"Mom, you're amazing. Just one word from you and everyone thinks Aurora just ran off to have some fun. They have no idea she's never coming back this time." Sharon Sterling sat on Joy Dalton's bed, smiling triumphantly.
Timothy Sterling didn't think for a moment that anything had happened to Aurora. He had a social engagement he couldn't miss today, so he left to attend it. Before he left, he reminded Joy Dalton to call Aurora every so often and, as a punishment, froze her supplementary credit card.
"Now, can you focus on your college entrance exams in peace? In this house, there's no one left to stand in your way. From now on, you'll be this family's most precious, only daughter." Joy Dalton gently stroked Sharon's cheek, feeling more relaxed than ever. She, too, had suffered a great deal because of Aurora lately; finally, all that hardship had paid off.
