"𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞: 𝐀 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥"

XXVII/Reflections and Revelations

Amelia's Point of View

The alarm blared at exactly 7:30 AM, its shrill tone cutting through the silence of my room. Groaning, I reached out to silence it, only to be met with a heavy, warm weight on my chest. My eyes fluttered open, still heavy with sleep, and I found myself staring into the soft fur of Apollo, who was sprawled across me like a living, breathing blanket.

He was warm—too warm, actually. I could feel the beginnings of sweat on my skin me, and his weight was making it hard to breathe. Carefully, I began to sit up, trying not to disturb his peaceful slumber. Waking Apollo from his sleep was never a good idea—he tended to get really, really pissed off when you did that.

Slowly, I propped myself up on one elbow and reached for my phone with my free hand, silencing the alarm before it could wake him. He stirred slightly, his little paws stretching out as if claiming more space, but thankfully, he stayed asleep. The room was bathed in the soft light of early morning, making everything look a little more serene, a little more magical.

I swiped open my phone, blinking the sleep from my eyes, and instinctively checked Instagram to see if I had any messages. As I scrolled through my notifications, a message from our group chat caught my eye.

**Ray's Crazy Children🥹🔥🔥🚨👮🦅**

**Vinnie's hottest Daddy (Ray):
"As soon as you wake up, get ready and be in the lobby by 9 AM sharp. We'll have breakfast together—we are going to have a serious conversation."

The message was sent about 30 minutes ago, so I had enough time to get ready.Ray's usual sense of urgency came through in the message, but there was something about the way he phrased it that made me curious. What did he need to share? I wondered. As I continued to scroll, I noticed Vinny had replied to his message.

**Ray's Crazy Lover (Vinny):
"Sure, Daddy. Anything else?"

**Vinnies's hottest Daddy (Ray):
"This is exactly what we're going to talk about "Sure,Daddy"!!!"🖕🖕

Typical Vinny amd Ray. I chuckled, closing the chat and gently lifting Apollo off my chest. He stirred slightly but didn't wake up, thankfully. I placed him back on the bed, where he promptly curled up into a tight ball, burying his head under his paws. I took a moment to watch him, his tiny, rhythmic breaths soothing the last remnants of sleepiness from my mind. I was grateful he hadn't woken up; I wasn't in the mood to deal with a grumpy cat this early.

The morning routine was a comforting one. I padded to the bathroom, washed my face, brushed my teeth, and began stretching a little to wake up my body. The fatigue from yesterday's travel still clung to my muscles, but the stretches helped loosen the tension.

Next came my skincare routine—a ritual I never skipped. I applied my products carefully, each step methodical and calming, like armor for the day ahead. Once my skin was prepped, I took off my bonnet and glanced at my reflection. My curls, thankfully still intact from last night's care, just needed a little touch-up.

I started finger-coiling the sections that had lost their shape, working to get everything perfect. My hands moved quickly, familiar with the process, but the back of my head—ugh, it was always the hardest part. No matter how much I twisted, the curls refused to cooperate, and I could feel the frustration bubbling up inside me again.

When I finished my hair and makeup, I walked over to the wardrobe and picked out a white summer dress—a perfect choice for the warm Italian weather. The dress was delicate and slevless that made me feel elegant but still comfortable. I slipped it on, feeling the soft fabric brush against my skin, and added a simple cross necklace to complete the look.