Chapter 26: Chapter 26
When Aurora opened her eyes, the sun had risen. She felt her body Supple and where she's laying soft. She sat up and looked at the beautiful designs on the wall.
Where is she? She was taken to the confinement for refusing to wash the toilet. She remembered that there was no bed and she lay down on the floor. She looked at herself and saw that she was no longer in her prison clothes.
She stood up and looked outside the window. Was she dreaming? If it's a dream, she doesn't feel like waking up again. She saw people going about their normal daily activities.
Looking at the busy nature of the people out there, she remembered when she still had her freedom. How she longed to be a free citizen again.
The memory of all that had happened to her flashed through her mind. Her abandonment from her family and loved ones.
The scandal associated with her name and the harsh treatment at the hands of other inmates and the jailers. But none of them could be compared to what Santiago said about her. Her eyes became moist.
How did she get here? Who rescued her from the prison?. She was hungry and needed food but she did not dare step out. While she was lost in her thoughts, the door opened and Eli Rowan walked him with breakfast.
"Aurora" he called her. He entered for a few seconds and the girl didn't even know someone entered. She stood with her back to him gazing outside the window.
Aurora froze when she heard her name behind. She turned herself slowly and came face to face with a handsome man. She stood rooted at a spot not knowing what to do or say.
Eli stared at the face that looked exactly like his sister's. He smiled at her and said " You're finally awake?. And umm.. I am sorry if I startled you". He placed the food on a table beside the bed.
"Here, I brought you breakfast. You should take a bath and eat. We don't have much time left" he smiled sweetly at her. He pointed at another bag containing clothes before excusing himself.
Aurora finally came out of her daze. She's certainly Sure, that she hadn't met this man before. Who is he?.
She took her bath and got dressed up. She ate her meal and waited for the man again. Soon he walked in again, this time putting on a Suit and his hair combed backwards.
When Aurora saw him again, she had a lot of questions to ask him. He came and smiled at her "You're very beautiful Aurora". He complimented her.
"Thank you" Aurora appreciated and bowed her head. "How did I get here? I was in prison"Aurora asked.
"I rescued you" Eli answered and took the chair opposite her. He had to tell her a few things and hear her own story before his Father's Helicopter arrived. They will arrive soon to pick them up.
Aurora raised her head to look at the man who said he rescued her. Did he know her or was he sent by someone?.
Eli saw her Surprised by his words and said next "Its in the news that you murdered someone and poisoned a woman called Palmer. Did you do it?" He stared at her and saw eyes full of innocency. She might really be innocent he thought.
"I did, I was forced to do it. My mother and brother were kidnapped and I was threatened. If I do not follow their orders and do what they instructed me to, they are going to kill my family.
I couldn't let anything happen to them so I did what I was told to do. But I didn't poison Palmer, I don't know who did. That was how I ended up in jail" Aurora explained as her voice was choking with tears.
"It's ok Aurora. I believe you. And henceforth, you'll never experience what you had experienced in the past, ever again"
"You believed me, that I didn't do it intentionally?" Aurora was Surprised. This man didn't even know her and yet chose to believe her?
Her tears were running down her cheeks as her nose became sour. She had longed to hear those lines of words from Santiago but she didn't.
He probably chose to go with the public opinion and left her in the rain. He abandoned her and even said horrible things about her.
He called her a play thing. Her life was not going to be the same again after what Santiago called her publicly even if she comes out free from jail.
"Of course, I believed you. You can't possibly do those things said about you. No child of the Rowan's family had ever been involved in criminal things neither can you" Eli said and kept staring at Aurora.
"How do you mean, do you know who I am, do you know my real family?" Aurora asked. This man talked like someone who really knows her origin.
"I am a member of your real family, In fact, I am your uncle Eli . You are a Rowan. Father and mother will be here soon to pick us. We are citizens of ST Petersburg and I came specifically to look for you and bring you home".
Eli went further to tell her they just got to know of her existence recently and her great grandfather was eager to meet her.
Aurora's forehead went blank.
This news was too much for her to absorb. She blinked her eyes and looked at Eli " What did you say?, who did you say you are to me? I don't think I understand what you said a few seconds ago.