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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The warm, inviting aroma of roasted vegetables and fresh herbs filled Aunt Maria's dining room, but it did nothing to ease the tight knot of anxiety in my stomach.
My parents exchanged warm greetings with Aunt Maria and Grandma Sophia, their voices filled with genuine pleasure. I forced a smile, though I felt anything but happy to be here.
I took a seat beside Matteo, our elbows brushing awkwardly against each other as we sat down. His forced smile did little to reassure me.
The table was set beautifully with delicate china and sparkling silverware, the kind of detail that normally would have impressed me. But tonight, it only added to my sense of dread.
I wanna go home.
Aunt Maria's eyes twinkled with curiosity as she settled into her seat. "So, Valentina, Matteo," she began, her voice carrying the weight of unspoken questions, "tell us more about how you two are getting along."
My pulse quickened. I glanced at Matteo, silently pleading for him to take the lead. He cleared his throat, his expression carefully neutral. "We're doing great, Aunt Maria," he said, his voice smooth. but lacking conviction. "Aren't we, Valentina?"
I nodded, forcing a smile that felt like it might crack my face. "Yes, absolutely," I replied, my voice sounding unnaturally cheerful. "We're really getting to know each other better." Under the table, Matteo's hand found mine and gave it a gentle squeeze. The unexpected touch made me stiffen, but I squeezed back, hoping it looked genuine.
Grandma Sophia leaned in, her eyes sharp and discerning. "And what do you like most about each other?" she asked, her tone suggesting she wouldn't be easily fooled.
Suppressing a sigh, I quickly thought of a convincing answer. "Well, Matteo is... very considerate," I said slowly, casting a quick glance at him. "He's always making sure I'm comfortable." As if on cue, Matteo reached up and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, a gesture so practiced it almost felt real.
Considerate my ass.
Matteo nodded, his jaw tightening slightly. "And Valentina is incredibly thoughtful," he added, turning to look at me with what I hoped was genuine affection. "She's always looking out for others." He placed a hand on my shoulder, his thumb lightly brushing against my collarbone. The touch was intimate enough to make me blush, adding a hint of realism to our act.
Aunt Maria smiled, seemingly satisfied for the moment. "That's wonderful to hear. It's important to support each other."
As the conversation shifted to other topics, I let out a silent sigh of relief. I glanced at Matteo, who met my gaze briefly, a shared look of mutual understanding passing between us. We had passed the first test, but I knew this charade would be far from easy. I just hoped we could keep it up without anyone discovering the truth.
I couldn't help but feel a wave of resentment. This dinner was a farce, a performance we were forced to put on for the sake of our parents.
I didn't want to be here, pretending to enjoy Matteo's company when, in reality, I could barely stand him. The effort to maintain this facade was exhausting, and I longed for the moment I could escape to the privacy of my room.
