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Chapter 21

Olivia's POV

3 Months Later...

I have been living with Domenico for the past three months while I fully recovered from what happened at the party. It took my nervous system a whole while to heal. I had these uncontrollable twitches that the doctor warned me about. It cleared up two weeks ago, but Domenico doesn't want me to go home yet and resume my studies.

I won't lie though, I've been loving every minute of being with him, near him and being appreciated by him. This man has spoil me every single day with his cooking, attention and other small yet significant actions. There are moments where he would just sit and stare at me with no shame, evoking so much emotion in my chest that it makes my head swirl at times. I just don't want this bubble we have been living in to burst and the weight of reality to catch up with me. It feels like my fairytale would turn into a just a dream if I return to life outside this house.

I wish it could be like this forever, but I have to do something for myself and that's my studies. I have so much to catch up on and I intend to make a success so that I can be independent and look after myself.

Domenico and I discussed on ways to deal with Sophia, and at first, I was against it, but he made me understand if I don't put her in her place, I could end up losing my life. He reminded me again of my chances of survival after the party incident. I told him to give me time to think about it.

Sometimes I wonder if my dad thought of me. I know I'm stupid to hold such hope in my heart, but after receiving so much love from the Mancini's, Marco and his wife, I feel as though it's strange that the person whose blood is flowing through my veins, would live as if he didn't have a living daughter.

It's times such as these that a hunger for revenge burn in the pit of my stomach, yet I constantly douse the flame with the humanity and love within me. I don't know for how long I would be able to minimize the extent of their actions.

Dad, his wife, their daughter, they have all lived a good life off my grandparent's legacy which my mother and I had no benefit of. Maybe, they should be taught to not take what doesn't belong to others and to treat people with dignity and respect regardless of who they are.

I use to fear my dad and always thought that if I behaved and are a good daughter, he would notice me or would have wanted to be a father to me. I was yearning for his attention, love and acceptance, but that was just a pipedream that never came into fruition. I always thought that I was the problem or that something was wrong with me and that I was the reason why he didn't want anything to do with me. Self-blame is a taunting bitch.

Meeting Marco caused my life to go in a direction I never thought of as a possibility for me in this lifetime. They are seen and known as cruel people through the eyes of the outside world, but they have shown me nothing but love and kindness. With Domenico by my side, I have nothing to fear because he has already shown me that he would go to great depths to protect me. This he has proven to me, over and over again, since meeting him. If this isn't love, then I don't really know what love is.

After everything Domenico told me, from when he found me to when I opened my eyes made me realize who my real family was. It also made me realize that you don't have to be blood related to be family and sometimes blood means nothing if people don't reciprocate your love and care. His family came to visit me yesterday and even though I took naps on the couch in between conversation, they showed me nothing but love.

Domenico informed me of the countless calls and messages from Mia and Tessa, I haven't felt like checking my phone for the last three months. I don't blame towards Mia or Tessa. I am an adult and they are their own people. I cannot expect other people to stop their fun just to keep an eye out for me. They were just trying to enjoy life as college kids would. The real problem is Sophia who set me up. I'll make contact with them when I'm mentally and physically ready for the world.