The story is undergoing edits.
Althaia I have never been a morning person, but since I got here, I have turned into one. I went to sleep early, mainly to avoid my mind spiraling into a darker place, and I would wake up early to watch the sunset rising above the water. It was an amazing view and made me feel at peace. I had been drawing a lot more as well, unable to resist capturing the beauty of the beach with the sun rising on the horizon, casting a shimmering glow on the water. Each morning, I would sit outside with a cup of coffee, relishing the tranquility that surrounded me. This simple routine became a source of gratitude, slowly helping to heal my soul, mending it piece by piece. I bought blank canvases and paint supplies in town when I wanted to focus deeply on art. Drawing was my escape, and I would always stumble upon something breathtaking here that begged to be immortalized in my sketches. I couldn't resist sketching Kiara a few times; she was too adorable when she curled up next to me and dozed
Althaia I could feel myself growing more anxious the closer we were. The gun tucked behind my back did little to ease my nerves. What if something were to happen, even in broad daylight? What if someone was still there, keeping an eye on the house, hoping someone would return to finish what they had started? But they weren’t after me. They were after my mother, and they got what they wanted. The idea of having to use the gun to defend myself didn’t sit well, but I knew it was a necessary precaution. I was not a killer; the trauma of what I had done still haunted me. The image of the man’s bloodied face lingered in my mind. I took a deep breath, forcing down the rising nausea. “Hey… Hey, you’re going to be fine.” Michael glanced at me and took my hand in his as I kept tapping my hand against my thigh in uneasiness. “I don’t know… I’m starting to think it’s a mistake. What if something happens?” I rambled on, sharing my fears with him instead of keeping them to myself. “I w
Althaia “…What?” I breathed out, thinking I had heard wrong, but the look on his face told me otherwise. “What do you mean it was burned down?” “Your dad sent us out here to see if we could get any leads, and we found it burned down.” “Take me there. I want to see it.” “Thaia, we’ve already been here long enough; I don’t want to risk your safety by staying here.” He shook his head at me, and I grabbed his arm, looking at him desperately. “Please, Michael. I have to see it with my own eyes.” “Don’t look at me like that.” He groaned and faced away from me. He was quiet as he kept looking out the window. “Five minutes. No more than five minutes, and then we leave.” “That’s all I need.” I promised. Just as we neared the boutique, my throat closed when I saw the burned building. I got out of the car, barely believing what I was seeing in front of me. The boutique my mother had worked so hard for was just gone. Gone like she was. Vanished, leaving only memories behind. “I
Althaia Hours went by, and it was now pitch black as I remained on the floor, lying on my back while staring emptily at the ceiling. It never occurred to me just how much I had messed up by staying in the safe house. He had always been there for me, taken care of me, and I just left him all by himself. I knew I should have been there for him. I wanted to be there for him, yet I could barely handle looking at him without guilt eating me alive. I blamed myself for losing our baby; it was my job to keep it safe, and I had lost it. The weight of guilt pressed down on me, and I was afraid to look at him, terrified to witness him blaming me for everything. I ran away because I was scared that the longer I stayed around with a flat stomach, the more he would despise me for it. Slowly, I stood up and made my way to the bathroom. I uncovered the mirror and looked at myself, seeing how red and puffy my eyes were.
Althaia Four days passed in a blink of an eye, and I had spent every single day trying to come up with a plan. Yet, the reality was far from the simplistic scenario I had envisioned in my mind. First of all, I was being watched, and it was not as if I could casually announce, ‘yeah, I’m just going to the LuxePalace, and snoop around a little because I think I might get some answers about my mom.’ I was pretty sure they would drag me back, maybe even by my hair, and this time, without hesitation, call Damiano. That, I couldn’t risk. I had to come up with a bulletproof plan and think like them. Spending enough time around Damiano and his men had given me insights that could guide me in the right direction. Second, I didn’t know what to expect at the LuxePalace. I had told myself always to expect the unexpected, but in the Mafia World, that saying held no real meaning. They always take things to the next level with no limitations to their imagination. Third, going to such a pl
Althaia The LuxePalace overwhelmed my senses with opulence and grandeur, leaving me in awe as soon as I entered. The floor was adorned with a glossy beige marble, reflecting my surroundings vividly with its mirror-like sheen. Above, the ceiling reached astonishing heights, adorned with chandeliers that dripped with glistening crystals. I did my best not to appear too lost, as everyone around me seemed familiar with the place. Deciding to take a seat at the bar, I figured it was the best way to observe my surroundings without giving away my confusion or discomfort. I ordered a glass of wine and nearly choked when I learned it cost several hundred dollars. Just for a single glass! It was a good thing I was only pretending to be rich for an hour, because keeping up with this lifestyle would leave me broke and on the streets in no time. My mother and I lived a comfortable life thanks to the money we earned from our boutique, but this was a whole new level of extravagance. As I si
Althaia His comment made me smile, and pride filled my chest. He looked around at my face with a slightly soft and pained expression. A lump in my throat slowly formed. He knew. Mr. Vasiliev got up and snatched the note out of my hand, his eyes scanning over the words before he looked at the man in front of me with an angry look. “What is this, Nestor?” He glared at Nestor, demanding an answer. I took a couple steps back, but Nestor didn’t seem bothered by Mr. Vasiliev’s angry tone and took a quick glance at me before looking at him. “She reached out to me.” He said, and I noticed Mr. Vasiliev’s body tensed. “Why?” “She said she needed to see you. I sent her a message that she could meet you here.” “And why didn’t you inform me of this?” He was angry, and I felt a twinge of worry for Nestor now. “She didn’t want you to know, considering how you left things the last time.” He explained, giving Mr. Vasiliev a knowing look, leaving me confused as I observed their convers
Althaia “Damiano…” I swallowed hard as I looked at him, feeling my heart rate going up once again. “I…Uh…” My mind went completely blank when I tried to come up with some kind of excuse. But who was I kidding? I was completely in deep shit no matter what. “Quiet.” He growled out and I clamped my mouth shut. Damiano looked at me with his darkened eyes. I had seen that look on his face before when he was extremely pissed. And now it was aimed at me. He slowly walked up to me, his eyes scanning my body before he met my eyes. I had to tilt my head up a little to be able to see his face when he stopped in front of me. My breath hitched in my throat at how close we were. He still had that effect on my body, making it flutter and tingle without even touching me, and his face was so close to mine that it almost felt unreal. It also took everything in me not to turn around and make a run for it, not ready for what I was about to face. I didn’t notice when he reached for the gun I was hid