the hallway. The soft light of dawn filtered through the curtains, casting a pale glow over my

the door. The voices in the hallway grew louder, more frantic. I recognized them immediately-my fa

Two of the maids were speaking in hushed whispers, their expressions anxious. My father

alls. "I want every inch of this house searched and Aleci

Ale

ecause of the sleep, but once I understood my blood ran cold. I felt the

razy stunt, just like when our father

in the pit of my stomach

ne. Alecia

d into the hallway, the maids falling silent as they noticed me. My father

?" I asked, though I a

voice low and dangerous.

obvious signs, that she hadn't done so

I asked, my voice ba

ied, his tone clipped. "Her room was empty when the

e he had been clutching it in his fist. I stepped clo

bly Alecia's, the letters scr

g chip in anyone's game. Don't

departure. I felt a wave of anger and hurt crash over me. How could she do

ve to be selfish

t so was the thought of letting your family face the brunt of his wrath, all because what...she was t

wo it was, I found it

through my thoughts before I cou

lt, everything we've worked for-gone." His voice was cold, lac

love to dwell on Alecia's stupidity and the fact that she had just put our enti

to do?" I asked a

hallway, his brow furrowed in deep thought. I could see the tension

ed and deliberate. "The marriage contract was drawn up in Alecia's name, but the Carusos don't care about that. All he care

e as he added. "We m

e I couldn't understand the meaning behind them. But the moment the meaning of h

stead," I spoke reality, ra

regret flicker in his gaze. But it was gone as quickly as it had appea

rmined. "At the moment, I don't even have half of the money and Luca Caruso is n

out number, when his name would be written in the news, displaying the go

of doubting my father's words. And for that, the anger I fel

his late fifties with residing hairline and pot like belly.

so. "You know I can't do tha

mention of Macro. It was obvious he wasn't taking the fact that

ring. "You're going to abandon your fa

ew steps b

other's there, in the hospital! She's part of the reason why I'm i

imes I've heard this, I couldn't myself from believing that if I hadn't carelessly played in the center of

the price for it. But I had never imagined this. Never imagined that I would be offered up like

entina, be of use to t

ad. "Not in t

just stared blankly at me for a few seconds. The nex

swear Valentina, I will call the hospital

ered in disbe

f your stupidity, I'll make sure to drag her

om and shut the door, not bothering to lock it bec

who decided to be so foolish and run away, so why was

d everything in my power not to scream or kick things.

ng directly to voice mail. I tried calling

new then and there that I needed a source of p

stration doubled and then and there, I was about to throw my p

ief was short lived, because the moment I opened his text mes

d to find comfort in, we're words

I truly love. Let's