First Step

Alfred White had indeed been her nightmare and her body would hurt and tremble at the mention of his name which was neither majestic nor of any noble status. However, she had once really hated him, she hated the man who had never given her any face or given her any father's affection.

In his eyes she was nothing more but a bastard and an additional useless mouth to feed and an unwanted waste that Alfred and and his scheming family went to high extremities to get rid of. But Auriane couldn't be bothered by such people, she could only consider herself as an orphan after her reborn.

"You shouldn't taunt Stella anymore, father would be back in few days and you know that he cherishes her a lot."

He cherished her indeed, but Auriane couldn't help but snort and feel more disdain at her sister's words when she talked about that man that not once darted his attention towards her, but pushed her towards the abyss. So what if he loved Stella, what about their mother?

He forced their mother into a loveless marriage because he had nothing more but lust over the beautiful maiden she has been. But he never expected the young maiden to turn rebellious towards him even when her life was chained to him. He had never thought that after breaking her wings she would still be able to grow new wings and fly.

It was at this moment that Auriane felt that her mother was really admirable because she never gave in to Alfred even when she was caged by him.

Her mother had indeed been someone of great virtue, courageous and daring. It was sad that as her daughter she hadn't taken over such qualities in her last life. She was the closest to her mother, yet she had been so far away from her.

' Had her mother been disappointed?'

Auriane clenched the towel that was used to dry the sweat from her body. Her ever green eyes squinted as her focus never left the white cotton towel in her fair hands.

Nora realized her sudden gloom and felt a sudden tight in her chest. Only at this moment had she realized that she had been speaking for herself, but she didn't think about Auriane who had a harder time that her over years. Reminding her of that so called father who had never acknowledged was simply rubbing salt on her wound. 

However, she couldn't think of a way to comfort Auriane because she was unable to read through her. Looking at her, she could perceive several mixed feelings, but she couldn't exactly how Auriane was feeling.

She seemed sad, yet determined and anxiouse at the same moment, definitely types of emotions that couldn't bring an understanding of Auriane's feelings. Nora simply gave a sigh and patted Auriane's head, causing her to be startled for a while.

"You don't need to force yourself to do anything against your will. I know you don't like father so... don't force yourself to bear with him."

' Force herself to bear with the sly old man? 

   Auriane sneered at this simple thoughts and her expression became sharp, as sharp as a dagger that could easily pierce through a rock.

She wasn't reborn to bear with anyone or comply and acquiesce to their heart desires, so how could she bear with the old man like she had done in the past.

' Who was he to her?'

He wasn't even worth to be called 'father' and he had clearly shown to her that over the years no body was more important to him that the children bore to him by his mistress.

Once she almost got burnt in a fire, but he didn't spare her a single glance and rushed towards Angel who barely got a fright from the fire accident. She was obviously not at the risk of death, still he went for her instead of Auriane who was almost killed by the blazing fire.

Hadn't it been for the neighbors' help and assistance, she would either have been disfigured from head to toe or more, die behind the flames.

How could she even force herself to comply with such a scum? Auriane looked at her sister after a sigh.

"I never intended to comply."

Nora was taken aback for a while, at a fragment of a second she felt that Auriane's words carried a deathly intent, but couldn't help but deny her own thoughts.

Auriane ignored her sister's astounded expression and continued with a cold smile.

"I don't expect anything from him, so it should be reciprocal...right sister."

In simple terms Auriane wasn't going to regard Alfred as a father, so he shouldn't expect any filial piety from her as well.

She definitely had no intention of fighting with Stella or cause trouble for Alfred. But it didn't mean she would quietly accept troubles. If they didn't taunt her, then they'll be no aversion among them.

Even if Nora understood these few words behind Auriane's cold smile, she couldn't refute that Auriane had her reasons. Afterall, their father hd never made things easy for them, but Auriane never ceased working hard to gain his favour.

After working so hard ever years to get her father's favour to no avail, Nora wasn't surprised thather sister had decided to stop. Each human had their limits and Auriane had probably reached hers.

"It's about time."

Nora snapped out of her thoughts and followed Auriane whowas walking towards the house in strides.

"Are you going anywhere."

"Yep, I'm going to visit mama Ben for some issues."

   Hearing that Nora gave a sigh of relief, though she knew nothing much about mama Ben, she believed that the person who saved her sister's life was probably not bad person. So she didn't probe and followed Auriane back to the house.

"Well, you should be careful and.. don't come back too late."

Auriane nodded before disappearing into the bathroom to take a cold shower which took her no less than five minutes and three minutes to get dresses up. She was dressed in a white flouncy gown that barely reached her knee and underneath it, she wore black leggings and a black leather shoes.

At 10:27 she had already arrived in Mama Ben's yard and quickly spotted Mama Ben taking a sip of her tea on the wide terrasse.

"Little girl, you're here?"

Mama Ben nonchalantly, yet with a warm smile as if she had already known that Auriane would be back. 

"It is rare for people to visit this old woman twice, I should really think of preparing a gift for you, what do you think, little girl?"

Auriane gave a little insignificant smile and casually walked towards Mama Ben who was taking another sip of her herbal tea. The fragrant smell danced above with the hot vapour from the cup.

"Mama Ben is generous, but I'm afraid your generosity might be misunderstood for a type of bribe."

Auriane was calm and her words expressed nor arrogance nor did her brows twitch. Though mama had indeed seem to use a wrong provocative term, she didn't seem to bother about it. Thus, Mama Ben's lips curled up with a warm smile.

"You're indeed quite mature for your age."

Mama Ben smiled, but she couldn't know that Auriane had already lived the prime of her age and endured a lot in her past life.

"You praise me too much, compared to you I'm barely a novice trying to acquire from you."

With that conclusion Auriane was able to express the reasons of her presence without making it look like she barely trying to take advantage of the elder lady who he saved her yesterday.

"Why should this old lady impart her knowledge to you."

Mama Ben replied with knowledge of Auriane's request to learn more about herbs and poissons from her.

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