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...
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❀𝓡𝓮𝓷𝓪𝓽𝓪❀
My interaction with Vincenzo last night was the only thing on my mind as I got up and got ready for the day.
I'd decided to leave my room last night, feeling lighter after my conversation with Elijah.
I'd finally worked up the nerve to eat at eight o'clock, resolving to go downstairs and hopefully fish out something filling from the fridge.
Bumping into him again gave me a serious sense of déjà vu, one that disappeared immediately after I felt his strong arm around my waist and long fingers on my wrist.
He held me secure, saving me from my own clumsiness.
Then came the feeling of his eyes on me as he scanned my face. I was petrified when he did that, afraid he would recoil in disgust.
But he didn't. He didn't mention my dishevelled appearance once or make fun of how hideous I must've looked like that.
It was like it didn't bother him at all.
He walked me downstairs and served me a plate of the most delicious Mac and cheese I'd ever tasted. Although, between that and his little pick up line, I didn't know which was cheesier.
The bickering, the laughter, the light conversation (the graze of his knuckles). Everything we'd shared last night was...was...
𝑊𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑓𝑢𝑙.
I palmed my face at the thought as I put on my skirt.
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(Her outfit)
𝐷𝑜𝑛'𝑡 𝑏𝑒 𝑟𝑖𝑑𝑖𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑜𝑢𝑠, 𝑅𝑒𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑎.
It was nice, but it wasn't wonderful. Wonderful would've been him staying longer, talking to me in what was the friendliest tone I'd ever heard him use with me before his face and tone morphed into blocks of ice that left silver chills down my spine.
Up till now, I still didn't understand it. One moment, we were talking about Elijah, the next he'd shut down faster than an old factory and bid me goodnight.
