LOGINAurea's POV Suddenly, a soft weight pressed against mine.Two slender arms wrapped around my waist, throwing me off balance. I let out a startled gasp, my heels scraping against the polished floor as the person hugged me with such force that it nearly knocked the wind out of my lungs."Oh my god! I cannot believe it! I actually cannot believe it!" a familiar, high-pitched voice squealed directly into my ear.The person finally pulled away from my body, allowing me to take a breath of air. I blinked, my jaw dropping in utter shock as I looked at the girl standing in front of me."Nina?!" I gasped, my voice barely a whisper against the hum of the crowd.There she was, dressed in a gorgeous, shimmering emerald-green cocktail dress that made her look entirely different from the girl I had known in Paris. Her curly hair was pinned up elegantly, and her face was lit up with a massive, ecstatic grin."Surprise, princess!" Nina laughed, her eyes scanning my gown. She smiled widely, her chest
Aurea's POV You can block the number, princess, but you can never block us. See you soon, princess.The card slipped from my fingers, fluttering uselessly onto the floor. I stepped back, my eyes wide with terror as I looked at the purple bear. They had been in my room. Again. The realization that I was never truly safe made a cold sweat break out along my spine."Get out," I whispered, my voice cracking in the quiet room. "Get away from me."Spurred by a sudden wave of manic energy, I lunged forward and grabbed the massive stuffed animal by its plush arm. It was incredibly heavy, but I didn't care. I dragged it across the floor, my heart hammering against my ribs, and yanked open the doors to my walk-in closet. Pushing past the rows of designer clothes, I shoved the purple bear into the furthest corner of the space, burying it behind a stack of empty luggage boxes where I wouldn't have to look at its face. I slammed the closet doors shut and locked them, leaning my back against the
Aurea's POV My fingers hovered over the glowing screen, the text message burning holes into my vision. And with a sharp, decisive jab of my thumb, I tapped the screen, blocked the number, and hit delete. The thread vanished from my screen into nothingness.I let out a long, ragged sigh of relief, my shoulders sagging as I tossed the phone face-down onto the bed. "No," I whispered to the empty, quiet room, my voice shaking but firm. "I won't let them do this to me. I'm going to marry the guy my parents are talking about. Whoever he is, he has to be better than this. I will marry him, I will let him protect me, and I will escape these scary, monstrous people once and for all."The resolution felt like a lifeline, a desperate hope to cling to as the afternoon faded into a tense, shadowed evening. When the maid returned to take the empty fruit bowl, I barely ate dinner tonight. My appetite had completely vanished.As soon as it was nine, I marched around my bedroom, double-checking and l
Aurea's POVThe continuous buzz of excited voices right outside my room was what finally pulled me out of my thoughts. For the past two hours, the grand corridor of the Valli estate had been turned into a makeshift runway, filled with different kinds of high-end fabrics, the clicking of heels, and the sharp, passionate commands of a fashion designer.My bedroom door was burst open, as my mother walked into the room, followed closely by a flamboyant stylist who was dramatically gesturing toward two assistants carrying a massive, heavily garmented rolling rack."I am telling you, Clara, this is the one! It is an absolute masterpiece!" the stylist argued passionately, his hands waving in the air as he gestured toward a covered dress."It had better be, Jean," my mother countered, her tone sharp but filled with an undeniable excitement. She turned her eyes toward me, where I sat quietly on the edge of my bed. "June, sweetheart, the final gown for your welcoming party tomorrow night has fi
Aurea's POV"Go to bed, June," Vincenzo said quietly, his voice entirely calm, as if he hadn't just completely unraveled my sanity.Without another word, both brothers stood up from the bed and walked out of my bedroom, moving casually and effortlessly, as if the entire estate belonged to them and they had every right to wander through the corridors.I lay frozen in the dark, my chest heaving as I stared at the closed door. I couldn't sleep a single wink for the rest of the night. Every little noise pulled me sharply from my sleep, forcing me to sit up and scan the darkness to see if the brothers had returned.By the time morning finally arrived, the heavy rain had stopped, leaving behind a dull, gray fog that blanketed the skyline. Exhausted, I dragged myself out of bed and went into the bathroom.Stepping in front of the grand marble vanity, I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the mirror, and my breath caught in my throat. I leaned closer to the glass. There was a small cut on my
Aurea's POV My breath hitched in my throat. The hair on the back of my neck stood on end.Before my eyes could fully adjust to the darkness, the mattress dipped violently on either side of me.Within seconds, the dark, towering silhouettes of Vincenzo and Valerius covered my bed. They climbed into the bed with a terrifying grace, pinning me down beneath their sheer mass.Valerius lay on my right, while Vincenzo claimed my left. Simultaneously, they leaned down, burying their faces deep into the sensitive crook of my neck. Their heavy, hot breath fanned against my cold skin, sending shivers straight down my spine. The scent of expensive cologne and rain enveloped my senses."Don't you ever scare us like that again, little bird," Valerius whispered fiercely against my skin, his deep voice vibrating right through my collarbone. His teeth grazed the edge of my jawline."If something would have happened to you," Vincenzo continued on the other side, his tone an icy, lethal baritone that m







