Author's note:

Ok, I should be asleep two hours ago. But at least I finished this chapter, enjoy!

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When Mrs Amato, a chemistry teacher, appeared in their class Sofia could tell from her nervous face that something was going on. She let her students into the classroom and then instead of starting the lesson she asked them to wait and beave. Then left the classroom.

"What's going on?" Iacopo asked.

No response.

"Hey, my mom made cookies do you want some?" Gianna asked Sofia, taking an opportunity from additional free time.

"Um... thank you? I ate a big breakfast" Sofia said awkwardly and then she saw Gianna's saddened reaction and she wanted to take her words back. But Bruno was quicker than her.

"I will have some" Bruno said and took three cookies simultaneously.

Gina was scandalized by his audacity and she quickly sat down at her desk and started whispering something furiously to her friend.

Sofia leaned towards Bruno and asked quietly "Why?"

"To assert dominance" he whispered back with humour and winked at her.

Sofia had to stop herself from laughing.

But her mood quickly shifted into a serious one when Mrs Amato came back to the classroom looking pale.

"Cynthia, Giada, Gabriele and Riccardo, headmaster wants to see you in his office," she was speaking in a very serious voice. She was a gentle teacher so her cold behaviour was very alarming.

Cynthia instantly looked at Sofia with anger. "You b-"

"Cynthia, don't make it worse for yourself," Mrs Amato said sternly. "Mrs Farro will make sure you're not taking any detours"

Mrs Farro was a school psychologist and she was now standing in a doorway, waiting for the students to follow her.

***

And just like that her tormentors weren't present till the end of the first lesson. After the meeting, the headmaster himself has brought them back to the classroom.

"I am sure you all know what it is about. Your new classmate was being bullied and none of you was kind enough to report it. Is there anything you would like to say?"

He paused so the whole class muttered apologies and Sofia felt so embarrassed.

After the last I'm sorry headmaster continued "Unfortunately this cannot be left unpunished and I will make sure your conduct grades will be lowered"

The whole class audibly groanded.

This is how the class ended. A shitty ending indeed.

On the corridor, a little crowd gathered to ask Cynthia what happened.

According to Cynthia's story, the phones of the whole group have been confiscated. They didn't want to hand them over but Mr Villuti threatened with police intervention if they won't comply. Because of this situation, Giada was now waiting in the headmaster's office for her father, she won't be present in today's classes.

After explaining all that Cynthia sent Sofia a hateful look and she looked like she's about to say something to her but in a split second and her attitude drastically changed. She looked down on the floor as if she was ashamed of herself.

Sofia wanted to understand why the sudden change of behaviour but the moment she looked behind her shoulder the answer was clear: Valentino was standing next to her.

"So, tell me," Valentino said in a friendly voice while wrapping his arm around Sofia's shoulder. "Where are the boys who bothered you? Riccardo and Gabriele, right?"

Alessandro must have told him their names. Is this what they were speaking about at breakfast?

"Um... Why do you need to know? What are you planning to do?" Sofia asked anxiously.

"I just want to see their beautiful faces" Valentino assured. Liar.

"Yeah, I am not telling you," Sofia said not wanting her brother to get in any trouble.

"You owe me a favour remember" he reminded her.

"You told on me to Alessandro!" Sofia complained and crossed her arms over her chest, unwilling to cooperate.

Valentino rolled his eyes and clasped his hands to grab everyone's attention. It was very unnecessary because everyone was already looking at him.

"All right everyone where can I find Gabriele and Riccardo?" His voice was sharp and loud. As if on the snap of Valentino's finger everyone pointed at the Pollini brothers who tried to leave discreetly. No such luck. They were stopped by Valentino's friends, Alessio referred to them as dogs and Sofia could see why. In the meantime, the Pollini brothers were sweating and trembling.

"Hi, there" Valentino greeted them casually. "I've heard that during recess you got lost and entered the women's toilet, as an older colleague I feel responsible to show you the way to the toilet for men," he said in a friendly, cheery voice but Sofia already learned to never assume Valentino's intentions based on his voice alone.

"We're sorry, we didn't know she's your sister" they said stepping away. They knew that Valentino is about to murder them.

"That's not a problem, now you know," Valentino said casually, pretending that he missed the whole point of their apologies. "Where was I? Ah, men's bathroom, it's that way" he pointed at the door but this sign wasn't directed to the Pollini brothers. It was a cue to Valentino's friends to drag them there.

Sofia jaw fell open when she witnessed two of her bullies being literally dragged and pushed inside in a violent manner.

"Wait" Valentino ordered. His one words and everyone stopped. They waited for him to continue "Before we proceed I think you both have something to say"

"We're sorry," they said hotly for the second time. Sofia was sure they regretted their choices. Valentino nodded and then they were violently pushed inside of the bathroom.

"Valentino! It's okay they said they're sorry. Stop it" Sofia said desperately.

She took a step forward and Valentino raised his finger in a warning.

"Ah, ah stay where you are" Valentino warned.

"But-" Sofia wanted to speak but her brother interrupted her.

"Domenico, make sure she won't come inside" he ordered and nodded in the sign that he understands his role.

And just like that Valentino entered the bathroom while Sofia stayed outside staring at Domenico's apologetic face.

"So what is this circus about?" A deep male voice asked. She recognized it instantly. Alessio.

She jumped out and looked shocked at his figure standing in near proximity to her. Why would a guy like him was speaking to her?

Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit. He knew. Now Sofia was 100% certain he knew she's his sister. Otherwise he wouldn't even take a glance at her.

"Don't be like that?" He said seeing her spooked out face "I don't bite unprovoked" he assured her and gave her a wolfish smile. "So, what's going on?" He asked again.

"Nothing much..." Sofia said, avoiding a direct answer.

However, it was clear from the sounds inside of the bathroom that Sofia's words were an understatement. It was possible to hear screams, cries, apologies and the sound of running water. What the hell was going on there? Sofia preferred not to know.

"Suit yourself" he replied. Sofia observed him walking away and part of him wanted him to stay, another part was scared of him and told her to keep her distance.

No, Sofia had to keep her distance. She wasn't allowed to speak to him and she didn't want to, right? Right.

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Alessio knew that something was wrong. He wanted to know what was exactly the reason why two boys from his sister's class are having their asses beaten by Valentino right now.

With his sharp eyes, Alessio instantly localized Cynthia standing in near proximity to him.

"You," he said in a commanding voice, "Come with me"

Cynthia followed, surprised that Alessio acknowledged her. He rarely did.

When Alessio found a corridor that was empty enough he told Cynthia to sit and he leaned on the wall right in front of her with his arms crossed over his chest.

"So, what was this scene about? Why were they fighting" Alessio asked.

"They pissed off Valentino" Cynthia muttered, she wasn't even looking at her cousin. With him in nearby proximity, all her confidence and sharp tongue were gone. Denaro brothers were scary and they were also the main branch of their family which meant they have power over each family member Cynthia and her father included. It was better to not piss them off, or challenge them in any way. It was just not worthy of dire consequences that would follow.

And yet, she couldn't help but ask "Why do you care about that?"

"None of your business. Respond" he said strictly.

"I'm not a dog, you know," she said shyly. The truth is that she wanted her relationship with her cousin but to her, he was just as distant as to any stranger. It wasn't always like this.

"You could've fooled me since after Sandra's death you started acting like a bitch" he said in anger. Cynthia finally looked at him, deeply hurt by his harsh words. "I get it you're angry. I've lost a parent, two actually so I know a thing or two about the grieving process but you're insufferable lately so answer my question and stop feeling sorry about yourself for once" Alessio replied, no emotion traceable on his face.

"I... I was mean to that girl.. her name is Sofia Sanzaro. I was jealous of the attention Valentino was giving her, I didn't know that he's her brother" she said in a teary voice "And then..."

"Then what?" Alessio asked feeling like anger grows in his chest.

But Cynthia's future explanations did nothing to calm him down. With details, she explained to him how she tormented Sofia including in her scene the bathroom story with Riccardo and Gabriele involvement.

"So you're telling me that these guys who are being beaten up by Valentino attacked Sofia?" he wanted to make sure he heard that correctly.

"Y-yes?" Cynthia said baffled by Alessio's interest in her classmate.

"I need to call Rosario," Alessio said to himself.

Cynthia audibly gasped. Rosario? The Rosario? The oldest Denaro brother? She actually shivered. No, this case couldn't be important enough to involve him personally.

"Why?" she asked miserably.

Alessio didn't bother to respond.