TEN HOURS BEFORE THE WEDDINGLorena sat at the edge of her bed, her hands resting against her face, as she sobbed quietly. Her phone sat beside her on the bed, a video playing in a loop. Her lip quivered, and her head throbbed the more she cried. Not even the voices in her head could push through her distraught state. There was a stillness in her being as if the world had paused at that moment, safe for her and her trickling tears."Lorena? Why are your lights still on by this time?" Verona pushed open the door to Lorena's room and stepped in. She glanced at the time on her phone and saw it was a little past midnight. "You won't believe Arch just made me feed him again by this time. Anyway, he is finally asleep in Francesca's arm, and..." She suddenly paused her rant when she caught sight of her sister in a head-bent position. Her heart skipped a bit when she heard the silent sobs coming from Lorena.In two quick steps, she was sitting by her side."What is it, Sorella?" She asked, rub

ONE HOUR TO THE WEDDING"How much do you remember now?" Jorginho asked as he helped Markris with the knotting of his tie.Markris shrugged. "The last memory of last night is following Ariana outside.""Hmmm. So what did she tell you?"Markris moved his mouth to speak but quickly shut it. "I can't remember." He lied through his teeth and promptly turned around to pick up his suit jacket from the bed.Jorginho didn't believe him for a moment, but he wouldn't push it if Markris did not feel like confiding in him."Just to fill in the blanks, when you came in, you ordered a whole barrel of drinks. You got so drunk you couldn't move, so we had to take you to a hotel." Jorginho explained, styling his hair."Huh? That's how I got to the hotel. What about the drinks and lingeries on the floor?" His brow raised, interest piqued."Two words, Bruce and Steve.""Oh." Markris nodded. Oddly, he felt a knot lifting off his chest. He had been too disgusted even to imagine himself going wild with girl

"What is going on, Jorge?" Markris asked as he hurried behind Jorginho. They were walking a different path from what they had initially come from. It was like going around a maze."I'll explain it to you later, but we need to leave now." A car rounded up the corner and stopped before them."That's our ride," Jorginho said as its door automatically opened.They hopped into the car, and it drove off."Seriously, what is going on? Why the fuck are we in a different car, and where is my driver?" Markris said, his voice getting pitchier. He tapped his feet continuously, beads of sweat forming on his forehead."Calm down, Mark, I'll explain it. We have to be calm now." Jorginho said, looking around."Why are you so restless then." His eyes followed Jorginho. Everything seemed so off. The driver was driving above the speed limit. Jorginho was not communicating. If there was anything he hated the most, it was not being in control of a situation."The paparazzi, bro, are on our ass," He explai

The cool breeze of the night blew gently, creating a calming effect. The stars were out to play in their shiny glory, and so was the full moon. The smell of freshly baked cookies, carried by the breeze, circulated the whole environment. Children gathered in a circle in readiness to display the joys of their innocence. Two big burn fires, together with the moon and stars, were the source of light for that night.Lorena Cicero came out of a room with a big tray of cookies. Signora Pallas followed behind her with a gallon of freshly squeezed juice. Finally, Izzo and Tatiana stepped out with cups in their hands."My loves," Lorena smiled, creating a space between the kids to get to the table at the circle's center. "We've brought treats." She said, gently placing the tray on the table.She turned around, collected the drink from Signora Pallas's hands, and placed it gently beside the table."Izzo, Tati? Pass the plates and cups around." She said, gently pushing them forward.She watched

Lorena sauntered into Signora Pallas's office with just one mission in mind. She needed to know she was not the only one feeling like her father was crossing the line now. She knocked on the door and pushed it open without waiting for a response."Lorena?" Signora Pallas said raising her head off and shifting her reading glasses in place.Lorena sighed heavily and sat on the seat across from Signora Pallas. "I'm exhausted!" She announced, her hands finding their way to her forehead. "Tired.""What is it darling?" She asked, shifting the document she was working on to the side. "Is it the kids?"Lorena's eyes widened, and she sat up quickly. It felt like an offense to her person for anyone to even think she would ever be frustrated with the kids. Not when they were the only people keeping her sane right now. "Of course not," She waved it aside. "It's my father. It's always my father." She felt a twisted pain in her chest, at the sound of his name coming from her lips."What has he done