DANGEROUS

Prologue (Sneak Peek #1)

           

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Prologue
Before The Escape
five years ago

               Selene stared the ground in despair, clasping her soft hands and sniffling her runny nose. I stared at her, trying to absorb what she just said. My heart sunk, and my breath hitched. I felt...sad, disappointed, but mostly ashamed.
How can he do this to me?
               "Are you sure? Are you sure about what you saw?" My voice trembled, like how my body was shaking right now. "Why...how can he do this? Why would he do this? My own father!"
              In this utterly foolish reality, I was yet again another victim. A victim of my father's own selfish games, whatever happened to 'family first'?
               "I'm truly sorry my dear," Selene's soft but shaky voice had whispered through the silence, "I didn't know...what to do..." she whimpered.
               "Stop it," I hissed, "it's not your fault, okay? It's never your fault." I grab her shoulders, "Selene, listen to me, whatever you saw in that room will stay between us. As long as the marriage pulls through, the plan will definitely work. We shouldn't sabotage it with this...less favoured glitch, alright?"
               She nodded, wiping away tears and sniffling. I knew then that having someone like her in my life made me somehow lucky; if it weren't for her, I would've been nothing but a puppet without a purpose. So I hugged her, "Thank you Selene, you have been the best."
               After that, I departed to my room and started packing, throwing random clothes onto my luggage and organising all the necessities I'll be needing.
               Two weeks ago, Philip proposed to me out of nowhere, surprising me and my family members during our dinner. I was forced to accept his proposal, but then Julie, my father, wasn't happy about it.
               I had spoken to her, trying to calm her down from trying to cause a scene towards our parents—she always had deep feelings for Philip, but because he was the youngest in his household, while I am the youngest in ours, we were expected to be married.
               Italian mobs are like this, they have an obsession for family friends being married to their sons or daughters. Unfortunately I became one of them.
               After I found out that Philip and Julia were having an affair behind my back, I knew then that I couldn't pull through with this loveless marriage, it was a little disappointing in my part. The fact that they both know of the future, me and Philip's future, and yet they dare to defy the Capo of the Italian mob. But then again, who can defy the Capo's eldest heir. Especially when she's his most favourite daughter. Selene walked in on my father, sister, and fiancé discussing about what they were planning — it involved me out of the picture so the psychotic couple will be together. Selene told me how they will make it seem like an "accident" that I drank poison.
               Tomorrow was the big day, our wedding day. But since I won't be the one to stick around for an unwanted marriage, I'm leaving—I'm running away from this...hellhole.
               And I know for sure, I can never or will never regret this decision. Holding my grandmother's gift for me on my 14th birthday, I kissed it and whispered a promise "I will find happiness, nonna."

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