Chapter 4 The News

Aurora's POV

One month had passed since that evening. It has been a month since a stranger stole my innocence.

I had been caught up in the whirlwind of Bennet's betrayal and rejection a month ago. I really made an effort to move on but it wasn't simple though.

Cassandra my stepmother had been making my life miserable.

Cooking, cleaning and other household duties made me feel like a maid in my own house. My stepsister Alicia wasnt any better either. She was the prim little princess who was the queen of the house and never had to do a thing.

She was everything I wasn't and I detested her for it. What I detested most about her though was how incredibly *perfect* she was around my father.

As I scrubbed the floor I heard her voice on the phone, her high-pitched giggle like nails on a chalkboard. She was preparing for tonight's ball which my father had assured her she could go to with Bennett as her date.

I felt sick to my stomach at the thought of him. I should have spent time with him like we used to but he was with *her* instead after rejecting me.

The betrayal still stings like an open wound which I couldn't forget

I rubbed my forehead trying to concentrate on the work at hand but the pain returned.

I swayed slightly, the room tilted and my head spun. My hand clutched the back of the sofa for support as I staggered.

"You can't clean the floor perfectly. You're a pathetic ."

I turned around I saw her standing with her arms folded across her chest in the living room doorway.

She was already ready for the ball wearing a gorgeous red dress. She stared at me with a gleam in her eyes obviously taking pleasure in my pain.

As I staggered once more my knees weak from the dizziness I felt.

she arched an eyebrow.

"How embarrassing, just cleaning the floor and you are about to faint." ! she mocked stepping over the mess I had cleaned ."Did you *really* think you'd ever be anything other than a maid in this house?

I didn't reply. I was unable to. The words felt like they were stuck in my throat and I was too exhausted to say anything..

I wasn't even sure that I had the strength to do it. She went on with a tone full of contempt ." Poor maid."

I tried not to think about the hot tears that threatened to spill out of my eyes

Then my step mother entered the room.

"What's wrong with you? You're a waste of space who can't even do something as simple as properly cleaning the house." Her voice was icy piercing the atmosphere like a knife. T

I tried to say something when he force of her slap caused my head to jerk sideways.

I wasn't surprise. This was my life-constant degrading remarks and insults.

"Stupid omega." She said

I bit my lip in an attempt to contain my tears. I had had enough. It was too much. I felt like I was being choked by the weight of everything.

My father who was unaware of the mistreatment still believed that Alicia was his ideal child. I was nothing more than an annoyance in their idyllic world.

"I'm off, make sure you finish all your chores." Alicia said kicking me as she left with her mother.

As they walked out the door I was left

in the quiet her laughter echoing in my ears.

As I to tidy up the mess they had created I stood there with shaking hands. My head swam as I felt lightheaded once more.

My stomach turned over. I felt waves of nausea sweep over me all at once.

I barely made it to the sink before my body rejected everything I had eaten as I stumbled to the bathroom.

I coughed and held onto the sink as I tried to fight off the nausea.

The nausea didn't go away instead it only got worse until I thought I might faint.

As I tried to steady myself I fell into nothingness.

___

My eyes squinted in pain from the harsh light from the overhead lamp when I woke up.

My head was pounding.

I was lying on the living room couch after blinking and trying to regain my senses.

Alicia and my stepmother were standing above me looking me as if I was a spectacle.

"Looks like someone finally woke up." Alicia said laughing, folding her arms.

I was till too confused to really understand what was happening .

I groaned ad I forced myself to sit down feeling the weight of my lightheadedness drag me back down.

"What's going on?" I asked, my voice was barely above a whisper.

Cassandra crossed her arms and looked at me in disdain .

"Looks like our little maid has finally gotten herself into trouble. ". Alicia said, her tone sickeningly sweet as I stared at her.

"What happened?" I asked again feeling stupid

"My dear you fainted." Cassandra said mockingly." Also, we have a problem now , don't we?

I blinking. "A problem? Alicia's smirk widened as she raised an eyebrow.

"Oh please don't be stupid. You are aware of the situation. Aren't you pregnant."

I froze feeling my heart sink to my stomach. "No-no I-"

"What? Shut up Aurora. For weeks you have been ill. You finally got what you wanted, slut."

Alicia's words pierced me like a knife .

"And who is the bastard that got you pregnant?"

They stared at me with disgust in their eyes and I felt so small, so insignificant.

I couldn't possibly be pregnant, how could that even be possible? .I asked myself as tears streamed down my cheeks.

.All of a sudden , the nausea,. the dizziness and the lack of total control made sense. I shook my head in shock and muttered inaudibly." It's not true, I'm not pregnant."

But before I could finish, Cassandra's hand came flying in the hair and slice through my cheeks as pain blinded me momentarily.

"Slut!" She spat." Now start taking."