All Chapters of No Escape From Them : Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

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 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 The bright, white camera flashes continued to explode across the stage, but the world had gone entirely mute around me. The crowd's applause felt as though it were happening behind a thick pane of glass. I stood utterly paralyzed between the two towering figures of Vincenzo and Valerius. Beside me, the air shifted violently. I caught a glimpse of Alessia. Her face was no longer hiding the pure anger in her eyes as she watched the twins flank me, ignoring her very existence. With a sharp, venomous scoff, she turned on her heel and walked off the stage, her heels clicking angrily against the floor.My father stepped forward, a satisfied smile on his face as he extended his hand. Both Vincenzo and Valerius let go of my freezing hands for a brief second to shake hands with my father. The handshake between them looked like a pact sealed in blood.I stood there, staring blankly out into the massive crowd. Everything was hitting me at once-the lost princess, the arranged marria

Aurea's POV "Don't worry, princess," Valerius whispered, his eyes darkening with a raw, ravenous desire. "We will teach you."Before I could even form a word in my throat, Valerius crushed his lips against mine.The collision of his mouth on mine was explosive, stealing the breath right out of my lungs. His tongue instantly forced its way past my parted lips to dominate every corner of my mouth. I let out a soft, muffled whimper against his mouth, my hands clenching into the fabric of his black jacket as my head began to spin.At the exact same time, Vincenzo leaned over his chair. His massive, heat-radiating hand slid beneath the high collar of my gown, his fingers instantly finding my bare chest. He wrapped his hand directly around the soft flesh of my breast, kneading the sensitive flesh with a firm, relentless pressure that made my back arch involuntarily.Between the deep drag of Valerius's mouth and the scorching heat of Vincenzo's heavy hand molding my breast, I melted into th

Aurea's POV I stared at the mug sitting on my desk, then slowly raised my eyes to look at Alessia's friend.The girl stood there with her arms crossed, her chin tilted upward in a classic display of total arrogance. Her eyes were filled with a petty, vindictive amusement, as if she had already won some unspoken power game. She was waiting for me to shrink back and to play the submissive, quiet girl they all assumed I was.Immediately, Julian's deep, protective voice echoed in my mind: "If anyone at that office tries to give you a hard time, or if anyone bullies you, I want you to tell me immediately."A part of me was tempted to pull out my phone and send a quick text to my brother. I knew that with a single word, Julian would have this girl fired before she could even finish her shift. But I immediately dismissed it.I wasn't a helpless little girl anymore. I can't run to my brothers or my parents every single time someone throws a petty obstacle in my path. If I wanted to survive i