✍ | 𝐁𝐔𝐑𝐍 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐘𝐎𝐔 | 𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐄𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓!

●'I'●'I'●'I'●'I'●'I'●'I'●

A DAY OF SHADOWS 

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WHEN VICTORIA WOKE UP TWO DAYS AFTER ALESSANDRO VISITED HER AND SHE SAW THE DATE, she wanted to hide from everyone and disappear from this world. But she knew that she could not. So, the curly-haired girl lay in bed for five more minutes before getting up. She found a dark green sweater in the closet, pulled it over her head, and went downstairs. It was Saturday, meaning the staff was not working and Enzo was home. 

" Good morning, sunshine, " Lorenzo greeted Victoria as she walked into the kitchen, his voice dripping with sarcasm. She did not reply, which should have been his first hint, but he was scrolling through his phone and did not see her appearance. " What? No good morning or other beautiful words? " he continued to tease her, still not looking at her.

" Fuck off, " Victoria murmured as she poured herself a cup of coffee. Her voice was quiet but loud enough for Lorenzo to hear what she had said. She was not in the mood today for their daily arguments and was on the edge of an emotional breakdown. Gripping her cup tighter, Victoria took a sip of the coffee. 

" It's quite a surprise that you don't have anything to say, " Lorenzo said, his eyes on his phone. 

" Shut up, " Victoria whispered, setting her cup down, resting her hands on the counter, and closing her eyes. But Lorenzo did not hear her and she tried to take a few deep breaths to calm herself down, but breathing was getting harder.

"  Usually you're full of things to say, " he went on and Victoria felt something snap inside of her. 

" I said shut up and fuck off! " she burst out, her shout causing Lorenzo to flinch. He lifted his gaze to see the girl for the first time that day. She was wearing a sweater that was way too big for her and her hair was tousled from sleep. But her face... There was so much hurt and other emotions on her face. And when he saw the date on his phone screen, he started to feel bad. 

" Victoria, " he started to say, wanting to apologize to her, but she faced him and he gulped, cursing himself that he did not stop talking earlier. Here was a thing. Despite their difficult relationship with each other, they have never said truly hurtful things to each other. Did she want to say them now? Yes. Would she say them? That she did not yet know.

" No! " Victoria shouted with tears in her eyes. A few minutes ago she was on the edge of an emotional breakdown. Now? She was having it. " Just shut your damn mouth! I... I can't be here! I need to... to leave or I'm going to say things I will regret later! " tears were running down her face and she was still shouting but with every word her voice started to shake more and more. Victoria fled the kitchen. 

" Shit, " Lorenzo muttered under his breath as the sound of the front door opening and closing reached him. He quickly jumped on his feet and ran after Victoria before she did something reckless. 

He grabbed her wrist when she opened her car's door, preventing her from getting in. She was not in the proper condition to drive right now. Victoria tried to pull her hand out of his grasp but he did not let her. Instead, he turned her to face him and she let out a sob. Lorenzo wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer to him, drawing her into a comforting embrace. Victoria tried to escape his embrace by pushing herself from him and hitting him on the shoulders, but he tightened his hold on her and her forehead pressed against his chest. 

" I'm sorry. I forgot what day was today, " he said softly and closed his eyes as he listened to her sobs. Victoria gripped his t-shirt. " It's okay. I'm here, " Lorenzo whispered in her ear and stroked her curly hair. Nothing changed between them. He still did not like her, but today was the day when she needed someone to hold and comfort her. And he would be that person today. Even if it was a marriage of convenience, he was still her husband who made vows. 

" I..., " her sobs started to quiet down. " I'm sorry, " she sniffed her nose, looking up at him. He brought his hands to her face and tried to brush the tears away. "It's getting harder every year. And I miss them. I miss them so much. "

" I know, " Lorenzo's voice was soft. 

He remembered that day as if it were yesterday, even though it happened eight years ago today. He, his siblings, and friends had rushed to the Russo estate when their parents told them that Nicoletta and Fernando Russo were found dead. Harper had been grounded, but she snuck out to be with her friends. Lorenzo could still remember those heart-wrenching sobs coming from Gabriella and Victoria. Alessandro was sitting quietly next to him, staring at one spot. Harper was comforting Victoria, or trying to, while Gabriella sobbed in Eddie's arms. That day, the only words Lorenzo had said to Victoria were "I'm sorry for your loss.". He did not tease her or argue with her.

" This, " Victoria grabbed the end of her oversized sweater and played with it, " was my dad's. My mom made it to him. It's one of a few reminders of them I have. "

" It's a beautiful sweater, " Lorenzo smiled a bit. Now when Victoria told him about it, he could remember seeing Fernando wearing it. " C'mon, Vi, let's get you inside, " the old nickname for the girl slipped through his lips and he dropped his arm around her shoulders, starting to lead her back inside. 

" Vi? I haven't heard it in a long time, " she said, walking close to him. When they were friends, little Lorenzo struggled with Victoria's full name so he shortened it and called her Vi. When they started to dislike each other, Vi was gone. 

" Don't get used to it. Now, I know that I'm not Rosa but I do know how to make cupcakes, " he told her, ushering her to the kitchen when they were inside. Victoria chuckled. 

They would be back arguing with each other tomorrow. 

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