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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As the bell rang, I took my seat in math class, hoping the day would start to turn around. The initial awkwardness of my first class had settled, and for a moment, I allowed myself to think maybe things would be okay.
But then the blonde girl from earlier sat down behind me, and my anxiety returned.
It didn't take long for her and her friends to start up again. I could hear her making disparaging remarks about me.
"Did you see what she's wearing? As if she's trying to get attention," she said loudly, her voice dripping with disdain. "And what's with her body? Like, is she actually proud of that?"
My face burned with anger, and I tried to focus on the teacher. I could feel the whispers growing louder and more venomous.
Every comment seemed to jab at me, making it harder to concentrate on the lesson. I clenched my fists under the desk, trying to ignore them, but it was impossible.
It felt like I was suffocating under the weight of their cruelty. The whispers turned into harsh comments about my appearance, my clothes, and even my worth.
The room seemed to close in on me as my frustration mounted. I was on the verge of tears, and the feeling of helplessness overwhelmed me.
When the teacher's back was turned, I stood up abruptly, grabbing my bag. I couldn't take it anymore.
The insults were relentless, and no matter how hard I tried to brush them off, they kept coming. I didn't care about the consequences; I just needed to get out.
As I made my way to the door, I could feel every pair of eyes on me, but I ignored them. The hallway seemed to stretch out endlessly, but it was a relief to be away from the classroom.
I knew ditching school wasn't the best idea, but at that moment, it felt like the only option. I didn't care about the detentions or the makeup work. I just needed a break from the cruelty.
I left the school building, feeling like I needed to escape. I wasn't going to sit through another minute of their taunts. I'd had enough.
I didn't even care that I was ditching school. At this point, it was either walk home or stay and let them push me over the edge.
The walk was long and tiring, but it gave me time to think. I felt a mix of frustration and resolve. I wasn't going to let these people make me miserable. I just needed to be away from them for a while.
As I walked, I debated whether to reach out to Matteo. But the thought of him getting involved, of him telling me how to handle it, or worse, lecturing me, felt too overwhelming.
No one had ever dared to make fun of Matteo's appearance, so how could he understand? I didn't want to explain it to him or deal with his frustration on top of my own.
I kept walking, feeling a mixture of defiance and resignation. I knew I shouldn't have left school, but right now, I didn't care. I just needed a break from the harsh environment and the hurtful comments.
When I finally reached home, I was exhausted but relieved to be away from the school. I took a moment to gather myself before heading inside, grateful for a break from the negativity, even if it was only temporary.
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I glance at my phone and see Valentina's text: she doesn't need me to pick her up because she's made some friends who will drive her home.
I'm glad she's starting to fit in and don't think much of it. I quickly reply, letting her know I'll pick her up for the ball later.
My father strides into the office, his presence as imposing as ever. "Are you ready for tonight's ball?" he asks, his tone brooking no argument.
"Yeah, I'm all set," I say, trying to sound confident.
He eyes the stack of papers on my desk. "The speech is done, right?"
"Yeah, it's done," I confirm.
He nods but doesn't seem satisfied. "Make sure you add something about Valentina. It needs to look believable."
I raise an eyebrow. "Believable? You mean like it's genuine?"
He gives me a sharp look. "Just make sure it looks like you care. It's all part of the act. People will be watching. We need them to believe this is real."
I sigh, nodding. "Got it."
He leaves with a curt nod, and I turn back to the speech, thinking about how to tweak it to fit his demands.
AUTHORS NOTE short chapter!! It's so hard dealing with people constantly commenting on your appearance so I totally understand Valentina and I'm sure a lot of people can. Please follow my TikTok @heartss4bookss for more updates and content!!
