Page 17

I paid close attention to what they were saying.
He tried to explain, “Nina, it wasn’t like that.”
“Did you do anything with her?”She screams with tears in her eyes.
Caleb looked down in shame and said, “I kissed her.” It was so quiet that it was hard to hear.
“Do you love her?”She wipes her tears and tries to get answers from him.
He took a few seconds to answer, and what he said shocked me. “I do love her, but not enough to lose you,” he said, looking up at her.
“Did you feel sorry for her because you loved me?”She asked with a little more content.”
“Yes, I had unfinished business with her, I’m sorry.” He says this while holding her close in a loving hug.
I didn’t realise I was crying until I felt something wet fall on my arm. I let go of the sheet and held my stomach in pain, feeling like I was going to throw up.
“He’s engaged, Aria.” I heard a voice I knew from behind me and quickly turned around.
For a moment, I thought my mom had found out about Sebastian and me because she was standing in a robe with a hurt look on her face.
“He is getting married. You know how I feel about cheating; your father did it to me.” She sounded ashamed and looked at me with disgust.
“Mom,” I tried to explain.
“Especially since they’re having a baby together, you want to ruin their family.” My mom yells at me, and the coldness of her voice makes me jump.
A child, she’s pregnant. He’s a big liar.
I turned around and saw Caleb looking at me with regret. “She’s pregnant?”I turned my head to look at him, and tears filled my eyes again.
“What the hell is going on?”Sebastian’s voice sounded annoyed.
“Yes, you homewrecking slut,” she yells. I know how it feels to have the truth hurt.
I hugged myself and looked back at my mom and Sebastian. My mom didn’t even try to defend me; she just stared. I looked back at Caleb, who wasn’t even looking at me or saying anything to defend me. How the hell did I get into this situation? I’m not wanted here, and no one wants me here. It’s always going to be like this. I ruin families like my dad, and my worst nightmare finally came true: I’m just like my dad.
“I’m so sorry,” I said to Nina. Then I turned around to look at my mom and ran away.
I ran to my room and clawed at the door to open it. Once I was inside, I leaned against it.
“I have to go,” I told myself. “I’ll go to the one place where I know I’m wanted.”
I wiped my tears, put my hair in a bun, and ran to my closet to get all my clothes. I stuffed them all into my duffel bag. I waited until night, and no one came to check on me, not Caleb or Sebastian. I waited until twelve and then got some paper and a pen.
I left my letter for my mom on my bed and then took my things. I took my mom’s car keys off the empty kitchen table and ran outside to her car. I looked at the house for a second, knowing I’d never see Sebastian again. All I can do is hope they have the best lives without me.
My mom is beautiful and smart, and she deserves a happy ending. I don’t deserve one. I picked up the phone and called him while I started the car.
“Hey?”A voice answered, a voice I hadn’t heard in years. I could hear him breathing on the phone, and I could almost feel his breath on my cheek.
When he realized it was me, his princess, his pride and joy, his negotiation, his breathing slowed down.
“You know what will happen, right, princess?”He asked. I know it all too well; I remember that fight from years ago. He’s the man my mother has been keeping me safe from, and he’ll always have my heart.
“Yes,” I said, my eyes full of tears.
He says something else on the phone that I know I have to answer because I feel the same way. I can’t be rude to him because he’s the reason I’m still alive.
“Love you too, Dad.”
It’s been six months since I left Solmaris and three months since I got engaged. I guess my dad had a bigger deal for me, and the biggest one was that he offered me to a drug lord. The bad thing is that I can see a future with my fiancé, Henry Benorik. He’s dangerous, but he has a good heart and has been taking really good care of me. I think I could love him.
“Good morning, beautiful,” Henry whispers in my ear and kisses me softly on the lips. I pulled the soft sheets over me and tried to go back to sleep. “We have that gala tonight, honey.” He uncovered me, and my messy hair covered my face. I kissed him before getting out of bed.
I felt good about myself after six months. My hair was platinum blonde, my eyes were bright green again, my skin was clear and perfect, and my body looked great in my black lacy nightgown that barely covered anything. I’ve worked out every day since I left, and now my body is slim and fit. I had a huge dragon tattoo on my thigh that was beautiful, but it was connected to my dad’s mafia.
I smiled at how far I’d come, took off my clothes, and stepped into the warm water.
I let the warm water run down my back, which made goosebumps run up my body. My face felt great under the water. I was so relaxed and distracted by the shower that I didn’t hear Henry come in with me. He wrapped his strong arms around me from behind and kissed me up my neck as I threw my head back slowly.
He whispers, “So beautiful.”
I turned around and kissed him. Henry’s lips were so different from Sebastian’s and Caleb’s. They were softer, and I could feel how much he wanted me and needed me.
Henry didn’t wait; he picked me up and I wrapped my legs around his strong body. I moaned, “I want you in me now.”
He gently pushed me against the shower wall and kissed every part of my body. When he thrust into me, I arched my back hard. I screamed when he fully entered me with his long length. The water made my legs slippery, so he held on tight. He didn’t stop; he kept thrusting inside me. With every thrust, my whole body banged against the wall behind me.
“Oh my god, Henry,” I moaned into his neck. He quickly found my lips and sucked on my neck, leaving his mark.
Henry was very possessive of me. He liked that people knew I was his. My dad loves him and thinks he’s the one for me. I started to think the same thing.
We both walked out of the shower with our fluffy towels. I put on my makeup while he got dressed.
“I’m scared,” I said as I brushed my hair and then grabbed my curling iron to curl my blonde hair.
“Don’t worry, sweetie. I should be scared because you’re so beautiful. “You know how many guys are going to want you.” He kissed the love bite on my neck from behind, and I shivered.
“I have to admit, I’m excited to meet your friends.” I smiled softly.
While I was standing up and walking to my closet, my robe fell off. I chose a long-sleeved, dark green dress that hugged all my curves. He watched me get dressed as I slowly pulled my black lace leggings up my long, silky legs.
“Don’t make me f**k you against this wall, Aria.” He laughed darkly as he clipped his watch to his wrist and struggled with his tie. I quickly walked over and tightened it for him.
“I wouldn’t mind, but we have a party to go to.” I bit my bottom lip and batted my eyelashes at him like I didn’t know what to do.
“After the party, dear.”
We both got dressed and then walked down the stairs to see my dad and his wife sitting on our couch. My dad cheated on my mum with this woman, and I don’t really understand why. She’s nothing like my mum; she was a rug compared to my beautiful mother.
My dad sold me to Henry, not for money but for information he wanted about another mafia. I had no idea my dad was a cartel leader; I had always been kept away from this kind of life. I knew he was involved in shady business, but I never knew he was a leader of a cartel.
Henry has probably been watching me for a while and couldn’t say no to my dad’s offer to marry me in exchange for information. Henry and my dad made me stronger; I trained with their crew and am now a member of their crew.
If my mom found out what I was up to, she’d literally drag me out of the house. Too bad I don’t care.
“Hey, Daddy. Hey, Maria.” I kissed my dad’s cheek and then Maria’s, who is my dad’s wife.