HER LIFE

Another Dinner

Val's POV

As night enveloped the mansion, I jolted awake, the clock flashing 8:00 PM. A wave of frustration washed over me. I longed to escape the relentless chaos surrounding my life, but it seemed to have its claws deep in my reality. God help me.

Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I swung my legs over the side of the bed and grabbed my phone. The guest room felt eerily quiet, amplifying my sense of unease. I opened the door to the guest room, only to find it empty. Panic fluttered in my chest—this meant everyone was already in the dining room with my family.

With a mix of urgency and dread, I made my way downstairs, the soft carpet muffling my footsteps. As I approached the dining room, I could hear low, tense voices filtering through the air. Taking a deep breath to steady myself, I pushed the door open, stepping into a scene that felt like a powder keg ready to explode. Everyone turned to stare at me, and I forced myself to walk toward my chair, a knot tightening in my stomach.

Sitting down, I felt the weight of their scrutiny. The maids began serving the food, and the tantalizing aroma wafting through the air made my stomach grumble in anticipation. Just as I was about to take a bite, a bitter voice sliced through the atmosphere.

"Valentina, the way you spoke to me today was unacceptable. I expect you to apologize immediately. From now on, you're grounded—"

I interrupted, my voice icy but controlled. "Listen, I don't care if it was acceptable or not. You touched me and disrespected my family. You should be thankful I didn't cut your hand off right then and there. You are no one to ground me. And if you're about to pull the 'this is my house, my rules' card, just remember that I didn't choose to come here. Now let us eat."

Victor's face turned crimson, his fury palpable, but he fell silent, clearly at a loss for words. The atmosphere shifted, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. As we resumed eating, the clinking of cutlery was the only sound punctuating the uneasy silence.

Soon, the conversation turned, and I found myself listening to Antonio as he announced, "After a week, the three of you—Val, Marcella, and Massimo—will be joining a new school." His mock-serious expression caused me to roll my eyes, but I could sense a hint of genuine concern behind his words.

"And if I hear even one complaint from the school, I promise I will punish you myself. Got it?" His glare could have intimidated even the devil himself, and we all nodded, a chorus of agreement tinged with fear. Then, just as quickly, his face broke into a childlike grin. "We'll go shopping for school supplies tomorrow!"

A mix of irritation and amusement washed over me. THIS MAN IS A FUCKING PSYCHO.

After dinner, we retreated to our rooms, the promise of tomorrow hanging heavy in the air. Despite the tumultuous events of the day, I felt a flicker of hope. Maybe this chaotic family could find a way to work together. As I lay in bed, sleep overtook me, offering a brief escape from my worries.

I woke up groggy and disoriented. Rubbing my eyes, I felt a sense of dread creeping in. I had planned to stay away from the drama, but it seemed to find me at every turn. Just then, Antonio burst into my room, a whirlwind of energy as he jumped onto my bed.

"Good morning, plum!" he exclaimed, his infectious grin brightening my mood.

"Good morning, brother," I replied, enveloping him in a warm hug. His warmth grounded me, offering a brief respite from the chaos that loomed around us.

"How have you been holding up?" he asked, his expression suddenly serious.

I hesitated, the question catching me off guard. "Good," I finally replied, though my heart felt heavy. "But I miss him very much. I think about him constantly—how I didn't spend enough time with him. I promise I'm going to take revenge for him. I will kill the people who did this." My voice trembled with barely contained anger, the fire in my chest igniting.