Ten days before auctionELENA“You know what your problem is, Elena?” His voice was rough. “You’ve got no ambition. None. Look at you—what are you even good for, huh?”I didn’t flinch. Not anymore. Instead, I let my eyes wander to the chipped paint on the wall behind him. This house—this life—was falling apart in slow motion in front of me.I watched the morning light stream in through the cracked window, illuminating the dining room in all its neglected glory. Dust clung to the surface of the table like it belonged there, a permanent resident of the De Luca estate.Lorenzo De Luca, my father, sat slumped in his chair, legs on the table, his robe barely tied over his sunken chest, his hair sticking up in greasy tufts. A half-empty glass of whiskey dangled from his fingers, and his eyes, bloodshot and bleary, narrowed on me as if my very existence was offensive.I sat across from him, hands folded neatly in my lap, dressed in my usual modest blouse and slacks. To anyone watching, I was
Last Updated : 2025-01-07 Read more