Chapter 15 Danger Again
Chapter 15 Danger Again
Chapter 15 Danger Again
"Do you even have the right to ask why I'm selling your house? I'm doing it to pay off your damn gambling debts!" I should have let him die on Pink Island, and he dares call me a whore. Just for whom I became a whore?
"You're useless!" He said, leaning on the back of the sofa to keep from falling, his disheveled appearance and bloodshot eyes reminded me of the word "demon." "Even after sleeping with Antonio, you couldn't gain any benefits. How did I raise such a useless thing, a waste! If it were Valentina, she would have..."
"How dare you bring her up? How dare you!" I swung the basin at his head and body, hitting him until he ran around screaming, "You don't deserve to be our father!"
He protected his head, confronting me across the sofa, "I am still your father, how dare you hit your father!"
Breathing heavily with fury, I wished I could hit him more, "I'll sell the house, the car, all the valuable items to pay off the debts. You can choose to disagree, but if the casino people come and threaten to chop off your hands or feet, I won't say a word."
I walked past the sofa, catching a glimpse of my drunken father, now fearful, and a surge of disappointment and grievance overwhelmed me. How many times have I asked myself, why is my father such a gambling, drunken mess?
Where had the affectionate father gone, the one who would lovingly call me his precious daughter, the one who would carry me and Valentina on his shoulders?
I wiped the tears from my eyes and returned the basin to the kitchen. With no mood to cook lunch, I grabbed my handbag and went out to retrieve my
camera.
I had contacted a buyer on Facebook who agreed to buy my second-hand car for $3,000. After some bargaining, the final deal was set at $2, 800. The deal was to take place near Chiara's repair shop, where I arrived early to pick up the camera first.
The shop assistant, a chubby girl with braided pigtails and freckles on her nose, greeted me with a cute smile. "You finally came, my boss has been talking about you every day."
As I looked at the posters in the shop window, she beckoned me inside, "There's a joint photography exhibition. There are schools in Milan, New York, and Boston. Interested? I'll let you in on a secret, our boss has some tickets for the show."
She cheerfully took the receipt from my hand to fetch the camera, "Have a seat and a cup of coffee while I get this for you."
The shop was small, filled mostly with repair equipment, except for a glass cab at the back displaying new cameras, including the ALPA I had always admired.
"Every time you come, you look at that camera. Why not just buy it?" Chiara teased, leaning lazily against the counter.
"You're still hoping to boost your sales, huh?" I laughed, "Maybe one day when I have the money, I'll definitely buy that ALPA."
"Just one ALPA isn't enough; you should get a few lenses, like choosing clothes in a dressing room," Chiara joked, "How about this one? A hundred and fifty thousand. Is it iced coffee?"
"I wish I were rich," I smiled, taking the coffee from Chiara, "Thanks."
"You broke up with Nico?" Chiara sipped her coffee, her eyebrows raised.
She had beautiful emerald green eyes. I stared into them, slightly dazed, "Yes, I was just about to tell you... how did you know?"
"Nico has been showing off with
Livia everywhere, claiming he dumped you, bragging like it's something to be proud of,
scumbag Chiara cursed, poking my head with her red-painted fingernail, "I told you before, Nico wasn't a decent man, he flirts with all those students, and that Livia, she looks just like a whore. You treated them like treasures, and now look, they've betrayed you!"
"I admit you were right, Chiara." I confessed to Chiara, "Believe me, I am even more furious. If it weren't illegal, I'd kill Nico and my past, but unfortunately, murder is against the law. So don't get mad over such scum, throw him out like garbage, God will punish him eventually."
"I'm glad you can think like that, Sienna." Chiara clinked her coffee cup against mine, "Let's drink to you finally getting rid of that jerk and starting a new life."
I forced a smile, swallowing the bitter coffee. I couldn't let Chiara know that I was in a situation worse than being betrayed by a scumbag; she'd go crazy.
"Now that you have no worries, why haven't you accepted Bert's invitation to the photography exhibition?" Chiara glanced towards the poster at the door, puzzled. "Even if you don't get the chance to study in Milan, it's a great opportunity to gain recognition."
The shop assistant brought over my camera and handed it to me. I
thanked her and with a weary smile told Chiara, "Bert just agreed this
morning to let me think it over "met
had only been a morning, and he had already sought Chiara to persuade me. I was cautious, mentally reminding myself to be careful with my words.
"We all know," Chiara shrugged, "Milan is your dream, and you're hesitating when such a great opportunity is in front of you. That tells us you're in trouble. Aren't you going to talk to your friends about your troubles, Sienna?"
Chiara's attempt at a casual tone eased my tense nerves a bit, "There are some troubles, but I can handle them, please believe me, Chiara." Chiara frowned, worry evident in her emerald eyes, "Are you sure, Sienna?"
I nodded firmly.
"Alright." Chiara trusted me deeply, "If there's anything you can't handle alone, you must reach out to me and Bert."Exclusive © material by Nô(/v)elDrama.Org.
"Of course, you both are my good friends." I packed the checked camera into my bag and signed my name on the receipt, "I have some things to attend to, I need to leave now."
"I'm flying to New York tomorrow, call me if you need anything." Chiara took the receipt and walked me out.
After parting with Chiara, I met the buyer, and after having the car professionally inspected at a shop and completing all the paperwork, it was already
dark.
I took one last look at my
second-hand car and left the
dealership without looking back. It ×
was time to find a place for dinner Looking at the $2,800 just credited to my bank account, I swallowed hard, feeling a pang of regret. Once I clear my debts, once I have money again, I'll definitely buy a Better car...
"Hmm..." Suddenly, hands came from behind, covering my mouth and dragging me backward, panic of being kidnapped enveloped me, and I instinctively elbowed backward.
My back hit a broad, firm chest, and a familiar sharp woody scent engulfed me.
It was Antonio!