"Wish you never dated me."

— Ellie Goulding

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doesn't affect me but I'm dying inside. I gave my heart and soul to that man and he crushed it within minutes like I was nothing to him.

Fucking prick.

I drag my suitcase down the stairs ignoring Rico who is desperately trying to get my attention.

"Victoria, he is just being an asshole. Don't leave. Sort it out," he reasons.

I reach the end of the stairs and face him, "Are you even listening to yourself?"

He starts to say something but I cut him off, "No Rico! If he's one of those men who think they are going to put a ring on a woman and suddenly she belongs them. No! If he thinks he can act like this me, then he's wrong! I refuse to let him walk over me!"

The lights of the living room and the great foyer turn on. Great, my screaming woke everyone up.

"What is going on here? Victoria?" I hear Karla's voice and she comes into view.

Lorenzo is just behind her. He frowns once his eyes set on my suitcase and my red, tearstained face.

"What's going on?" He questions.

I laugh sarcastically, "Why don't you go ask your dear son because honestly, I'd like to know too."

"Rico?" He turns to Rico once he knows he's not getting an answer from me.

Rico awkwardly scratches his head, not knowing what to say.

"Victoria where is your ring?" Karla walks over to me with her eyes fixed on my hand.

"I gave it back to your son," I give her a fake smile.

"What, why?"

I sigh and close my eyes when another voice echoes through the room.

"Victoria?" Amara walks down the stairs.

"Gosh, I can't deal with this right now," I mutter and wheel my suitcase towards the exit.

"Victoria fucking stop overreacting!" Rico grabs my arm and pulls me back.

I give him a humorous look and laugh like a lunatic, "I'm overreacting? Me? I'm the one here overreacting?"

He looks at me like I'm crazy.

"Yes, Rico. I'm overreacting. I left my life back in America for Christian. I left my house, my dad's hospital. My uncle. My cousins. I'm a thousand miles away from my parent's graves. My fucking career is on hold. I gave my fucking heart to that man. My soul. And you know what he did? He crushed it within minutes. He humiliated me and played me. I feel disgusted with myself, I'm not sure if I will be able to look at myself, anymore. So, I'm fucking sorry if I'm overreacting!"

He looks at me, stunned. Everyone is, actually.

"Victoria, honey. Please we can talk about it," Karla comes forward with teary eyes. "I'm sure it's all a misunderstanding. He just proposed to you. He loves you, I know it."

I take a step back, "I'm aware of that Karla and like I told Rico, even if he's playing a sick joke, I will never let a man walk over me. Ever!"

"Matteo is still out there—" Amara starts.

"And what's the worst he can do, huh?" I cut her off. "Kill me? Christian has already done half of his job, he might as well finish it then."

She flinches back, "That's not what I mean."

"Look guys," I take a deep breath. "I have nothing against you guys. You've all been so loving and caring the second I came here, and I'm so grateful for that, but I don't think I can stay here even for a second."

Don't cry. Don't cry. Don't cry.

"I'm going back to the States and I'm not returning. I've destroyed enough of the time, already." I give them a sad smile, "And looking at the fact that he is still not down, confirms everything."

"Rico, call him down," Lorenzo orders in a hard tone.

"Are you sure?" He asks meekly, eyeing me.

"Yes, Rico. Call him down. Let's see if what he has to say," I say. "But my money's on he's still going to be ignoring my existence."

"He's not going to do that, Victoria."

I look around with mock confusion, "Then where is he? Preparing an apology speech?"

"Victoria..." He looks at me with warningly.

"Don't give me that look, Rico. You've only ever seen my this side, you ain't wanna get on the bad one," I warn back. "And this is just a stupid break up, I've been through worse, like my biological parents abandoning me in front of an orphanage. Or the kids at the orphanage trying to drown me. Oh, or watching Matteo shoot my mother after trying to harass me. And my most favorite one," I will him a chill smile. "Watching my father slowly die, day by day from cancer while I sat next to him doing nothing."

I continue, "So if you think that Christian breaking up with me or Matteo trying to get me again so he can torture me and kill me are going to break me or scare me then you have another thing coming."

"Tori..." Amara cries, walking towards me. "Please don't do this."

"Don't do what? Stand up for myself?" I scoff.

"Rico, go and call him! Don't make me repeat myself," Lorenzo growls at Rico with a dark expression.

Now I know why Rico was scared of Lorenzo.

Rico runs up the steps within seconds and at the same time, Francis walks down the stairs with a blank expression.

"Francis, what's wrong with him?" Lorenzo asks.

Francis clears his throat, "He's... he's acting very strange. Doesn't want to talk."

"Go back up and call him down."

"Okay.." he runs back up the stairs.

"If he's not down here in a minute I'm leaving," I mutter taking a seat on the couch.

Karla sits down next to me hesitantly, "I don't know what my son's doing but I know how much he loves you."

"Sometimes love isn't enough, Karla."

"Just give me a chance to talk to him then make your decision. Both of you are going to regret it later," she strokes my cheek.

I bite my lip thinking over her words. She is right and Christian has been nothing but amazing to me. I love him more than anything.

"He's here," Amara whispers from where she's standing.

I lift my head to see him walking down the steps. Again, looking very bored.

"Christian," Lorenzo gives him a hard look. "Is what I'm hearing true?"

"Yes," he replies.

"Why?"

"Look at her," he waves in my direction. "Do I need a reason?"

"That girl saved your mother from dying. She was kidnapped and tortured because of you, for heaven's sake!" Lorenzo growls at him.

"She was kidnapped because Matteo wanted revenge from her."

"And he would have never found her if you stayed out of her life," Lorenzo spits at him.

Christian chuckles, "You are taking her side over your own son?"

"Yes, I am." Lorenzo shrugs.

"Fucking unbelievable."

I stand up, "Okay, so I'm done here. I'll leave you guys to it."

"Please..." Christian rolls his eyes at me.

"I'm not talking to you, so please mind your own business," I walk over to him. "And if you have something to say, here I am. Say it to my face."

"Just do us all a favor and get the fuck out of here."

"She's not going anywhere, Christian!" Karla snaps at him.

"This is my house."

"It's your father's house."

"You know Christian," I start. "That day I should have just left you there to rot on that road or just should've run over you. Even if I didn't the bullet would've done its job or either the storm."

I continue, "And what I did after I saw you all beaten up? I took you home. I didn't call the police. I let you stay in my home for a whole month knowing you're involved in something bad. Everything was fine last night, you were so happy and—" I abruptly stop mid-sentence.

The realization hits me, "Oh my God."

"What?" Rico asks.

"Sometimes I'm so obtuse," I laugh. "I know what has gotten into him."

"What are you talking about?" Francis frowns.

"I'm talking about the phone call you received a few hours ago," I tell Christian.

He visibly pales.

"I heard what you said but I didn't remember until now," I bait him because I don't know what he talked about. I just know he had a phone call.

"What did you hear?" He grits out.

"Enough to know you're a coward," I smirk at him because I have enough confirmation to connect the dots.

I look the phone that is peaking out of his pocket and unexpectedly lunge for it.

"Hey!"

I tap the screen and a picture of me sleeping illuminates on the home screen.

"If you hated me it wouldn't have been here," I show him the picture rolling my eyes.

"Victoria give it back," he steps forward but Lorenzo steps in front of me.

"Let's guess the password," I tap in my name and the phone opens. I look up at Christian and laugh, "You are so fucking, corny man. Your password is Victoria?"

Rico laughs loudly at this. Even Amara giggles.

"Call history..." I tap the app. "Ah... unknown number."

I press call and put it on speaker.

The call is picked up on the third ring. "Already broken up with her? That was quick mate," Matteo's disgusting voice fills the room.

I freeze him my spot and look at Lorenzo for help. He immediately takes the lead.

"Matteo. I can't say I'm surprised," Lorenzo replies.

Matteo pauses, "So you found out?"

Lorenzo laughs, "Victoria is very intelligent and knows Christian better than anyone so she was bound to find out."

"Fucking bitch, I should have just killed her when I had the chance," he mutters.

"Well, you didn't now don't whine about it."

Matteo curses. "I'm going to make you all suffer. Just wait for it."

"We'll be looking forward. Hope to see you soon," Lorenzo says and hangs up.

"Well that was interesting," I comment after I find my voice.

Christian looks at me with guilt, "Victoria—"

"Talk about a fucking mood swing. You are worse than a girl on her period."

"I had to do it, he said he'll leave you alone. He somehow found out we are engaged," he defends himself.

"So that makes it okay? You think I'm going to forget everything you said to me like nothing ever happened?" I narrow my eyes at him, "You think I'm going to take you back with open arms?"

"Victoria, please—"

"Save it," I put my hand up. "I'm leaving anyway."

"Victoria, you are not going anywhere," Lorenzo steps forward. "I bet a hundred euros that right now his men are outside somewhere, ready to attack."

"But—"

"I'm not hearing anything. There's a guest bedroom, you can take it."

I sigh, "Fine."

Fucking retard.

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avidivz this chapter is dedicated to you. Thank you for commenting and voting.

I love y'all so much. Enjoy. 💙❤️💜

P.s. GUYS WE ARE ON CHAPTER FIFTY. I CAN'T BELIEVE IT. MY BOOK IS ALMOST DONE. I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS. JUST 8 MORE UPDATES LEFT!!!🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉