Unveiling the Hearts

34. Dad

Okay lovelies. We're almost done with the story. This is the last chapter of this story BUT I'll be posting an epilogue after this. I hope you all enjoyed this story as much as I loved writing it.
❤️❤️❤️

Also, some of you are probably going to hate me for how this chapter goes. But this needed to happen.
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~Lucian Zane Mazzanti~

"Lucian." I hate how he says my name. I hate the way it slips off his tongue almost mockingly. My mom gave me that name, yet it's my own father mocking it.

"Yes, Dad?" I asked, turning to face him with no emotions visible on my face. He stood in the doorway of my room, leaning against the frame while looking at me with that same evil glint in his eyes that he always has.

"Let's go."
Two words. The ones I hate more than the fact that I'm still breathing.

I dropped my pen on the desk and stood up, immediately pushing my hands into my pockets, so he didn't see them trembling.

"What were you doing?" He asked, just as I was walking past him. I stepped outside the room before turning to answer him.

"Homework," I answered, which brought a scowl onto the man's face. I flinched when he bent down to my level.

"I still don't see your grades going up," he gritted. "You're not doing good enough, Lucian."

I gulped, my palms sweating from fear and nervousness.
"I'm trying my best, Dad," I stuttered out. "It's just too hectic with work, training-"

"Will you make excuses for the rest of your life?" He spat, effectively shutting me up. "And stop with the pathetic stuttering."

I cast my gaze down, feeling like my breathing was just cut off. I took a forced inhale of air which did nothing to calm me down. I blinked to get rid of the little moisture I felt in the corners of my eyes.

My eyes clenched shut when I felt Dad grab my hair in a tight fist and raise my head. Pain shot through my scalp as I came face to face with my father.
"Are you unable to give a simple answer, Lucian?"

"I'm sorry," I choked out.

"Are those tears I see?" He tightened his hold, pulling me closer by my hair.

"It hurts," I pleaded. "I'll do better, I promise."

"You better," he gritted. "Because I didn't waste so much time and energy training an incapable leader. My time is precious, Lucian. Be grateful."

I let out a nod, not finding it in me to speak without my voice cracking. He released his hold harshly, pushing me back into the wall when he did so.

He started walking away from there. I followed immediately not wanting to mess up again and make my dad disappointed in me. I've fucked up enough. He's disappointed enough.

I fiddled with the hem of my shirt as I watched him open the basement door, the dreaded click sounding like a death bell ringing in my head over and over again.

I could hear distant laughter from somewhere behind me, a lot of chaos which drowned out the feminine voice of my mom in it. I want to join them, too. I want to laugh with my siblings, too.

I tried to hold my breath for as long as I could as we descended the stairs. The basement reeked of rotten meat and blood. And no matter how hard I try, I can't get used to it.

Another reason why Dad is disappointed in me. Another chance I got where I let him down, as always.

I stopped abruptly just when we entered the cell. There was a man tied up to a chair, placed in the middle of the room. That was the usual.