Special thanks to @jiyoungmochi for the cover!!
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❝𝐀 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲, 𝐚 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐥. ❞
Renata Vartanov had been through hell. Sold to a brothel and thrusted into prostitution at thirteen along with her then toddler...
When I looked at Vincenzo, I remembered the old saying, "𝙃𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙞𝙨."
And that appeared to be the case for him.
Gone was the cold, serious Don. He was replaced with a warm, lightheartedness that could make butter melt.
It was like a 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁 movie when the grumpy beast transforms into a handsome, charming prince.
All smiles and joy. It was nice to see the change as he mingled with family members.
It seemed like family brought out a part of him that wasn't menacing, but 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻. It was kind of...attractive. 𝗗𝗮𝗺𝗻.
I shook my head and brushed away the thought as their aunt came toward Catalina.
"So glad to have you back, dear. I had no one to do Friday Facials with," she said with mock sadness at the last sentence, hugging Cata who giggled and hugged her back.
"Glad to be back, Zietta." Cata replied.
"By the way," she started and turned to me. "Who's this young lady?" She squinted her pretty emerald eyes at me.
"Zietta, this is Renata. She's a friend." Cata said with a smile.
"A friend? Hai stretto amicizia con un americano? Non dicevi che non fossero altro che disonesti mangiatori di hamburger? (ʏᴏᴜ ʙᴇғʀɪᴇɴᴅᴇᴅ ᴀɴ ᴀᴍᴇʀɪᴄᴀɴ? ᴅɪᴅɴ'ᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴜsᴇ ᴛᴏ sᴀʏ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ɴᴏᴛʜɪɴɢ ʙᴜᴛ ᴅɪsʜᴏɴᴇsᴛ ʙᴜʀɢᴇʀ ᴍᴜɴᴄʜᴇʀs?)" the aunt finished.
I laughed a bit at the word 'burger munchers'. I had never heard Americans described like that, but it was hilarious.
"Zietta! Lei può sentirti. (sʜᴇ ᴄᴀɴ ʜᴇᴀʀ ʏᴏᴜ.)" Cata whisper-shouted, pinking in embarrassment at my laughter, her aunt soon followed.
"Oh, you know Italian, dear?" She smiled, regaining her composure.
"Actually, Ren knows four languages, including Italian." Cata bragged for me proudly.
"Wow, beautiful 𝙖𝙣𝙙 smart. I like you already, my dear." Zia commented with a playful smirk.
