Sofia was nervous about going back to school because everyone already knew that she's Valentino's sister.

And she was right to be nervous. When entered the school all of her classmates who previously ignored her or openly laugher at her gathered around her.

"Listen, we wanted to apologize for laughing and going along with what Cynthia was doing. It wasn't funny" said one of the girls. Her name was Gina.

"Yeah, it was really lame," the other girl said, remorsefully.

Bruno was behind them and Sofia could see how he's rolling his eyes at their classmates' overly nice behavior.

Cynthia was sitting on the bench with her group of minions. Ekhm... friends. She didn't have any intention to join the apologetic crowd. Giada, Gabriele and Riccardo decided against it as well. They knew that what they did couldn't be solved with a simple I'm sorry.

Sofia also noted that Cynthia's clique was incomplete. Sofia found Greta sitting on the other side of the corridor. Completely alone.

"So can you forgive us?" Gina asked after finishing her speech. Sofia couldn't recall what she was saying. She wasn't listening.

"Sure" Sofia agreed easily. She didn't want to be friends with them, she would keep her distance but she had no intention to create more problems.

"Friends?" Gina smiled brightly and reached out with her hand to get a handshake.

"Uh... sure," Sofia said awkwardly. But she wasn't focusing on Gina right now. Greta was preoccupying her mind, the girl's cheeks were puffy and red from crying.

Sofia came closer to her the moment the crowd dispersed. That visibly spooked Greta out so Sofia reacted quickly.

"Hi, I just needed to thank you for telling your friends to stop," Sofia said gently and send her an honest smile to show she has pure intentions.

"They didn't listen to me," Greta said playing with her fingers.

"It's the thought that counts" Sofia assured. Greta nodded but she wasn't smiling. Maybe she wasn't in a mood to talk so Sofia decided not to bother her.

Then the bell ring appeared signalizing the beginning of the first lesson. Sofia sat down on her traditional spot next to Bruno and she felt relieved because for a moment she wasn't the center of attention.

"So are we still friends?" Bruno whispered into her ear when she sat down next to him.

"What? Why not?" He scared her.

"I mean now that you're famous" he smirked.

"Stop it!" Sofia giggled and the teacher for the first time had to remind Bruno and Sofia that the lesson is ongoing. They smiled at each other and then focused on making notes.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

"It's so cruel" Sofia noted, as she end Bruno was sitting later on in the cafeteria.

She watched how Greta approached Cynthia's table just to find out there's no place for her.

"What's cruel?" Bruno asked while taking a bite of his Caprese salad.

"Look, Cynthia treats Greta like an air just because she defied them and didn't join the group that was tormenting me," Sofia said, feeling sorry for the girl.

"But she was mean to you before. She was laughing at Cynthia's stupid remarks sometimes making her own" Bruno reminded her.

"That's because she was trying to impress Cynthia" Sofia argued.

"I don't know, seems to me like you're too nice for your own good" Bruno sighed and shook his head.

"We should invite her to the table one day," Sofia said watching with worry how Greta runs out of the room.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sofia was staring blankly at the blank page rubbing her temples. After half an hour of sitting at the desk, and she still had no idea how to write this damn essay.

Her brothers have inherited all the brain cells leaving nothing for her. Null. Zero.

Alessandro was a freaking mind reader, Francesco was the second Tony Stark with his way around technology, Valentino despite being an athlete whose life was consumed by soccer still got almost perfect grades and Alessio from what she has heard was a league of his own.

The knock on the door saved her from another torturous minute of sitting in front of the desk and figuring out what to write.

"What are you doing?"

"I am trying to write that stupid essay for Alessandro"

"Don't let him hear you calling his essay stupid" Valentino winked at her. He was wearing his favorite red hoodie and blackń jeans.

"Maybe I am stupid then" she muttered.

He came closer to poke her gently in the forehead.

"Don't say that"

"Ouch?" Sofia said irritated.

He ignored her reaction and got straight to the point.

"You seem down lately, Fia. Is it because of Neri?" Valentino asked, his voice sounding uncaring as he was holding his hands in his pockets. It looked like he's trying to play it cool.

"Fia," she commented, without referring to his question. "This nickname is going to stick, isn't it?" She asked.

He shrugged his shoulders uncaringly"I think it fits. It's almost as short as you are," he smirked.

"You're so mean" she complained but she wasn't exactly mad at his comment and she was perfectly fine with her height. "But thank you for caring about my mood. It's good to know that you care" she said quickly in a more quiet voice.

"Of course I do. And don't change the subject. What's going on? Is it because of Neri?"

"No. You need to stop pointing at Bruno because he has nothing to do with my issues" Sofia said with full sincerity and it seems that Valentino finally believed her.

"Sure, but you told him what's going on, haven't you? That's why he was yelling" Valentino asked with frustration, showing that he's not less perceptive than his two older brothers.

"I did," Sofia said.

"So, you prefer to have secrets with some random stranger than your own brother," Valentino said dryly.

"Valentino, we just don't know each other that well" Sofia said awkwardly. It was true.

"But you know Neri that well? You've met him ta day before you met me but for some reason, there are already secrets between you two" Valentino said in a grim voice.

"I- I just. He just listens to me. We talk" Sofia tried to explain.

"Okay. Why can't you talk to me?" Valentino questioned.

"What?" That surprised Sofia. She didn't know how to answer.

"If us not knowing each other is a problem we should get to know each other" Valentino said.

"What do you want to know?" Sofia asked.

"What was your life before you met us? With your mom?" he asked. Sofia noted that he didn't say "our mom". Maybe he didn't see her as a parent.

"Um... Can you go first? What was life like with Giorgio" Sofia asked.

"Dad was a difficult person. Sometimes he was violent towards us. When Alessandro took over it felt like the right person is in the right place. But you know when dad was alive it wasn't all bad. You know he was always busy, always somewhere, and we could do whatever we want. Throwing parties, going on yacht trips, borrowing planes just to visit another country-" Valentino said.

"- Wait, really?! That's so awesome. In how many countries have you been?" Sofia asked with excitement. She loved traveling.

"Let's see. We have visited the most of European countries, we had a road trip around the States, we have seen Canada, South Korea, and China. How do you feel about summer in Japan? I've been thinking we could go there. Or Greece would be a good idea too we have a summer house in Crete. What about you? Have you been somewhere?"

"I've been to Houston several times if that counts," Sofia said.

Valentino nodded. "And how was your life when you were living with mom?"

"Um... I. I don't know what to say. It was sometimes good and sometimes bad. When she was constantly drunk it was bad. When she was sober, it was okay. We had a small restaurant at the times of her episodes it was hard to keep the business afloat. I've been helping her as much as I could but we were always struggling with money"

"That's why it's so darn difficult to buy you things" Valentino guessed and Sofia didn't bother to deny it.

"I had no idea that our mother had an alcohol problem. She was like a taboo topic in our house. There was no point in asking about her"

"Maybe... maybe she didn't have alcohol problems when she lived here. Maybe it happened after she left. It's hard to say because she never talked about her past. As if she desperately tried to forget" Sofia guessed.

"I hated her for leaving. I was only one year old. What mother leaves a child when they're one? Or at all? But then I figure that things might not be as black and white as I thought. Besides, it's hard to stay at someone you never met" Valentino said bitterly.

"Wait, no one told you that your father forced mom to leave?" Sofia asked, completely surprised.

"How do you know about something like that? You mentioned before that mother wasn't talking about her past" Valentino asked.

"Bruno's grandma was the best friend with our grandmother. She told me what Ida has told her" Sofia revealed.

"What exactly did she say?" Valentin asked, his eyes gleaming with curiosity.

"Apparently, after our mother cheated she was given an ultimatum. She was to disappear and never contact you again if she doesn't want Giorgio to start a war with Denaros" Sofia said and as she finished she saw shock painted on Valentino's face.

"I had no idea," he said.

Then, they were interrupted by Francesco peeking through the door.

"Alessandro is home" he announced. "He waits for you in his office" he directed his words to Sofia.

Sofia's essay had exactly zero words.

She was so dead.

Author's note:

Everyone, please pray for Sofia!