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Chapter Twelve | Setbacks
Last Updated:
2023-03-31 22:17:03
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Re-Arranged Chapter Thirteen | A Rough Landing
Pulling the knitted sweater over her head and tucking it into the top of her jeans, Liviana takes a breath, having a silent debate with herself through the mirror to decide if she wanted to do her makeup or not.She knew that if Drusilla were here, the decision would already have been made.“You need to have a face on at all times, Liviana. Being seen without your mask is like walking the streets exposed. It’s despicable and, quite frankly, disturbing.”Her mother’s speech would change every so often, giving the evaluation of a woman walking about without a face being similar to one of those cats without fur, something Drusilla referred to as disgusting.But Drusilla wasn’t there, Liviana had to remind herself. Her mother wouldn’t be waiting outside the bathroom door to ridicule her for looking horrendous without her makeup to cover any and all of her flaws, such as the small beauty mark hidden by her hairline, a mark her mother constantly reminded her about by speaking of how ugly it
Last Updated : 2023-04-08Re-Arranged Chapter Fourteen | A Honeymoon From Hell
A safe haven. That’s what Liviana realized this plane ride was. A stop in heaven before arriving in hell - if hell was disguised as a beautiful island, a private paradise. Which, in her case, it was.Liviana lays in her bed, in this beautiful room she had been given in one of the four large vacation homes that the Castelli’s had built on their island, and apparently, this one was specially made for her and Blaze, because every married couple deserves their own private space, even when on a vacation. Liviana was still trying to grasp the thought of it being tradition for every married Castelli to get their own home as a wedding gift, as if Elara and Lucius were giving one final gift after a life of taking care of their children who were their problem no more, a house acting as a college fund would for a young adult going off into the world for the first time alone. It was a strange, expensive gesture, one she never would have dreamed she would be on the receiving end of, yet here she
Last Updated : 2023-04-15Re-Arranged Chapter Fifteen | Dinner Downhill
“It’s about time you call.”Liviana chuckles, a soft noise as she nods in agreement. “Yeah, I know.”“Where’ve you been? I haven’t heard from you since you left.”“I know, I’m sorry.” She sighs. “I’ve just been... busy, I guess.”“Too busy to call your own brother?” Tino scoffs. “That’s just mean.”Liviana scoffs a laugh, nodding as she agrees. “Yeah, I’m just so mean. Neglecting my poor baby brother.” The sarcasm was clear in her tone as the siblings share a laugh. “So, what are you up to?” He asks. “What’s been keeping your schedule so packed that you couldn’t even take time out of your oh so busy day to call your favorite sibling?”Liviana chuckles. “I don’t know if I’d call you my favorite sibling.” She teases the boy, who immediately scoffs in defense.“Who else would be the favorite? Emilia?” He scoffs again at the thought. “No way.”Liviana couldn’t help the way her smile faltered at the mention of their sister, but she’s quick to shake it off, forcing a laugh. “Well, you got
Last Updated : 2023-04-22Re-Arranged Chapter Sixteen | Don't Make It Personal
Liviana had always heard that flashback come at the worst times. Something happens, a loud noise that takes you back to a certain moment, or perhaps someone says a phrase that is so painfully familiar that it makes the one that replays in the back of your mind a hundred times a day so loud it’s impossible to ignore, it just keeps going, getting louder and louder until finally, you snap, and you’re ready to do anything to make it stop.Only when you’re triggered, there’s nothing to make it stop. Suddenly, you can’t breathe. You’re swarmed by all those memories you tried so hard to forget and you get trapped in the middle, stuck in your head as the trauma eats you alive. They did always say remembering things you don’t want to remember hurts. Livi didn’t understand until now, as she stares down the barrel of a gun with her husband on the other end, only in her head, it wasn’t Blaze behind the weapon; it was another man, one who haunted the absolute worst of her dreams, ones that couldn
Last Updated : 2023-04-29Re-Arranged Chapter Seventeen | Impartial
Nearing thirteen hours in the kitchen, and Liviana was finally done. Placing the last dish of the first two courses onto the table, she steps back and places her hands on her hips, taking in all of her hard work that took up a good chunk of the large mahogany dining table. A smile of satisfaction forms slowly and she nods, pleased with the turnout. She hums. “Not bad.” She says, spinning on her heels and pausing as she finds another presence behind her. A small gasp escapes her lips as she startles. With a hand on her hip and another on her chest, she blows out a breath. “Don’t you think you’ve scared me enough for one day?”“Sure.” Blaze chuckles, shrugging as he approaches. “But perhaps I enjoy scaring you.”“Perhaps? I think it’s obvious that you do.” She rolls her eyes, watching him round the table and inspect the dishes. “What...” She trails, clearing her throat to get rid of the nerves that were so clearly present in her voice. “It looks good, doesn’t it?”The man nods, pullin
Last Updated : 2023-05-06Re-Arranged Chapter Eighteen | Second Thoughts
Days had passed since the surprise apology. The sun had come and gone and with the light the giant ball of fire had brought; it hadn’t just warmed the weather, but that of her soul. And, dare she say, that warmth had started to melt the ice around her husband’s chilly heart.Since the dinner, the energy in not only the vacation home but between the newlyweds had shifted. The house was no longer cold and empty, no dark cloud looming over them while Blaze stormed through the house to make his presence known with the obnoxious slamming of doors which played like alarm bells for the wife who stayed hidden alone in her room, walking around on eggshells in the house that was supposedly half hers, despite the way she acted as if she was nothing more than an unwanted guest, tiptoeing the lonely halls like a shadow. Now the shadow pressed to the wall has stepped out, and she wasn’t so scared that she felt she had to be a ghost in her own home. Liviana started to walk freely, and with cordial s
Last Updated : 2023-05-13Re-Arranged Chapter Nineteen | Step Back
Liviana sat waiting for over an hour.She had gone from pacing the house as she listened to the running water to sitting at the table, leg bouncing with anticipation until she realized she still needed to reheat the food, using it as a distraction as she watched the numbers on the microwave go down, time running out.She couldn’t help but wonder if that timer was just for the food, or if it was representing something else in her mind. Perhaps her patience, her kindness? The limit of the night? She had no clue. She just knew time was running out.The timer goes off and she sighs, pulling the plate of food out and placing it in the oven, hoping that it would still be warm by the time Blaze came downstairs, if he ever did. At this point, she was seriously doubting if he would.It was forty minutes later, minutes filled with pacing and picking at the cooling food off of her plate before finally giving up and slouching back on the couch as she debated her options.One, go knock on his door
Last Updated : 2023-05-20Re-Arranged Chapter Twenty | Homecoming
It was bright and early when Liviana was awoken by one of the maids, Georgia, who had informed her the plane would be taking off in two hours, at 8am sharp. She laid there for another twenty minutes, eyes unable to stay open after a night of stressful overthinking to add to the late night and arguments. With tears shed and a headache that overwhelmed the anxiety flowing through her veins with that of pain, Liviana was exhausted.So when she pulled herself out of bed, prying her body from her cozy bed to start getting ready, she was just about ready to call it a miracle. And then her phone rang. With a huff, the girl trudges back around the side of her bed, pulling the charger out of her phone and letting the cord fall to the floor as she swipes accept, not bothering to read the caller ID when she brings the phone up to her ear and greets the person through a yawn.“Sounds like someone’s tired.”“Morning Tino.” “So, I hear you’re going home today?”“To The Castelli’s home, yes.” She
Last Updated : 2023-05-26
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Re-Arranged Chapter One Hundred and Eight
A young Liviana sat quietly, nervously, in the corner of the over-crowded room, people watching as though her life depended on it. What was she watching for? Not even she was sure. But that didn't stop her from looking.Her green eyes scanned over the crowd with caution, darting around from face to face and person to person. She watches them closely, almost as if she was waiting for something. And in a way, she was. She was looking for clarity, waiting and hoping it would find her and help her make the right choices. Liviana was waiting on her guardian angel to offer some wisdom, but it was clear her angel must have been busy, having failed to provide guidance on each instance as of late. She was beginning to wonder if she even had one anymore... maybe she quit - who knows? Sighing at the thought, she tilts her head back, resting it against the wall and allowing herself a short break. Her eyes fall shut, and for a moment, she just thinks - listens. She just is. The air was hot, thic
Re-Arranged Chapter One Hundred and Seven
Little Liviana stood tall and alone, pushed to the back of the room while her siblings danced around in the center. Emilia always was better at being the center of attention- she thrived off of the spotlight. And Tino... he lived and breathed to find even the smallest dose of fun. It looked as though they were in their element, having the time of their life. As much as she wanted to leave - even after her touching talk with her sister - she just couldn't bring herself to ruin it for them. So, she stayed.She stayed, sat, waited and listened, watching as the time flew by right in front of her eyes. And then, before she knew it, two more hours had passed and it was after midnight. It was late, but was it too late? She couldn't be sure. All she had left to do was to hope and pray.The young girl sighs, head tilting to the side as she pries her eyes away from the scene, only to latch on to another. And God, if this one wasn't shocking, she wasn't sure she knew what shocking was anymore.F
Re-Arranged Chapter One Hundred and Six
The set of the three Santora siblings approaches the lively house with caution. "Is this it?" Liviana asks, stopping to stare up at the place that was practically bursting at the seams with people. She couldn't believe she was here. She never thought they would actually make it - she hoped Emilia was more reasonable, and prayed she would come to her senses. And yet, here they were. They finally made it."Yeah," Emilia mutters, a smile stretching widely across her lips as she takes in the view behind her. It was everything she could have ever hoped it'd be. It was the perfect picture - practically ripped right out of the movies. And God, she couldn't wait to join in. "Come on! Let's go!"Suddenly, the girl is surging forward and rushing up the stairs, calling for her siblings to follow her in what they could only imagine being an overcrowded, overstimulating mess. It was safe to say that Liviana and Tino were nowhere near as excited as their sister was. "Wait!" Livi calls, taking a st
Re-Arranged Chapter One Hundred and Five
"How much farther?" A young Liviana questioned, trailing behind her siblings and dragging her feet with her dread. "I thought you said it wasn't far-""Because it's not," Emilia insists. "It's just up ahead.""Are you sure?" She asks, unsure of herself as well as her sister. Emilia didn't seem to know what she was doing, and it scared Liviana. Why did she agree to this?Emilia huffs, nodding. "Yes, Liviana. I'm sure," she says. "Just trust me, alright? I know what I'm doing."Did she? Liviana couldn't be sure, and she wasn't sure she wanted to stick around to find out. Was this really worth it? She didn't think so. "You know," Liviana clears her throat, skipping a step to catch up to her siblings. "It's not too late.""Too late?" Tino echoes. "Too late for what?""Too late to turn back-"At this, Emilia comes to a halt and whips around to face her sister. "Go back?" She asks, her eyebrows knitting together as she asks, "what do you mean turn back?""I mean that it's not too late to ba
Re-Arranged Chapter One Hundred and Four
Young Liviana sat quietly on her bed, her head hanging low in her hands as her mind spun. What was she doing? What was she supposed to do?Her mind was running in circles, replaying those dreadful conversations over and over again and forcing her to face the questions she hated to have to answer. Which one of her siblings would she stand by? Emilia or Ben? Who did she trust more?The thought alone was upsetting, and she couldn't bring herself to answer it. How could she ever choose between the two? They were both her biggest protectors - in their own ways - and she needed them. How was she expected to pick a side and betray the two people she loved most in the world? It was an impossible decision, and she couldn't wrap her head around it. Emilia or Ben? Her sister or her brother? Her head or her heart?"Fuck," she curses, eyes squeezing tightly shut at the sharp pain she feels shooting through her temple. The question itself sounded difficult and painful, but it felt worse than she
Re-Arranged Chapter One Hundred and Three
Liviana stood thoughtfully before her mirror, examining her reflection closely as she slowly put herself together.It started with the makeup - her sister's special touch, as Emilia insisted they must look their best - though her version of the best varied from that of their mothers. She had never worn a mask so dark.Next were the clothes - clothes she would never call her own, as she couldn't even call them comfortable."Do I really have to wear this?" She asks, pulling at the bottom of the short black dress in a poor, pointless attempt at making it longer. She had never worn anything so small. "It's basically a shirt-"Emilia rolls her eyes from behind the girl, calling her dramatic. "It's not that short," she disagrees. "And besides, it's pretty.""It is kinda pretty," Livi doesn't deny it, muttering to herself about how nice it looked. "But it's too short, Emilia. It's not for me, okay? It's too... different.""Different is good!" Emilia argues. "It's, like, the whole point, Livi
Re-Arranged Chapter One Hundred and Two
"Livi?"The girl nearly shrieks, settling for a gasp as she pulls her bedroom door shut in a rush. "Dad!" She greets, spinning around to face the man. "Hi!""What are you doing?""Nothing," she says, frowning. "I'm not doing anything. Why do you ask?""You seem... different," he says. "Odd. Are you sure there's nothing wrong?""Yeah, mhm," she hums, offering the man an unconvincing nod. "I'm okay- everything's okay! There's nothing to worry about here, dad."He hums, eyes raking up and down his surly daughter, and she could practically feel the suspicion in his gaze. It was almost as if he was trying to look into her soul. "Well, if you're sure-""I'm sure," she swears, mustering up the most convincing smile she could as she assures him that she was alright - everything was fine."Good, good..." he trails, clearing his throat. "Listen, about dinner-""Oh, you don't have to... say anything," she says, her smile fading to something more tainted. "It's fine."He furrows a brow. "It is?"
Re-Arranged Chapter One Hundred and One
"Are you... serious?"At the awkward question and the meek voice it's spoken by, Ben glances up from his spot on the bed and hums. "Serious?" He echoes, unsure about what she was muttering on about. "About what?""Mom and dad," Liviana reminds, asking, "are they really that bad?"Ben sighs, attempting to offer his little sister a careful answer. "They're, uh... complicated.""Complicated?" Livi repeats, joining her brother on the bed with a frown. "I don't... I don't understand. What are they?"Ben only grows all the more confused by her questioning, and his lips tilt down in a frown of his own. "What?""What kind of people are they?" She presses. "Mom and dad, I mean - are they good people or... are they bad people?"He hums. "Well, that's a good question, kid," he says, voice soft as he offers his sister a thoughtful look. "What do you think they are?""I think..." she trails off with a sigh, nervous.He's quick to pick up on the traces of anxiety lost in her tone - seeping into her
Re-Arranged Chapter One Hundred
The Santora family sat under a thick blanket of silence, tense as they ate. Alonzo sat at the head of the table, scrutinizing his family with a heavy gaze that weighed them down, and soon enough, it felt as though he was trying to burn a hole through their heads with such an intense gaze. The eldest of his kids shortly had enough.Ben coughs, clearing his throat and folding his dinner napkin up in his lap. "So..." he trails, pasting a smile onto his lips and turning to face his father. "Is there any news?"Alonzo narrows his eyes. "News?" He echoes, watching as his son nods. "And, uh... what news would that be? Are you expecting something?""No, no," the young man shakes his head. "Not me-""Oh, and you believe you have a right to my news now too, huh?" He presses. "You think you have that privilege now, do you?""No, I don't- I don't think that. I'm sorry if that's how it came off, but I-""But you what?" Alonzo wonders, asking where he could have gotten the idea that he was somethi
