Betrayal | ✔️

22. Despondent (Bonus Chapter for Christmas and New Years)

As requested, here is Vanna's POV!

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Despondent: In low spirits from loss of hope or courage.

- V a n n a -

- A few days after Vincenzo and Emma escaped -

"Do they know?"

"Yes, darling daughter, but-" 

"Don't call me that... father," I shudder at the word.

"Hush, child. Do not disrespect your father like that," he responds immediately.

"You have no right to call yourself my father. You lost that privilege the day you left my brothers and I."

He throws his head back and cackles. I can feel my face twisting in disgust. How can he find this funny?

"You are such a hypocrite, Vanna. In fact, you are worse than me. I did leave you, but you betrayed your brothers. Even if Vincenzo is too blind to see that you are the reason that your mother is dead."

My nostrils flare at his words.

"How dare you?"

I lunge, grabbing his shirt and ripping him towards me.

"You," I growl, "cannot talk about me like that. You cannot talk about my brothers like that."

But he just sighs, unfazed. I glance behind him, looking at the bodyguards that are ready to attack on command. I pull him closer to me; so close that only he can hear me.

"If you ever, and I mean ever, tell Vincenzo or anyone that I killed my mother. I will- I don't know what I'll do, but I know that it won't be good," I state, my face turning into a satanic, twisted, evil smile.

I push him away, watching as he falls back and one of the few security guards catches him by the shoulders. I bring my hands down to my sides, scoffing. I turn and walk away. I slam the front door hut behind me, leaning on it and releasing the breath that I didn't realise that I'd been holding in. I look up to the darkening sky and blink the tears back. I haven't seen Vincenzo, or Valerio in... I don't even know, that's how long it's been. I turn around, looking at my disgrace of a father through the glass one last time before I leave. I start walking, never to return. 

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The darkness swallows everything in sight as I reach my house. I pull the car to a stop and glance around. I look at my closed and locked front door and decide to visit my brothers. I reverse out of my drive way and turn my lights back on. I'm the only one on the road as I drive down the Lonely Highway. It's got that name for a reason. This is one of the times that I wish that my house wasn't at the end of a depressingly long and seemingly endless road. 

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I get out of my car, slam the door shut and lock it. I stare at Vincenzo's cracking back door, reminiscing about the times that we used to run through it. I go to bring my fist up to the door, but stop to think.

"What if he doesn't want me here?" I whisper to myself.

But he did contact me a few weeks ago. Months, maybe? I'm not sure, it feels like forever. I decide to continue with my action and I knock on the door. No-one responds for a few minutes. I knock again, to no avail. I sigh and turn around. It is late, anyway. Perhaps I'll come back in the morning-

My thoughts are interrupted by the creak of the door opening and Valerio's groggy voice greeting me, "What do you want?"

"Where is Vincenzo?" I ask immediately before I can stop myself.

Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Valerio stiffen. 

"Turn around, Vanna," his voice is so quiet that I can barley hear him.

I slowly do as he says, unsure what to think of the situation.

I open my mouth to speak, but Valerio interrupts me, "Vincenzo is on a mission. He's fallen in love."

I knew it. After what he said, I knew it! Instead of telling Valerio about my conversation with Vincenzo - he would actually murder Vincenzo and I -, I decide to just nod. Valerio looks at my feet.

"I don't know why Vincenzo is talking to you. You are the reason our mother is dead. You are not welcome here. Never ever come back again," he mutters, slamming the door in my face. 

How dare he? This is my home, too. I huff and turn to leave for my car. Where could Vincenzo be now? I could ask Valerio, but he would probably just slam the door again; or he just straight up wouldn't answer. Knowing my brother, it would probably be the latter. 

I reach the car and turn the key. The engine splutters, but doesn't start. I turn the key a few more times, but it fails again and again. I smack the wheel and let out a scream. How could this happen?! I take such good care of my car and its engine! I pull out my phone to call an Uber, not a tow truck since it's nearly 2 in the morning. Of course; it's dead. I let a few tears escape my eyes before wiping them and 'manning up'. I have to face my worst fear: sleeping in my betrayer's house. Not only my betrayer, but my family's. My mother's. Vincenzo's. He betrayed us all.