Giovanni stood at the doorway of his daughter’s room, his figure framed by the dim hallway light that barely cut through the darkness. The stench in her room hit his nose like a sharp, acidic, and unmistakably vile. The strong scent of vomit hung thick in the air, clinging to every surface like shame. The bed was a disaster and the silk sheets were crumpled and stained, Veronica curled up with one leg hanging off, her dress riding up in a most unladylike fashion. Her mouth was parted, breath uneven, and each snore that left her lips was louder than the last. He didn’t move at all, he just stood there watching her toss on the bed intermittently.Most fathers might have erupted into a wailing alarm, shouted, yanked her out of bed, or at least demanded an explanation but not Giovanni Romano. His silence was louder than rage, his lips pressed into a hard line, and his jaw working silently. Behind his gaze, thoughts clashed and memories of her as a little girl, chasing butterflies bar
Last Updated : 2025-08-04 Read more