𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐀𝐕𝐈𝐎𝐑 |

chapter twenty-one

Vera

"I knew you were stupid, but I didn't think you were this goddamn stupid, Vera!"

I figured I'd have at least a day to marinate in the debauchery that was the engagement party. But unfortunately, I was very wrong. As hard as it was, I kept my eyes lowered on my hands, fiddling with my cuticles; any reason not to look Katherine in the eye.

I know I shouldn't but I felt guilty? Maybe it was the yelling or the looks Enzo and I got that night. God, this always happened when I got lectured by this woman and I hated it.

The reality of her being pissed from my actions at the party completely left my mind. Then again, everything leaves my mind the second Enzo kisses me. That was a really good kiss too...

"Do you have any idea how much damage you caused with your foolishness? Embarrassing Lucia and this entire family!"

I glanced over at Lucia and she held my gaze for a short moment then looked away when Katherine resumed her yelling. As much as I attempted to block her out, there was no use. The woman was a walking megaphone who demanded to be heard and she wasn't going to let me go unless she was.

Her voice grew in volume and I involuntarily flinched away, averting my gaze for the second time. She paced around a little, running her hands down her face and muttering swears under her breath. I almost took that time to rush upstairs until her eyes came down on me again.

"You're nothing but a little ingrate," she muttered.

"None of this was intentional, okay?" I finally said. "We didn't plan any of it. It just-"

"It just what? I gave you your warnings about keeping your distance," she snapped, jamming her finger into my chest. "And you went against it and couldn't help acting like a whore."

"That isn't true and you know it," I retorted, swallowing thickly. "Your stupid plan of extorting your daughter shouldn't have happened in the first pl-"

Katherine blew her fuse when she shoved me hard to the ground. My elbow made contact with the hardwood floor first and sent a shot of pain through my entire arm.

There've been only two physical encounters between Katherine and I that I could remember from the top of my head, only occurring because I defended myself. And all initiated by her because using her words weren't enough for her. Asserting her "dominance" had to be done physically since she knows nothing else.

"Mom, okay! Enough," Lucia called out, rushing towards Katherine and pulling her back. "She got it, alright?"

Katherine wasn't letting up. She looked at Lucia then glared at me, pointing a finger towards me.

"You're nothing but a nuisance and you'll never have a place here! I don't care what went through that tiny brain of yours but you were never a part of this family, Vera."

Katherine's said a lot of heartless things to me over the years, but something about that struck a painful chord in my chest. I inhaled a gust of air but her face never changed and she never took back her words. She never does.

I rose to my feet and rushed upstairs, forcing that uncomfortable knot down into the pit of my stomach. My phone was ringing when I made it in my room so I shut the door before making my way to my bed. A picture of Enzo and I covered my screen and that made me feel a twinge bit better.

I've begun to think Enzo had some type of psychic ability. Every time I'm in a shitty mood, he's calling or texting me out of the blue. Don't get me wrong, my heart practically jumps for joy every time his name and the picture of us lights up my screen. It's a warming feeling. Still, that psychic ability is brewing.