LOGIN~CAMILLA~My eyes sting before I can stop them, and a warm smile slowly spreads across my lips.I blink, trying to keep the tears from falling, but it's almost impossible when my heart feels this full.I don't think Mr. Lucas understands what he has just done for me.For as long as I can remember, I've been made to feel like there's something wrong with the way my mind works from the previous tutors my dad brought for me. I've heard the complaints, the comparisons, the disappointed sighs and the endless reminders to pay attention. I've been told to try harder so many times that I've almost convinced myself that my inability to do certain things is simply because I'm not trying hard enough.But Mr. Lucas...He's the first person who hasn't made me feel like a disappointment.He's the first person who has actually asked how I learn instead of demanding that I learn the way everyone else does.He doesn't look at me like I'm a problem he has to tolerate. He doesn
~LUCAS~I feel relieved now that I already know how to handle Camilla."Camilla, I want you to understand something. We're not going to spend the next few weeks fighting against the way your mind works."She frowns slightly. "What do you mean?""I mean I'm not going to sit here expecting you to become someone else before you can learn from me. We're going to find a way to work with your strengths while developing strategies to manage the areas you struggle with."She watches me carefully."And I think I have a few ideas." I turn the notebook around slightly, although most of what I've written is still just rough planning. "First, we're going to stop making every lesson an unnecessarily long battle."She smiles faintly. "That sounds good.""We'll use shorter study sessions. Instead of expecting you to concentrate continuously for an hour, we'll divide the lesson into manageable sections. We'll work for a while, take a short break, and then return to the materi
~LUCAS~I don't know what to say immediately.Not because I don't understand what she's telling me, but because I'm beginning to realize just how much she's been struggling with something most people probably mistake for carelessness.I look at Camilla across the table.Her head is lowered, her fingers are intertwined, and there's a visible tremor in them. A tear has landed on the notebook in front of her, and she's staring at it as though she wishes she could somehow make it disappear."I'm sorry."Her voice breaks, and something tightens in my chest.I don't like seeing her like this.There's something particularly uncomfortable about watching someone struggle to explain a part of themselves they've probably spent a long time being ashamed of. Especially when that person seems convinced that they need to apologize for it.I lean back slightly, studying her.I remember the two lessons we've had so far. The countless times I've caught her staring at something ot
~CAMILLA~I take a deep breath as I prepare to reveal to Mr. Lucas, what I usually don't reveal to people.I look at him briefly, then return my attention to the table."I was diagnosed with ADHD."There's silence for a while, and for a moment, I almost wish I hadn't said it.Lucas doesn't immediately respond.I can feel his eyes on me, but I cannot bring myself to look up."I have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder," I explain quietly. "And that's why I get distracted so easily."He remains quiet, so I nervously rub my palms together."I know it probably looks like I'm not interested in what you're saying, but I really am. I promise. It's just that sometimes, I can't control where my attention goes."I glance at him.His expression is difficult to read, so I quickly look away again."Sometimes, I can be reading something, and then I suddenly remember something completely unrelated. Before I know it, I'm thinking about that other thing, and I've forgotten w
~CAMILLA~I have never been this determined to study in my entire life.Not even during examination periods.Perhaps that sounds ridiculous, considering how much I complain about my courses and how often Esmeralda has to threaten to stop sharing her answers with me. But today is different.Today, I have a reason to prove myself.And that reason is sitting somewhere in the school building, probably preparing to teach me.Mr. Lucas.Just thinking about him makes me smile, but I quickly shake my head and return my attention to the mirror.No. Not today, Camilla.Today, I'm going to be a very good student.After our first tutoring session, Lucas suggested that we fix our lessons on days when I didn't have lectures. He believed that attending classes throughout the day might be exhausting my brain, making it difficult for me to concentrate during our private sessions.I agreed immediately.And when he checked my timetable, we settled on today.My lecture-free day.
~LUCAS~I take Camilla's notes from her and open them.The first thing I realize is that I'm going to have to prepare more than I originally planned.I know psychology.Not as deeply as someone studying it, obviously, but I've taken enough related courses and studied enough material over the years to understand the fundamentals.The problem is that Camilla isn't a law student.She's studying psychology, and that means I can't walk into these sessions relying entirely on what I already know.If I'm going to teach her properly, I need to understand what she's being taught, how her department approaches each subject and, more importantly, exactly what her lecturers expect her to know.I glance through her Biological Psychology notes and handouts, and I see topics like Brain structures, The nervous system, Neurotransmitters.I scan the pages again, mentally organizing where I should begin.I make a decision that from now on, I'll read ahead.I'll research her course
~ELENA~“Help!” I cry out in tears. “Somebody please help!”The sound of my own voice echoes back to me, useless.A man slams the door shut. The engine roars.And just like that, they’re gone.Two of my daughters.Gone.I crawl after them, knees scraping against metal and s
~ELENA~“Get the babies now!”Something in my tone snaps them into motion. Valentina reaches for one baby. Gianna scoops up another. I clutch the third to my chest, heart racing.Vincenzo appears instantly. “What is it?”“I don’t know,” I whisper. “But something’s wrong.”He stu
~ELENA~“My daughter belongs to all of them,” I announce.Laughter breaks out—low, cruel, disbelieving.“Daughters?” one of them repeats. “You expect us to believe three men fathered three identical children?”“Yes,” I reply boldly.Outrage erupts.“That’s perversion!”“Th
~ELENA~I know something is wrong the moment they come back into my room after taking Fiorella and Marcella to the nursery.Not because they say anything.But because the house feels… heavier.Vincenzo closes the door behind them carefully, like the walls might be listening







