A Lie That Ruined Me

Chapter 1 ❈─────≪ °❀° ≫─────❈ Natalie ❈─────≪ °❀° ≫─────❈ The moment I set foot into the school's campus, I was instantly reminded why I chose this life. Attention, admiration, envy and respect, followed me like a perfume; all soft, expensive and impossible to ignore. As I walked through the hallway of New Rome University campus, with my friends; Florentine and Mia, all eyes stared just a little longer than necessary, as our heels echoed against the marble floors. The students stopped talking mid sentences, eyes widened like they were in a cartoon, and the whole hallways seemed to shake like they were all trying to contain their excitement but failing epically. Whispers bloomed behind manicured hands, it wasn’t loud and it didn't need to be ‘cause power at New Rome was quiet. The sound of music echoed from the courtyard through the school as students vibed hard to it. Of course they will.. it's the first day of school anyways, the smiles on each of their faces were enough to

Chapter 3 ┈◆┈┈◇┈┈•⊰⊱•┈◆┈◇┈┈ Leonardo ┈◆┈┈◇┈┈•⊰⊱•┈◆┈◇┈┈ The elevator doors slid open and Andrei stepped out first, then I followed. A bodyguard dressed in black waited outside, leading us down the silent corridor. He was a foot shorter than me, stiff and alert. We stopped in front of a large wooden door, before he could announce us in, I grabbed him. One sharp twist, a clean crack and his body dropped with ceremony. Silence followed, except for the sounds of guns, clicking into positions from one corner of the hall way. I didn't flinch. Typical Fabrizio. I smirked “Hmm-mmm, If I were you I wouldn't do that," Andrei said calmly to the guards as we stepped over the body and walked inside. A scent hit my nose immediately and I caught it; camphor. It was thick, intoxicating and deliberate, but I continued walking as more guards and guns aimed at me. At the center of the room was Fabrizio, facing his glass wall, overlooking the city in his electric wheelchair. "Quanto tempo, Fab

Chapter 5 ❈─────≪ °❀° ≫─────❈ Natalie ❈─────≪ °❀° ≫─────❈ They sent me home after the statement, not gently or kindly; just dismissed. By the time I reached my apartment building, my eyes were swollen and my throat burned from holding back tears. The only thing louder than the echo of my footsteps in the hallway was one terrifying thought: has Mama seen the news yet? News travelled fast in Rome, exceptionally faster when it carries a scandal. My fingers trembled as I opened the door to my apartment, the moment I set my eyes on the interior my breathe stopped. My apartment was in ruins; drawers ripped out, cushions turned upside down, plates shattered across the floor, my bookshelf overturned like someone had shoved it down in rage. It looked less like a break-in and more like a message. A warning. I stepped inside slowly, my shoes crunching against broken glass, that moment I knew they were going to come after me, and in fact they had already started. I exhaled sha

❈─────≪ °❀° ≫─────❈ Natalie ❈─────≪ °❀° ≫─────❈ A dinner date. I stared at the door long after he left, as if the wood could explain what had just happened. Dinner. With him. This bastard who only thinks about no one but himself is asking me… Who was I kidding? It wasn't an invitation; it was an effing order. “You're going on a dinner date with me. Tonight.” Oh.. the audacity. The control in his voice and the way he didn't even wait for me to answer. Just wow. I was still sitting on the floor when my phone beeped, the vibration snapping me back to reality but before I could check it there was a knock on my door. My heart flipped. It couldn't be him again..right? I stood, my legs weak as I walked towards the door and my fingers hovered around the knob for a second before gripping it. Be brave. When I opened it, there was nobody there except for a box. A large perfectly wrapped box with my name written neatly across the top. I stepped out for a bri

┈◆┈┈◇┈┈•⊰⊱•┈◆┈◇┈┈ Leonardo ┈◆┈┈◇┈┈•⊰⊱•┈◆┈◇┈┈ "About the wedding...” Marco began and I cut him off. “There'll be no wedding," I cut in calmly as though that would settle everything. “None that'll be involved in.” “What do you mean?!" Gloria snapped, her palm slamming against the table as she rose to her feet. “No. Wedding. Gloriana. Conti," I repeated slowly enough for it to sink in. “Padrino asked that I come say Hi," I continued, "And I guess that's done.” Silence fell, thick and sharp while Marco's eyes remained locked on mine. He didn't blink and neither did I. “This isn't just marriage," Evelyn said carefully. "More of an alliance?” I turned to her, "We have better ways to build alliances, Mrs Conti.” Gloria walked towards me, her heels clicking against the marble floor, "I love you, Leo.” For Lucifer's sake. "And?” I asked flatly; it never ended with that sentence, it never had. "I want to protect you,” she said softly. A humorless laugh escaped my