Dusk [sequel to Aurora] - HS AU

Chapter 4

And I'll hide from the world
Behind a broken frame
And I'll burn forever
I can't face the shame

Song: Sunburn, by Muse

***

NEW YORK

2001

Narrator's P.O.V.:

Madeline De Loutherbergh always knew her father was trouble.

She was never fooled by the strong family leader facade he wore every day. Ever since she was a child, even before her Neenie was born, Phillip disguised his true self behind the mask of a concerned father who worked way too much, but she knew deep down that there was something else.

It's not like she ever doubted his love, but she knew that his job was more important than anything else in his life. Even when it came to his family.

Phillip De Loutherbergh was a proud man, and Madeline knew it.

But she never, ever thought he'd put his whole life in jeopardy in order to get more money, not when S&L Pharmaceuticals was already such a successful industry.

So when Madeline found out about the illicit drugs secondary business, she was absolutely shocked. Not so much for the illegality of it all, but especially because she never imagined her father could go there just because of money.

Now, she knew he would do anything for money.

At first, she really thought she could talk him out of it by reasoning with him. They were already billionaires, so why put everything at risk only to become richer? It didn't make sense, there was no way their family could ever need more. They had everything already, more than enough to live comfortably for generations.

However, she quickly learned it has never been only about the money for Phillip. It was power he was aiming for - he wanted it all. He wanted to be feared, powerful, in control, and being the leader of the biggest hallucinogens' operation in New York gave him exactly that. He was so drunk in it, he didn't even want to hear what his firstborn had to say - he dismissed her without hesitating, calling her a child and a hypocrite.

Which brought Madeline to this moment, where Estelle's arms are wrapped around her body tightly, tears rolling down both their cheeks.

"Are you sure?" Her mother whispers into her ear, her voice heavy with emotions.

Maddie nods against her mother's shoulder, feeling like it's too soon to let go of her embrace. "I have to." She mutters. "I just wished you could come with me."

"You know I can't right now." Estelle sobs. "I can't take Aster from school out of the blue, it's something I need to plan."

"I know, I know." Sighing, Maddie breaks from the hug, so she can look directly into her mother's eyes. "But you're doing it, right?"

Estelle smiles between her tears. "Yes."

"I'll look for a house big enough for the four of us." Maddie smiles, then takes a deep breath as she looks down to the watch on her wrist. "I gotta go now."

Estelle's heart constricts in her chest as she watches her daughter walking away with a wheeled suitcase firmly attached to her hand. She tries to hold up the tears, her mind rushing as she searches for a way out of this whole situation, a way to convince her husband their daughter's happiness is more important than any other thing in the world.