"I know you're good, Sienna," Mom's voice was as cheerful as ever, "I'm so glad you care so much about Val, you are sisters after all."
"Don't worry, dear. Val will live with her husband in New York until she graduates from college."
Hearing Mom's assurances, I breathed a sigh of relief.
This arrangement was perfect.
I mean, marriage is about freedom, and Valentina wasn't being restrained just because she got married.
The taxi slowly stopped in front of the villa, and I got out, searching for the keys in my purse while still talking to Mom, "I'll discuss it with Dad."
"I'm looking forward to your visit, Sienna," Mom almost squealed with excitement, her voice rising a couple of decibels, "I'll have your favorite cream crepes and iced coffee ready."
Mom hung up quickly. She didn't seem worried at all that Dad might refuse to attend the wedding.
I frowned slightly, unlocking the front door. The house was silent; Dad wasn't home?
I hung my purse on the rack, kicked off my high heels, and walked barefoot into the kitchen, grabbing a bottle of mineral water from the fridge and chugging half of it.
The cold refreshment jolted my brain, finally cooling the lingering heat of passion. I exhaled a chilly breath and made my way upstairs.
"Dad?" I knocked on the study door on the second floor, "Are you home?"
The door was tightly shut, no response. Gambling again?
I felt a mix of anger and the helpless irritation of failed persuasions. Dad was a seasoned gambler, terribly unlucky and addicted.
The year Dad took up gambling, his company went bankrupt, and the little savings we had were used to pay off his gambling debts. We had many fights about it, all ending abruptly with Dad slamming doors.
Perhaps I should be grateful that at his worst, he only stole my tuition money, and not took out high-interest loans.
But damn it, I was at my limit; when would he realize that gambling would never make him rich, it was a bottomless pit.
I was so fed up.
I picked up my phone to call him, trying to keep my tone calm and not start yelling. I needed to talk sensibly with him and then tell him about Valentina's wedding.
No matter how unfit he was, he was still mine and Valentina's father.
But the phone just rang unanswered until it disconnected, anger rushing to my head.
"Dammit!" I threw the phone onto the bed. I was sure he was at a gambling table, shouting bets at the dealer. Gamblers' voices were as loud as thunder, easily drowning out any disturbances.
I rubbed my temples, feeling a sudden surge of physical discomfort.
I couldn't help but curse. I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, suppressing the multitude of swear words rising in my throat, pulled out pajamas from the wardrobe, and rushed into the bathroom to turn on the shower. I wanted to clean myself inside out.
My legs were weak, my breaths quick and shallow, and suddenly Antonio's menacing figure flashed in my mind-the deep purple veins on his thick flesh moving rhythmically...
A shiver ran through the depths of my womb, releasing a clear fluid as I groaned softly amidst the pattering of the shower. My face was burning hot and I kept thinking about using my finger...
What the hell was I doing!? This was so shameful!
I turned the shower to its coldest setting, letting the icy water wash over my flushed cheeks, reminding myself that the wild night was over, and I had been reborn.
I shouldn't dwell on that random encounter, and since Antonio was just a hooker who took my money, I shouldn't have any further entanglements with him.
I needed to return to my normal life and say goodbye to Nico and Livia. Thinking of them still filled my chest with discomfort.
I turned off the shower, quickly dried off, and changed into pajamas, my hair still damp as I returned to my room.
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