CHAPTER 102: A TIFF

Natalia played with her fingers nervously as she followed Aurora.

She had noticed Aurora wasn’t particularly fond of her.

However, she didn’t know exactly why that was.

"Why are you so quiet?" Aurora asked.

"Nothing," she replied quickly.

"I don’t believe you, but I’ll pretend I do. Have you had any chance to speak to Daniela about your alleged father that you both share?"

"It’s not alleged. I have proof. I have the letters from my mother, confirming the truth. It’s in the room we stayed on our initial arrival in Neravalle. I was supposed to ask Sonia to help me bring the letters, but I forgot," she explained.

"As believable as you sound, it’s impossible to do so without solid proof. Also little advice, it doesn’t even matter how much proof you have. What you should be more interested in is approval from Daniela."

Natalia’s forehead creased in frantic curiosity. "What do you mean?"

Aurora stopped walking, as a door appeared to her side.

She turned to it. "This is the room of whispers. You have twenty minutes until I come to get you. Make the most of it," she said, ignoring every other question asked.

Natalia opened her mouth to call her back, but something told her it would be fruitless.

She would never explain what she truly meant by her statement.

Instead, she mourned the lost opportunity with a sigh, and then knocked on the door.

"If you’re a man, go away, I don’t want to see you!" Valentina’s voice broke through the barrier of the door, and on reaching Natalia’s ears, she smiled.

She opened the door, and walked into the room to find Valentina seated on the ground, with pictures littered around her.

Valentina sniffed into the air, and her head whipped towards the door.

"Natty!" Her entire being lit up with excitement, as Natalia hurried to her.

They hugged heartily, and even when they separated, Valentina couldn’t stop smiling.

"I have just twenty minutes, sadly." Natalia pouted as she joined her on the floor.

"Let’s make it count then. How are you doing, Natty?"

"Nope, I’m asking the questions. Let me see your fingers, Val?"

"Huh

?" She stretched her fingers, whilst her face scrunched in confusion.

A huge sigh of relief escaped Natalia’s throat. "No ring. Thank God."

"What are you talking about?" Her confusion grew deeper.

"Why did I just hear Jared at the breakfast table say you’re engaged to Richard? He did add some other weird name, but that doesn’t even matter. Is it the same Richard we both know?"

"Yuck!" She fake gagged. "Of course that manipulative bastard mentioned that. And I’m certain he did it on purpose because here, they call Richard, Ross Voltron."

Her brow snapped. "That’s it! Ross Voltron!"

"See? I knew it! He was just trying to be messy. Besides, I only accepted the ring because it was an unexpected public proposal, and I wanted to piss off Luciano."

Natalia sighed. "Are you still on that, Val?"

"Still on what?" She frowned.

"Luciano? Are you two still playing that chemistry game? You know who he is and what he did to the museum. Please don’t tell me he has gotten under your skin. Because even if you’ve forgotten those facts, he still has a whole fiancé."

Valentina rolled her eyes. She was going to let it go, but her heightened, sensitive emotions wouldn’t allow her.

Dropping the picture in her hand to the floor, she faced Natalia.

"I haven’t forgotten who Luciano is. Heck, I’m not even talking to him anymore. I don’t want to see him either."

"Then what’s that stunt you pulled through Elio? Telling him things you needed for your period and making sure he informed Luciano you wanted him to pay for them?"

Her head doubled as her face squeezed. "How do you even know all of this?"

"I told you, I was at breakfast. Luciano invited me. Elio came in listing all of these items you wanted. And then he ended it by saying you specifically requested for Luciano to pay for it from his own pockets. His fiancé was seated there by the way. And she was rightfully upset."

Valentina scoffed. "Let me get this straight, it’s my fault that the list Elio was supposed to give to Luciano, he decided to publicly read out? I’m not even seeing the problem with that. Also, why should I care if Luciano’s fiance was there? If she’s so bothered about my request, she should push her man to free me from this place. I didn’t ask to be here, and I’ll be damned if I feel sorry about making a perfectly reasonable request."

Natalia shook her head, disbelief clouding her eyes. "You’re saying you don’t mind being the other woman, Val. That’s literally what we crucified Jared for. Having other women when you two were together."

"Oh my God, you need to shut the fuck up Natalia!" She lost it.

Natalia jerked. "Val?"

"No, don’t Val me. You really need to shut up. How can you call me the other woman when I’m not even actively chasing Luciano? Whatever situations we’ve found ourselves in, are mostly never planned. Heck, every move you’d consider stepping out, is majorly kick-started by him. If anyone has a problem, direct it to Luciano please. You heard it yourself. I was willing to leave with Ross. Go ask him why he won’t let me go. And lastly if you’re going to call me a whore strictly because your sister is the one on the other side, then do it already. I’m fucking tired of pretending it doesn’t hurt when you blatantly take the side of that bitch who doesn’t give two fucks about you just so you can keep the faux pretense of sisterhood!"

When Valentina was done, she was out of breath.

When Natalia was done listening, it felt like a brick had been hit directly to her head.

"Val, is that how you really feel?"

"Look, I just want to be left alone please. If all you do is judge me for a situation I can’t control, there’s no point of you being here. I’m already emotionally a mess, and you make it worse. Which isn’t fair because I always defend you, no questions asked. Please leave Natalia." She pointed to the door, her eyes watering.

A tear rolled down Natalia’s eyes, and she sniffled. "I just want you not to fall into the trap our parents fell into. Not to repeat the mistakes of the past. He is a taken man. If me preaching against not giving a taken man any room to think he even has a chance means I’m not taking your side, then maybe we’re not as close as I think we are. And that makes me really sad. It breaks my heart."

Valentina let out a short, dry laughter. "You know what? That’s extremely fine with me. I want you to leave my room, Natalia. I hope the Daniela you defend so much, is really worth it at the end of the day."

Natalia jumped to her feet, and without wasting any time, hurried out of the room, her eyes covered with tears.

Valentina silenced the urge to go after her, and apologize.

"Not this time," she whispered, as she returned her attention back to the pictures.