In the heart of a modern city, two rival families hold the power. Valentina, a fiercely loyal daughter, and Matteo, a cunning and determined son, find themselves on opposite sides of a dangerous feud. But when their paths unexpectedly intertwine, th...
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"Tomorrow, we're meeting the Rodriguez family for lunch to discuss the deal," my father informs.
"Okay, will the girl be there?" I inquire.
"Valentina will attend the lunch, yes," my father confirms.
"Do I really have to date her? She seems difficult," I remark, annoyed.
"Yes, son, you must. Regardless of her demeanor, this is crucial for the success of the deal. Besides, she's quite charming from what I've heard," my father insists.
"Fine," I mutter, grabbing my jacket. "I'm going for a walk to clear my head," I inform my father. I begin walking and pull out a cigarette and lighter, lighting it.
After returning from my walk, I find Julian seated on my couch. As expected, my best friend has let himself in again. "When did you arrive?" I inquire.
"A couple of minutes ago," Julian replies nonchalantly.
"Tell me about this Valentina girl," he says, smirking. Naturally, Julian is always eager for the latest drama.
"Let's discuss this in my room," I suggest, aware that my father is somewhere nearby. Julian follows me upstairs and closes the door behind us.
"What does she look like?" he asks, clearly amused. "Is that really what you're thinking about, J?" I scoff.
"Yes," he chuckles.
I retrieve my phone, open her Instagram profile, and hand it to Julian. He takes it, and his eyes light up. "She's quite charming, that's for sure," he grins. "Your padre picked a good one for you."
(Padre - father)
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After my parents disclose this information, I feel overwhelmed. I retreat upstairs to my room. It's not the idea of having to date Matteo that pains me; rather, it's the realization that my parents could so easily use me to secure their safety.
It hurts to think that my father, the first man I ever loved, would do that to me.
As I shake my head in disbelief, I decide to call Logan. The phone rings for a moment before he answers.
"Hey," I exhale in relief at the sound of his voice. "I figured out why my parents were so secretive about the Petrova family," I explain.
"Go on," he encourages me.
"They want me to date Matteo," I say sadly. He coughs in surprise. "What?"
"I know, Logan," I acknowledge his reaction.
"Are you alright?" he asks with concern.
No, I'm not
"Yeah, fine, don't worry," I quickly cover up my sadness. I don't want him to be concerned about me. I continue explaining how my family justified it by claiming it's for our safety.
"I can't believe it, Val," he says, clearly shocked.
"I know. I have to go now. Could you please tell Sabrina?" I request.
"Yeah, sure. Bye, Valentina," he says softly.
"Bye, Lo," I reply and hang up.
Then I hear a knock at my door. I rise and open it to find my father standing there. "Mi amor, lo lamento," he says, his voice strained.
(Mi amor lo lamento - my love I'm sorry)
I am still deeply hurt by his disregard for how this would affect me.
I choose to ignore him.
"Valentina, you can ignore me, but tomorrow we are going out to lunch with the Petrova family," he informs me.
Instead of continuing to ignore him, I retort sharply, "Is that all?" My voice carries a hint of annoyance.
"Yes," he responds quietly.
"Good," I reply tersely, and slam the door in his face.
I walk over to my dresser, open the bottom drawer, and retrieve my sleeping shorts. They are black and quite revealing. Then I open the third drawer and take out a satin top to match.
After changing into them, I head to the bathroom to remove my makeup. I use a gentle cleanser and then examine myself in the mirror.
Following that, I return to my bed, place my phone on charge, and attempt to sleep. Sleep doesn't come easily, but eventually, I drift off.
AUTHORS NOTE Hiii guys let me know how you like the story so far How are we feeling about Valentina's emotions?? SORRYYY SHORT CHAPTERRR!!! ALSO MAKE SURE TO LEAVE ME COMMENTSS Please follow my TikTok @heartss4bookss for more updates and content!!
