~The lost one~

Chapter 23

Simi's poV
The sleek black car sat silently in front of the station, its tinted windows hiding the person who was about to step into my life. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat echoing the nervous thoughts racing through my mind. My hands tightened around the strap of my duffel bag, knuckles white from the pressure. This was the moment I had been dreading and anticipating with equal intensity, and now it was finally here.

As the car door opened, I held my breath. The first thing I noticed was a polished black shoe hitting the pavement, followed by the rest of him. A tall man, easily over six feet, emerged from the car. He was dressed in an impeccably tailored, very expensive suit that seemed to fit him perfectly, accentuating his broad shoulders and muscular frame. His presence was commanding, almost overwhelming, like he owned the ground he walked on.

His face was sharp, with a strong jawline softened by a light stubble. But it was his eyes that caught me off guard—deep green, just like mine. Those eyes, so familiar yet so distant, locked with mine for a brief moment before he turned his attention to Officer Steffan. In that split second, I felt a strange jolt of recognition, like I was looking at a version of myself from another life. So that's where my beauty comes from, I thought, almost in disbelief.

But that thought was quickly overshadowed by the one question that had been haunting me since the moment I knew he was coming: Why in the bloody hell did he abandon me? The question echoed in my mind, growing louder with each repetition, until it was all I could hear. Anger started to bubble up inside me, a hot, simmering rage that I didn't know how to control. How could he have left me? How could he have let me go through everything I'd been through alone?

The anger was sharp, like a knife twisting in my gut. But then, just as quickly, I felt it turn inward, directed at myself. How could he know? I thought, trying to justify his actions, or maybe just trying to calm myself down. How could he possibly know what kind of life I had? He didn't know about the years I'd spent feeling like I was nothing, about the constant fear and pain. He didn't know about Caroline and Nyx, the people who had hurt me the most, who had left scars that would never fully heal.

And that's when I made up my mind. I would never, ever tell him—or anyone else in this family—about my past. To them, I would be just a normal kid. They didn't need to know about the abuse, about the secrets I kept locked away, the ones that still haunted my dreams. That part of my life was mine and mine alone. I wouldn't let anyone see the broken pieces inside me, the parts that had been shattered and put back together so many times that they barely held shape anymore.

I wouldn't be that little girl anymore, the one who was afraid of everyone and everything. The one who had been abused, who had been neglected and forgotten. In reality, I had no one except me, so I would stand up for myself. I was stronger now, harder, more resilient. I would make sure they saw that. No one would ever know the full story, and that was how I wanted it.

As I came out of my thoughts, I realized that Vittorio had started walking towards us. His steps were deliberate, his expression cold and unreadable. There was no warmth in his eyes, no hint of the emotions that must have been churning beneath the surface. He seemed so different from what I had imagined. I had pictured a man older, maybe a bit worn down by life, but instead, he looked younger and fitter than I'd expected. He moved with a confidence that was both intimidating and impressive, like someone who was used to being in control, used to getting what he wanted.

When he finally reached us, Vittorio stood directly in front of Officer Steffan, his gaze shifting between the two of us. For a moment, he said nothing, just studied me with those piercing green eyes. I felt like he could see right through me, like he knew everything I was trying so hard to hide. But I kept my face blank, my expression neutral, not letting any of my emotions show.

"Officer Steffan," Vittorio greeted, his voice smooth but lacking warmth. There was a formality to it, like this was just another business transaction for him.

"Mr. Gabrini," Officer Steffan replied, his tone professional. He gestured towards me. "This is Simi."

Vittorio's gaze shifted back to me, and for a moment, the coldness in his eyes seemed to soften, just a fraction. He nodded slightly, acknowledging me. "Simi," he said, as if testing the name on his tongue. It was the first time I'd heard him say it, and there was something in his voice, something that I couldn't quite place. Regret? Uncertainty? I couldn't tell.

I stared back at him, trying to keep my expression neutral, but inside, my mind was a whirlwind of emotions. This was the man who was supposed to be my father, the man who had left me to fend for myself in a world that had been anything but kind. And now, he was standing in front of me, a stranger wearing the face of someone who was supposed to love me.

"Shall we?" Vittorio finally asked, breaking the silence. His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it, a tension that I could feel in the air between us.

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. There were so many things I wanted to say, so many questions I wanted to ask, but I knew this wasn't the time. Instead, I swallowed my emotions, pushing them down deep where they couldn't betray me. I would have to be strong, to keep everything under control. There would be time for questions later, time to figure out what this all meant. But for now, I just needed to survive this moment.

As I followed Vittorio to the car, Officer Steffan close behind, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was stepping into a whole new world, one that was both terrifying and full of possibilities. But I knew one thing for sure: whatever happened next, I would face it on my own terms. I had survived too much to let anyone—especially this man—see me as anything less than strong.

When we reached the car, Vittorio opened the back door for me, a gesture that seemed oddly out of place for someone so distant. I hesitated for just a second before getting in, clutching my duffel bag tightly as if it could somehow protect me from whatever was coming next.

As the car door closed behind me, sealing me in with my thoughts, I took a deep breath, trying to steady the chaos inside my mind. This was it. The beginning of a new chapter, a new life. And whatever happened, I knew I had to face it head-on, with strength and determination. Because no matter what, I would never go back to being that scared, broken little girl. Not now, not ever.