both! Can you leave the grudges of the past in the past.” Elena said standing up.

“No mom. I need to explain to this slut that Bruno will never love or notice her.”

“Did you call me a slut? Mom did you hear that?”

Julieta stood up. “I can’t stand all of this. I am going to the garden to finalize my wedding preparations.”

“Aurora, I have changed over the years unlike you. I have grown into a much better person. I am now the most powerful business woman here in California. I don’t care about the hatred you have towards me. I only care about the fact that you are safe and sound, home with us. Aurora, what happened that night wasn’t a mistake. It was bound to happen sooner or later. I know you left because of me and I am sorry for that.”

Aurora didn’t believe any of the words Blanca said. A leopard can never change its spots. A lion can never be a vegetarian no matter what.

“Oh would you cut it! I don’t believe you Blanca. None of this drama you are pulling off will change my perspective of you. It is best you keep this melodrama to yourself. You are still that tramp I know-

“How dare you call me a tramp!”

“Isn’t that what you are, or do you prefer to be called a hussy?” Aurora shrugged.

Elena was deeply angered. “Shut up!!! Will you both keep quiet!”

They were both startled and stood still obeying the words of Elena.

“I have had enough of you both. This is the first and the last time you will exchange words in my house! Aurora, we have been living at peace for the past ten years you were gone. I will not allow you to take it away. If not, it is not a bother to drive you myself to Los Angeles. As for you Blanca, are you not ashamed? You know how critical your condition is. If I may ask, what truly occurred on that night Aurora left?”

The twins looked at each with so much resentment.

Blanca rolled her eyes at Aurora. “I have no time of all of this. I have a business to run if you don’t mind. Please excuse me.”

Blanca turned and walked away back to the study.

“We are now alone so tell me what truly occurred that night.” Elena ordered while staring deep into Aurora’s eyes to catch her in her lies.

“Mom, I had a long flight here. We will talk tomorrow about this.” She kissed Elena’s forehead, “I love you mom.”

She walked away.

“Aurora!” Elena called.

“I am tired mom.”

Aurora dashed upstairs.