𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐕𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 (Discontinued)

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞

The room fell silent, the only sound the clinking of silverware against china. Mrs. Morelli's eyes widened, a hand flying to her chest. "Rafael," she breathed, "are you serious?"

Rafael's smile grew, a warmth spreading across his features that made him seem almost human. "Yes, mamma," he said, turning to look at Victoria. "We are."

The room erupted in a cacophony of congratulations and questions, the tension of earlier moments forgotten. Yet, amidst the chaos, I couldn't help but feel a pang of something deep inside me.

It was a strange sensation, considering my mission, but seeing the way he looked at Victoria, the way his hand rested protectively on her, it was as if a door had been slammed shut in my face.

Victoria raised a delicate flute of champagne, the bubbles dancing in the light. "I would like to toast my glass to my future husband," she announced, her voice ringing out with a confidence that was almost infectious. "May he fill my life with hope, joy, and health."

The room responded with "cheers.' and the sound of glasses clinking. I took a sip of my water, the cool liquid doing little to ease the tightness in my throat. It was clear that she had just thrown down a gauntlet. The tension between them was palpable, a silent battle of wills playing out beneath the veneer of happiness.

"I also want to raise my own empty glass to my daughter Llaria," Rafael said, his eyes cutting to his daughter Llaria for a brief, intense moment. "She will always be the most important thing in my life."

The room grew quiet again, and I watched as Llaria's cheeks turned a soft shade of pink. "Thank you, Dad," she murmured in Italian, her voice thick with a mix of affection and something else I couldn't quite place.

Mrs. Morelli reached out and took her son's hand, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Rafael," she whispered, her voice filled with a mother's love, "you are making a wonderful choice." She turned to Victoria, her gaze softening. "And Victoria, you are indeed the most beautiful thing that has ever happened to him. You bring light to this house."

But Llaria's chair scraped against the floor as she abruptly pushed it back, the sound cutting through the warm ambiance like a knife through butter. "Excuse me," she said, her voice tight, before she rose from her seat and practically bolted from the room. The door slammed shut behind her, echoing through the corridor like a gunshot.

The silence that followed was deafening, and all eyes turned to Rafael, who had gone rigid with rage. His gaze shot to the closed door, his jaw clenched. For a moment, it seemed like he was going to go after her, but then he took a deep breath and turned his attention back to the table, his hand gripping the stem of his wine glass so hard I thought it might snap.

"Please," Mrs. Morelli said, her voice a harsh reprimand. "Let her be. She's just repulsive."

Rafael's fury didn't abate, but he nodded, his jaw muscles working as he took a sip of his wine. The rest of the dinner passed in a tense silence, the earlier celebration feeling like a distant memory.

After dinner, I about to my room, my thoughts racing. This was going to be more complicated than I had anticipated. The dynamics between the family members were a minefield, and I had to tread carefully to avoid blowing my cover.