Chapter 13
As if that wasn’t enough, he racked up a mountain of debt, throwing our already broke family into deeper despair. We couldn’t even afford to take Mom to the hospital when she went into labor. She had no choice but to deliver me at home, all alone.”
From then on, it was just pain and survival. Mom and I lived under the shadow of his violence. Every time he raised his fists, she’d shield me with her own body, never letting a single blow land on me. Her bruises never had time to heal–new ones always followed.
We tried to run, more than once. But it never worked. No matter where we went, he’d always find us, using his scummy friends to sniff out our address, dragging us back just to keep us under his thumb.
That nightmare of a life finally ended because of a massive earthquake. He was too drunk to escape in time and the house collapsed on him. He was crushed to death
Mom and I made it out
I thought it was the beginning of our new life. A freedom. Where we got to live without fear anymore.
But just when we thought we’d been spared, the aftershocks took her from me.
I still remember what she said before she passed–her biggest dream was to travel, to see the world. And every time she said it, little me would look her straight in the eye and promises
“Don’t worry, Mom, When I grow up, I’ll take you around the world. I’ll make your dream come true.”
She’d always smile at that, eyes twinkling with hope
But she never got the chance. She died before I was old enough to even try.
Thinking about everything she’d endured–being fooled by my scumbag dad, bled dry by his entire family like she was nothing more than a host–I felt tears sting my eyes. I hugged her bracelet to my chest like it was the last piece of her I had left.
“I miss you, Mom. I
Nick’s POV:
On the other side of town, Nick’s face was dark as a storm cloud after getting hung up on. He tightened his grip around the phone and walked straight into the hospital.
As soon as Jayden saw him, his eyes lit up with anticipation.
“What she say?”
Nick frowned. “She doesn’t want to come back.”
A flicker of disappointment crossed Jayden’s face, but he quickly masked it with a scoffs
“Whatever. Like I even want her here. If it weren’t for missing her meatballs–stew, I wouldn’t have bothered trying to get her back in the first place. She’s so ungrateful
He folded his ams, pretending not to care.
“Her meatballs aren’t that good anyway.“2
But his tone betrayed him–the hurt in his voice was impossible to hide
Nick didn’t argue. He simply called for the kitchen staff and had them design a new custom meal plan for Jayden. That finally calmed things down.
Nick originally planned to stay and keep an eye on his son, but his assistant reminded him of an important dinner party that night. He had to get ready.
With no other choice, he arranged for someone else to watch Jayden and returned home alone
Walking through the front door, the silence hit him like a wave. His mind flashed to a memory–every time he came home from work, Aria would be there in the living room, waiting with a warm smile.
Now there was no one
ה
He stood there for a moment, unsettled by how much that small change affected him.
Realizing how ridiculous he was being, he pulled himself together and went upstairs to change clothes. But when he opened his wardrobe, he couldn’t find the tie he liked best–the one Gianna had given him. He always wore it to important events.
He searched the closet from top to bottom. Nothing.
Helpless, he texted Ana [Where did you put the tie Gianna gave me?):
I was just about to head out to grab something to eat when his message popped up on my phone. I sighed, feeling a headache coming on and quickly typed back…
Bottom night drawer of your wardrobe]
But something about that reply felt incomplete. After thinking for a second, I sent another message: [Ask Valentina to organize your closet next time. It’d be easier for you ask her Stop bothering me
About five seconds passed before my phone buzzed again. Nick had replied: I know. I asked because I’m in a rush. It won’t happen
I didn’t text him back. I just hoped, for once, he’d actually mean what he said
