Sins of the Father

By Janet Eaves

A modern spin on the classic, Sleeping Beauty.

Not knowing what happened when she was a newborn, Aurora has never understood her three "aunts" over-protectiveness. But she's an adult now, and is ready for freedom. When she runs into a man who seems only a handsome struggling artist, it seems the perfect opportunity to break out and take chances. But those she's always been protected from find her, and she can't be sure Philip is what he seems... Is he the danger? Or can he save her, just as a prince once saved Sleeping Beauty?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Janet Eaves
• Release date: Nov 11, 2015
• ISBN: 9781944454845

Janet Eaves

Multi-published author of Legend Series books set in Legend, Tennessee, as well as other sweet to sexy romances, Janet Eaves strives to write stories that awaken the senses. She hopes you smell, feel, hear, taste, as well as see the scenes playing out her character's lives and struggles as they fall in love.Janet shares the Legend, Tennessee, series with her three SisterWriters, though each author (Janet Eaves, Maddie James, Jan Scarbrough, and Magdalena Scott) write and publish their own books within the Legend series. Check them out! You'll find sometimes, our characters visit each other in this wonderful small town!

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Sins of the Father

Janet Eaves

Copyright © 2015, Janet Eaves

Sins of the Father

Media > Books > Fiction > Romance Novels

Keywords: romance, contemporary, fairy tale, sleeping beauty, New York City

Digital ISBN: 978-1-944454-84-5

Digital Release: November 2015

Previously released by Resplendence Publishing & Turquoise Morning Press.

Cover Design by Calliope-Designs.com

Stock art by shutterstock.com and thinkstockphotos.com

All rights reserved. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work, in whole or part, by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, is illegal and forbidden.

This is a work of fiction. Characters, settings, names, and occurrences are a product of the author’s imagination and bear no resemblance to any actual person, living or dead, places or settings, and/or occurrences. Any incidences of resemblance are purely coincidental.

This edition is published by Janet Eaves.

SINS OF THE FATHER

With an evil one seeking to destroy her, just like the Princess in the classic tale Sleeping Beauty, Aurora’s life doesn’t really begin until her heart is awakened by a handsome struggling artist. But can he save her, just as a prince once saved Sleeping Beauty? Or is she doomed for all eternity?

Prologue

"What an incredibly bea-uuu-teee-ful child!"

Jorge and Leigh DeLaCourt threw startled glances at each other over the head of their infant daughter. The comment was something they'd gotten used to hearing time and again since her birth six weeks earlier, but not shouted, and not said with such disgust. They didn't look to acknowledge the owner of the voice. The comment and tone, under the circumstances, was glaringly inappropriate, but being the people they were they graciously ignored the interruption and focused on the moment.

They stood beside the baptism basin located at the front of the ornately decorated, gilded sanctuary they'd donated millions to fund as their priest spoke in Latin to bless their new baby. Doting on each other as much as their new miracle, they locked gazes as family and friends, and even local, state, and national politicians looked on.

The press was there in numbers, too, tucked up in the balconies though only one special photographer was present. He and he alone, would get the exclusive close-up shots of the baby girl. The pictures would then be sold around the world. The proceeds from those greedily awaited pictures had already been promised to the DeLaCourts pet charities. From Children without Corn, to Pet’s Without Partners, and all those fortunate charities in between would benefit from their generosity.

Of course the media had deemed the DeLaCourts the Golden Couple years before, and now, after a decade with only each other to adore, Aurora was their Golden Child. Their lives were blessed. Everything they ventured had turned to gain. And it never occurred to them that it would change. After all, they were considered self-made American royalty.

Genteel.

Polished.

Untouchable.

Beside them stood Phillip and Jessica Princeton, their dearest friends and the godparents of their sweet Aurora. Tall Phillip cuddled tiny Jessica as she held their toddler in her arms. With sophisticated grace they listened to the priest, and then vowed to play their role in young Aurora’s life. Their son, named Phillip just like his father, was also a beautiful child with his riot of curly chestnut hair and deep brown eyes with their unfairly long, dark lashes. And though he was but a few years old they all knew that one day he would take over for his father and run the family’s variety of businesses.

Both couples, while awaiting the blessed event of Aurora’s birth, had planned together that they would encourage a union between their children when they were of age, thus joining two great families, and two great commercial empires.

Even now, when the couples got together, as they often did, the babies shared a playpen as their parents had high hopes of garnering a close relationship between the two from the start. Little Phillip was enthralled with the new baby, and treated her with gentle adoration. And little Aurora seemed just as fascinated with him.

Everything was just perfect.

Rustling sounds heralded the closeness of the stranger who had made the comment. With the long sleeves of her deep blue choir robe swinging, she pushed others, including the Princeton's, out of her way until she stood before the DeLaCourts. With her face pocked with sores and her eyes red with rage, she pointed a snarled finger at Jorge and began screaming, startling everyone clear to be back of the cavernous room. I will ruin her! Just like your father ruined my son, Jorge DeLaCourt! I will end her reasons for living before she lives to see her twenty-first birthday! Then you will lose all, as have I!

She reached into the loosely hanging folds of her robe and chaos broke out in the sanctuary. Words like, Gun! Watch out! and Everybody get down! were yelled as men dressed in black suits with stark white shirts appeared, forcibly removing the writhing, screaming woman from the sanctuary. Her last words, before the large wooden doors closed her out, echoed throughout the room, bouncing off the thirty-foot, ceiling, painted with Biblical scenes.

She will cease to exist, just like my son!

Chapter One

Twenty years and six months later…

Aurora, sweetie, you must stay home where it’s safe.

Aurora Rose held the curses inside, though she was furious to have gotten caught trying to sneak out the kitchen door. She was mostly furious that she’d had to sneak in the first place. She turned to her aunts, ready to repeat words she’d said time after time. But she was more determined than ever to have her way this time. Her few friends had promised a good time and she’d told them she would be there.

I am an adult and I’m not going to get into any trouble. You all know this. You have to stop trying to run my life.

What she hadn’t said was that they were not only determined to run her life, they were ruining it as well. She was the only college junior she knew of who’d had no social life at all while going to high school, nor while attending college and before long, her opportunities at being a kid would truly be over.

The little social life she’d had to this point had very little to do with fun, and everything to do with schmoozing those who could help her launch her career as a clothing designer. She was tired of all work and no play. Mostly she just wanted to hang out with people her own age, not the aunts, nor the professors who thought of her as their star pupil.

It was great that she was considered a gifted designer. It was after all her dream to have a show at Fashion Week in the City within the next couple of years, but she was really tired. And stressed. And getting old before her time.

And it was all because of three old women.

Aurora knew she was just going to have to put her foot down. She looked from one aunt to the next, and then to the last, and felt her heart soften. There was no way she could fuss at the women who’d stood guard over her, as much as raised her, since infancy. Their care had always been as consistent as it finally became curious. At times, even quite odd.

Her parents had gotten involved in something the aunts would never talk about. But whatever the deed had been, it had kept her from ever getting to know them. Of course she’d envisioned everything from murders to drug abusers, but the aunts never confirmed nor denied her guesses. They could, and had, clammed up completely anytime her parents were mentioned, until finally, somewhere around