Fractures
317 Words
Tension hung thick in the Moore estate like the lingering scent of smoke after a fire.
The once-unshakable bonds of family were cracking, revealing fractures that ran deeper than Aurora had feared.
The morning after the gala, Aurora was summoned to a private meeting with Grandfather Moore.
The old man’s eyes, sharp and unwavering, bore into her.
“You’re stirring up unrest,” he said quietly. “Do you realize what you’re risking?”
“I’m risking the truth,” Aurora replied steadily.
Augustus Moore sighed. “The family was built on silence. Sometimes, breaking it can bring ruin.”
Aurora met his gaze. “Or it can bring freedom.”
Meanwhile, tensions within the family escalated.
Lila’s subtle manipulations grew more aggressive—quiet accusations whispered in ears, carefully planted doubts about Aurora’s intentions.
One afternoon, Aurora overheard her stepsister speaking to Mrs. Moore.
“She’s trying to take everything,” Lila hissed. “This family doesn’t belong to her.”
Mrs. Moore’s cold smile was all the encouragement Lila needed.
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Adrian was not immune to the fractures.
Board members loyal to Elliott Moore rallied behind whispered rumors of Adrian’s supposed incapacity to lead.
In a tense meeting, Adrian faced his detractors head-on.
“I may be confined to this chair,” he said, voice steady, “but my mind is free. My vision for this company is clearer than ever.”
His words silenced many, but the threat remained.
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That night, Aurora found Adrian in the garden, the weight of family battles etched on his face.
“We’re being pulled apart,” he said quietly.
“We’re stronger than the cracks,” Aurora replied, taking his hand.
“But how long can we hold together?”
“Until we break through.”
They sat beneath the stars, clinging to hope amid the fractures threatening to tear them apart.
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End of Chapter Thirteen
- Writer
