Her Five Protectors

SIXTEEN

Athena twiddles her thumbs together anxiously. She is still a little shaken up from the previous incident. Ariana's brothers are sitting in the principal's office along with Aurora and her group of friends.

Aurora looks scared and just like Athena, she has red, fresh fingerprints around her neck but her looks much worse as Alexander had not shown any mercy on her. He wanted to give her a taste of her own medicine.

He almost killed her. Aurora was traumatised.

The door slams open and the same guy who was glaring at Athena in the morning, steps in. Aurora turns even more paler after seeing him. Her hands begin to tremble.

"Good to see you Mr. Riccardo here." The principal greets him and motions him to take a seat. Vittorio rolls his eyes and Romeo looks a little annoyed as Stephan Riccardo turns to look at them and finally settles his eyes on Athena. Athena avoids his gaze discreetly and squirms slightly on her seat. Only Alexander looks unbothered at his presence.

It has been going on since past many decades. Cortello and Riccardo families are born enemies. This whole situation messed up even more when two years ago, Stephan Riccordo and his younger sister and little brother Aurora Riccardo and Angelo Riccardo moved back to Italy from France. Angelo Riccardo was intrigued by Ariana De'Cortello on their first meeting. Having a egocentric attitude, the young girl was filled with fierce.

Angelo Riccardo still liked her after knowing that their familes are each others' enemies since their ancestral era. Ariana De' Cortello was simply impressed by his daring attitude. Nothing could stop them to form feelings for each other. This thing irked Aurora as the whole attention of everyone was fixed on Ariana. Ariana might be few years younger than her but she was truly beautiful and there was nothing fake on her outside appearance. Thus, it became one of the main reason of Aurora's jealousy.

Stephan Riccardo, however after knowing everything acted oblivious to this matter. He made it seem like he did not know anything but instead nothing could remain hidden from him. Ariana's brothers had warned her too but Ariana simply had not wanted to hear anything against Angelo. She told them that they should not worry because she will keep her distance from him but that was not exactly what she did.

The situation turned a little more messier when Aurora started to bully Ariana secretly by threatening her with the videos of her showering in the gym shower rooms.

When Aurora finally managed to break Ariana completely by secretly humiliating her at every chance, Ariana had it enough. She decided to seek help from the older brother Stephan Riccardo instead of her own brothers. It was Ariana's first mistake. She had not wanted to involve her brothers in this situation thinking that she was capable of taking care of everything on her own.

Stephan Riccardo was a selfish man. At the same age of 20 as Alexander, he had made several efforts same like Vincenzo to keep his family's name clean and on top. Stephan Riccardo agreed to help her by promising her that he will wipe away those videos but in return, he wanted her to leave Angelo. He wanted to separate both of them.

They did what they promised. However, Angelo did not take the break up thing well. He confronted Ariana and finally managed to persuade the fifteen year old Ariana to runaway with him. He was himself turning 18 at that time.

Ariana was blinded by his love. She was a young girl who was prone to make reckless decisions. Somehow, Romeo came to know about this when she was all set to take a first step towards her love.

Ariana did not give him enough time to stop her. She pointed a gun at her own head and threatened her most favourite brother that she will kill herself if he tried to stop her.

Romeo was helpless.

He knew that she was stubborn and reckless but also daring enough to do what he feared the most if he tried to intervene. He watched on silently as she took fast steps away from everything towards her happiness.

That happiness which did not take long to turn into nightmare. Angelo Riccardo was not what he had showed to Ariana. Under his golden boy persona, there was a darker side hidden. He was much worst than anyone's imagination. A true monster and Ariana has willingly locked herself in his cage.

"So shall we start?" The principal asks both Stephan and Alexander. The former nods his head while the latter Stephan stares blankly at Aurora who is trying her best to avoid his eyes.

"It has brought to my attention that Ariana De' Cortello is a new victim of bullyin-" Stephan cuts Mr. Johnson off.

"Is that true, Ariana?" Athena stiffens. But Romeo grabs her hand, indicating her to relax.

"Y-yes." Athena whispers.

"I don't believe you! Because you are also the one who liked to bully other students by calling them low life peasants and making them your personal servants." Aurora decides to speak.

"That was past! Ariana doesn't even remember anything of it. Now she is better to everyone." Romeo has a dangerous look on his face. He really wanted to strangle this girl himself.

"It is you who have not changed. You bullied Ariana in the past to the extent that you threatened to ruin her face."

"All of this because you feel jealous and insecure." Vittorio rolls his eyes. Aurora's fists clenches tightly in anger.

"And today you tried to kill her." Alexander finally decides to speak.

"And you almost killed me!" Aurora exclaims by raising her voice.

"Be glad that there is almost."

Aurora looks away from him, unable to face his glare.

"Aren't you going to say something, brother?" Aurora asks his brother who is leaning back against the chair and playing by spinning the goblet that is kept on the table. He is the only one who can get her out of the trouble. So she has to resort to pleading in front of him.

"You told me that you will stop this shit in past. But you didn't. I am aware that you know how much I fucking hate this." He answers her lazily but his eyes are fixed at Athena not his own sister.

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