Aurelia got a text from Monroe later in the day.
Ding.
'did you see the article in The Insider? '
Aurelia frowned and wondered what happened this time around for Monroe to specifically ask her what happened.
' No I didn't. Did they publish some outrageous news about me again?'
Monroe rolled her eyes at the lounge she was. Wondering why her friend was so slow to the happenings in Wextridge, she hurriedly typed back.
'Far from it actually. It's about your dad this time around. You have an illegitimate elder sister somewhere and her mom is even pregnant for your dad again. '
Aurelia was completely stunned. Although she was rebellious to her parents and had a tiny hatred for them, she never wanted to see them separated.
She was vain the way that knowing if that happened, she would be completely cut off by either of them.
She still wanted to be the baby of her parents and did not want an outsider in her family or home.
'Shit' she muttered under her breath.
Monroe wanting to give her the full details, she sends a link text to the article online.
'Quickly go through it. It becomes more insane. What are you going to do now?'.
Aurelia wanted to believe that it was not real but she could not knowing that The Insider never really published complete lies. That meant that her father actually had been cheating on her mother even before she was born.
She was lost and afraid of the realisation that she might have to give up her position as the only dearest daughter of the Burton house. She wanted to remain the only one and right there she broke down to tears.
She did not even read the article and she already knew what her ending could be. Her dad was vicious, her mom even more so.
Her maternal grandfather was even more cruel that the both of them as he never saw eye to eye with her and saw her as a stain to the both family's name.
She calmed down and her heart chilled at the outcome of what would happened and fell into a dreamless sleep.
During dinner the family of three looked dull and lifeless. Even Aurelia who would lose no chance to take a jab at her parents was unusually quiet today at the table.
Aurelia did not have any appetite to eat today. She kept on stabbing at her food and was lost in thought.
Alfred noticed the tense atmosphere and realised that his wife and daughter must have read about the illegitimate child he had kept for 22 years. He acted like he did not realise the atmosphere and spoke up
"I notice you have both read the article about our family in the The Insider today".
Aurelia snorted and looked at her mother to get her reaction. She was disappointed that her mother had no reaction to what her father said and she thought that her mother must have known and accepted the reality that her husband had a bastard child outside his home.
She tightened her hands into a fist as her father continued his words.
"Well, I'm here to inform you that the girl would be moving in with us next week as an official member of our family and your mother would adopt her as her daughter" he said turning his head to Aurelia.
Aurelia laughed mockingly and said "It seems like I was the only one left in the dark about this. You do not need to inform me and carry on with whatever you decide. Your wife seems to be fine with it already. Who am I to object, Your majesty?" she bit mockingly.
As if touching her sour spot, Caressa tightened her fist and her face darkened.
She looked up "Shut up and go to your room" she chided.
"As usual" she sighed and left the table. It was unknown what her parents both spoke and argued about but she could her the furious yells if her mother and stuffs being thrown around. She also heard the butler shuffling around trying to separate her father and mother.
Then was an unusual stillness and then her father's furious roars to get the ambulance. Her heart shook and she ran downstairs. Everywhere was a mess. There were broken plates and food strewn about. There was an half broken bottle of wine in her father's hands with blood on it.
She also saw the tables and chairs out of place. All in all it was a disaster.
She saw her mother strewn on the floor like a broken doll unconscious and the medics trying to resuscitate her and her father panting furiously.
This was the first time ever that her father laid his hands on her mom. It would be right to say he almost killed her. He had stabbed her with a broken bottle and flung her across the room.
Over the years although they quarrelled about his numerous mistresses and got into a cold war, he never hit her. This was the first time and it was because of a bastard daughter and a mistress.
Aurelia was beyond furious.
She was in a state of confusion, fury and panic till the ambulance left and her father spoke up.
"Get your things and go stay with your grandma".
It dawned on her that her home was irreversibly broken.
The fight had happened because her father refused to keep his other children outside their matrimonial home. He was also forcing her mother to adopt the child of his flame and she could not accept that.
This was the first day she also looked at her father like a monster.