Anastasia sits down between Anastasio and Ermanno. She looks around at the faces of her brothers and father. Arabella is sitting between Allesandro and Adriano. Her eyes meets Anastasia and she makes sure to send a fierce glare in her direction.

Anastasia ignores her and glances at her grandparents- Alberto and Vanessa. Vanessa smiles warmly at Anastasia who tries to share this smile back.

"How is your school life going, dear?" Vanessa asks, grabbing others attention.

"Good."

Hearing her answer, Vanessa's smile widens even more if possible. Alberto does not show any emotion but he is internally relieved that his granddaughter is doing better unlike last time of their meeting.

"Any boyfriend?" Wanda pipes in the conversation, winking cutely at her.

Anastasia feels her cheeks reddening slightly. She softly shakes her head.

"This is better that there is not any." Stefano mutters cooly.

"What the hell are you saying?" Wanda asks with her eyes narrowed.

"She is not allowed to have boyfriend! First, she's just 16 nothing but a baby." Stefano points out the 'obvious'.

"And when she will grow up? Legitimate enough to be adult?" Wanda raises her brow curiously.

"Around 40 years more but nothing is sure."

Wanda blinks at Stefano's reasoning.

"That's absurd."

"Why do you think so? I should take caution. Like I have seen the result of relationships...I would like to keep her away from it." He points at both Wanda and Tristan for instance.

Wanda's left eye twitches.

She was ready to flip the table but Tristan places his hand on her shoulder, effectively stopping her.

"What?" She glares at him making him smile uneasily.

"Calm down, dear." He pats her shoulder, soothingly.

"I'm calm." She mumbles back with anger and annoyance still visible in her eyes.

Luna giggles under her breath.

"And, why are you laughing? Do you have a wish to die, little sister?" Wanda narrows her eyes at Luna who uneasily raises her hands up in surrender.

Nobody dares to mess with Wanda and lives another day.

Wanda looks at Anastasia who is quietly eating her dessert.

"So where was I? Yeah! You are so pretty, my dear niece. You should definitely get a boyfriend. I shall see who dare harm you and him." Wanda says sweetly.

Arabella scoffs under her breath.

Wanda's ears picked on.

"You want to say something?"

Arabella glances at her and then at Anastasia before dragging her eyes to look back at Wanda again.

"I mean, with these scars on her, don't you think you are insulting the word 'pretty'?"

Everyone pauses eating and looks at her. Even little Victor frowns at her wording.

He looks at Anastasia who looks gloomy.

Wanda wants nothing but to slap Arabella hard but Tristan has been stopping her.

"Like mother, like daughter!" Alberto mutters in disapproval.

Arabella's eyes widens.

"Do not compa--" Her yelling is cut off by Allesandro who is glaring at her.

"Don't raise your voice, Arabella!"

"B-but pap--"

"You have already said enough. Apologize!" Adriano says calmly.

Arabella grits her teeth in anger.

"Sorry!"

Everyone's eyes follow Anastasia as she excused herself to use the bathroom. She steps out of the room and Zeus instantly approaches her along with Matteo.

"What's wrong?" He asks, while a cigarette is dangling between his lips.

"Nothing. I just need to use the restroom. Where it might be?" She asks softly.

But Zeus knows better. She sounds pretty damn close to cry.

"I will show you the way, madam." Matteo responds and leads her out of there.

Matteo keeps a close distance to her as they walk together. She sniffles quietly. It catches his attention but he does not say anything.

"Here it is."

She looks up at him and nods. His phone starts ringing and he excuses himself.

Anastasia enters inside and looks straight ahead at the mirror. Tears stream down her cheeks but she is quick to splash cold water on her face as quiet sobs leaves her lips.

"Are you ok?" A soft, feminine voice rings in her ears, making her freeze.

She snaps her head back to see a young girl standing behind her with a concerned look on her face.

"Y-yes." Anastasia whispers.

"Don't worry, you know. If it is a bad day today, a good tomorrow will be coming ahead." The girl speaks with a small, gentle smile on her face.

Her eyes widens slightly in the next second.

"Ehh. I'm sorry, if I annoyed you. I'm not really good at giving such kind of advices." She admits a bit embarrassed but Anastasia smiles.

"Thank you."

"Well, I haven't introduced myself. Have I? My name is Ath--"

Her words are cut off in middle as the door slams open.

"Athena!" A feminine but strong voice exclaims.

"Oh, Ariana...." Athena looks at the girl who is standing at the doorway, a little sheepishly.

Anastasia stares at them a little dumbstruck. Both of these girls look exactly the same.

"Who is this?" Ariana asks, her facial expression faltering at the sight of Anastasia's scars. She unintentionally rubs her own arms.

"Oh that's--" Athena looks at Anastasia for answer too.

"Anastasia."

"Well, it's nice to meet you too and all. Athena! We should hurry before Vincenzo gets angry and send a search party."

Athena's eyes widens slightly.

"Oh..we should actually hurry then. It was nice to see you, Anastasia. Hope we could talk more but our holiday trip is ending today and we are going back to home."

Thus, they part ways.

Strangely, Anastasia felt a lot better after talking to Athena. She was a nice girl even for a stranger.

She should have asked for her number.

Shaking her head, she makes her way out of the restroom.

She looks around but Matteo is nowhere to be seen. Taking it upon herself, she begins to search her way but eventually gets lost in this huge restaurant.

As she is walking in a silent corridor, trying to search for a right way, she accidentally bumps into someone.

Her eyes widens upon seeing this person.

"Use your fucking ey--"

Alexander stops after recognizing the person in front of him.

Anastasia feels nothing but unease looking at Eleanora's father.

"Oh it's you, huh? Were you eavesdropping?" He takes a menacing step forward.

Anastasia trembles in fear and takes urgent steps backward. She does not even know what he is talking about.

"Alexander!"

A voice rings through making both of them pause.

A cold shiver chills down her spine at the sight of this familiar man. She forgot what his name was but his mismatched eyes were something that she could never erase out of her memories.

"Gianni!" Alexander scoffs.

"I found Allesandro's daughter roaming around. I think she heard something that she is not supposed to. Let's end her right here." He pulls his gun out making Anastasia pale and feel nothing but dread.

"There's no need. Get out of here, girl."

She does not need to be told twice.

"And, if you mention about this meeting to anyone, I won't stop Alexander, the next time."

His threat rings in her ears clear and loud. Tears hysterically falls down her eyes.

She flinches as she bumps into someone again. Looking up, she finds Giovanni standing in front of her.

"Ana! Where the hell hav--"

He pauses as she throws herself on his chest but without hesitation, hugs her back.

She clutches his jacket tightly until her knuckles turn white.

"I w-wanna go h-home please, Gio..." She cries out with fear and anxiety.

"Alright, alright. We are getting out of here, Sia."

Anybody curious about characters Athena and Ariana... Both of them are from my book 'Her five Protectors' and to my old readers, the sequel of 'Her five Protectors' is out on Patreon with upto 9 chapters published. It will be available on Wattpad after it is finished on Patreon...So stay tuned <3

Thanks for reading!

If you liked these chapters, then give them a vote and don't forget to share your views.... Also, if you have time or interest, you can check out my other works...

You can get early access to the completed book 1 'Lost Gem' on Patreon... The link is in my profile...

I will see you again, Davina...💞