𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃 𝐁𝐘 𝐀 𝐅𝐀𝐂𝐀𝐃𝐄

𝐕𝐈 - 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐞 & 𝐀𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐨

NOVALIE
Yes, I fucking ran. Cowardly? Maybe but don't judge me cause my life over the past few years has been like walking on a thin pole with a 16-inch heel over lava.

Huh?

Hyperbole, chill.

At the moment, I was overwhelmed with emotions and didn't want to be around Adriano anymore.

Now where am I? At the reception of my fucking wedding sending fake smiles to a ton of people I don't even know who just saw me cry hours ago. Some even bluntly laughed at my face.

Bitches

I hate that I gave everyone the perception that I was weak.
You say everyone like it wasn't over two hundred mafia members

Shutup.

No, you embarrassed us -Strike one

How are we going to show our face at events -Strike two.
Get to strike three and I'm cutting you off.

Sigh at least we got a moment with hottie Addie cause of your 'little' stunt.

Call him hottie Addie again and I'll cut you off permanently.

Sigh

After I ran away, my family, Mia, and Arianna chased after me. They were all there for me and helped calm me down.

Dad and Miguel spoke to me, assuring me that nothing bad will happen and Dad unceasingly apologized.

Mom hugged me and Mia's presence comforted me while Arianna promised to be my shield while in Italy. She promised her son won't hurt me and that even if he thinks about it she'll make sure to give him a smacking and personally protect me from him.

Everyone's attempt put smiles on my face and soon after they left me alone to breathe and process on my own.

After some time doing that, I heard a light knock on my door and ignored it expecting whoever it is to just come in for whatever they wanted but they didn't.

After about a minute of waiting, I heard the knock again and yelled back for them to come in, me backing the door and looking out the window.

"Hey amore" I hear a familiar voice say as they walk towards me.
I didn't bother answering the person.

"I'm about to touch you now, please don't be scared," the voice says as he wraps his arms around my waist from behind. I take in the scent I've grown accustomed to over the past two weeks. The fresh scent of Adriano fills my nostrils, doing its part to calm me down.

"I'm so sorry to hurt you, baby. Seeing you cry hurt me too. I was about start crying too but then we'll be the laughter of the mafia, the crying don and his sobbing wife" he says and I smile at the last part.

"Can I see your face, Novalie?" he asks with a calm voice that compels me as I turn around to face him.

I know I probably look like shit right now, with ruined makeup and teary red eyes but I don't care.

"How do you manage to look beautiful still with makeup smeared over your face, Bambi? He says going up to the makeup station to pick up the facial wipes set and then throws it on the couch.

He leads me to the couch and sits down pulling me into his lap. I don't object, I don't even have the strength in me to argue.

He takes out a piece of wipe, bringing it to my face, damping and cleaning up the makeup on my face.

"I don't like the reminder I hurt you," he says softly in explanation as he takes his time cleaning me up with precision, delicateness, and softness like he's afraid to hurt me again.