Trash Husband, I'm the Top novel Chapter 12

Aurora swallowed down the bitterness rising in her throat, waiting for her mother’s accusations to run their course. When the tirade finally subsided, she spoke quietly. “I was hospitalized.”

Fiona Zade was startled for a moment. Of course she knew about the hospitalization—she wouldn’t have tracked Aurora down otherwise. Still, she was convinced this was just another one of Aurora’s ploys.

Her daughter had grown up in the countryside, sorely lacking in proper manners. For the past month, Aurora had been throwing fits, desperate for her husband’s affection.

“Dan and Eleanor have known each other since childhood. What’s the point of all this drama?” Fiona’s tone was all reprimand, her brow furrowed in disapproval.

A sour ache pressed against Aurora’s chest. Her mother, just like Daniel, believed she was acting out—doing it all for attention.

“My child is gone.” She tilted her head back, her pale face as calm and indifferent as ever.

Fiona froze, stunned. Gone? She was speechless.

Aurora caught the look in her mother’s eyes—equal parts stunned and unmoved. A cold, ironic smile touched her lips as she drew out her next words. “The night you were all celebrating Eleanor’s birthday, I kept calling. Over and over. None of you picked up.”

Her voice was flat, almost casual, but the bleakness of that night—the rain, the pain, the desperate loneliness—hung in the air between them.

Fiona’s expression turned rigid. She remembered that night well. She’d seen Aurora’s calls, but, never having been fond of this daughter, she’d chosen to ignore them. She’d meant to call back later, but there had been things to do, and she’d simply forgotten.

“Aurora, I…” Instinctively, she wanted to apologize, but the words wouldn’t come. What kind of mother apologizes to her own child? Besides, it had been an accident—no one had wanted it to happen. And really, what did Aurora’s loss have to do with them? Or with Eleanor?

With that thought, her confidence returned. “This has nothing to do with Eleanor,” Fiona said, her perfectly shaped brows knitted in confusion at Aurora’s anger toward her sister. “You’re still young, Aurora. You’ll have another child someday.”

“You shouldn’t have humiliated your sister in front of everyone. We’re family. When one of us is disgraced, we all are. Do I really need to explain that to you?”

Fiona bristled, more embarrassed and enraged than she cared to admit. “Those years were hard for your father. We had no choice. Still, you never lacked food or clothes. Why do you harbor so much resentment?”

Resentment. That was the right word.

It was resentment that had shaped Aurora’s cold, distant heart.

“Sure, times were tough, but you still managed to raise Samuel and Eleanor. Just not me.” Aurora let out a hollow laugh.

Put on the spot by her daughter’s words, Fiona felt a mix of shame, anger, and an uneasy guilt she couldn’t quite name.

She waved a hand dismissively. “Even if we were unfair, Eleanor is innocent. She’s always cared about you, Aurora…”