VERITY'S POV

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As of right now, I was sitting at the dining table. Everybody was here.

Yes, you heard me right. Everybody.

The table was sort of separated. One half had the Italians, and the other had the Russians. Me? I was directly in the middle, nobody across from me. Everybody was glaring daggers at one another. The food remained untouched, tension thick in the air. Francesco suddenly cleared his throat, grabbing everybody's attention.

"Verity. I would like to apologize for my actions. They were reckless and I was not thinking clearly. Please excuse my actions, they were reckless but you must understand I was feeling angry hearing my own daughter call somebody else her father. I was furious and I'm sure your mother and brothers were too, calling these people your...family," He spat out the word as if it was poison, "But we had reason. I took it too far and I apologize. But you must never run off like that again -- and when you leave the house you have to tell us where you are going! Or pick up your phone or -- or- let me know that you are okay." He finished off in an exasperated tone, then added in a voice so quiet I had to strain my ears to hear it, "I was so worried about you."

Suddenly, an uneasy feeling came over me. He was worried? I started to feel bad. Yes. I know. I'm supposed to hate him, hate all of them, but I can't bring myself to at this moment. Looking around at everybody's defeated and exhausted faces, I took note of the eye bags they bore and the many puffy red eyes around their side of the table. My eyes widened. Did they cry? Did they even sleep..at all?

I was deep in thought before answering. Although he was reckless, he apologized and that was what I needed. "I understand. I will not forgive you but I am giving you a chance to redeem yourself. What you said about me, about my family, was not okay. I do not tolerate any disrespect towards my family. You hurt them, with your words.. and your fists." I tried not to laugh as I looked at all the bruised faces staring at me, I shouldn't laugh...but they all looked pretty goofy.

Francesco's face relaxed and he looked like he was relieved. Andrea and the boys also looked relieved, but still slightly tense. I guess they realized they have to apologize too.

"I'm really sorry. I was wrong for it and I didn't mean to hurt you." Enzo started, his usually cold demeanor put down and he looked at me with pleading eyes. I nodded my head in his direction.

"Yea, I apologize." Emilio muttered.

"Sorry." Matteo huffed out, but he didn't sound too sorry.

"I'm really sorry, I didn't mean to make you feel bad." Leonardo said with a frown.

"I'm so so so sorry. I'll do anything to make it up to you, I'll buy you tubs and tubs of ice cream, I promise." Lorenzo said with sad eyes.

"I apologize my love. I supported your father through his idea of bringing the Volkov's over, and I shouldn't have. It was a horrible idea. I should have supported you and defended you." Andrea said in a quiet tone. My eyes softened towards her. Sure, I've been a bitch to her, but in this moment there was so many emotions going through me; one of them being pity.

Everybody looked to Valentino expectantly. He raised an eyebrow. "What? I'm not apologizing. I did nothing wrong?" He said and looked to me.

Matteo scoffed. "Yea right, you fought too!"

I rolled my eyes and scowled at Matteo. "No, he didn't. He's the only one who was here for me since the beginning and never had doubts against me. He's also the only one who supported me through it and didn't have a problem with the Volkov's. If you paid more attention to him, you'd notice that. But frankly, most of you barely talk to him. Needless to say, he doesn't need to apologize for anything."

Everybody's mouth dropped and Valentino ruffled my hair. I frowned when I realized he had his hair covering the scar going through his eye. I raised my hand to push it away but he leaned back, giving me a look. I raised my eyebrow. I loved his eye and his scar. They made him look badass, not gonna lie. When he realized I wasn't going to give up, he sighed and leaned forward, allowing me to ruffle the hair away from his eye.

I ignored the burning gaze of the Italians who were watching our quiet interaction and the mumble from Matteo that sounded something like "Twin telepathy type of shit or something.." and looked to the Russians, my arms crossed and eyebrows raised.

Mikael...Dad, huffed in annoyance. "Fine. I'm sorry. I should have declined the offer and told you about it right away."

"Yea, I'm sorry for not telling you or whatever." Maxim muttered. Andrei and Alexei also said some apologies and Anya...Mom, just looked at me and laughed.

"Sorry, dear. But I had no knowledge of where we were going or what we were doing until we got there. Otherwise, I would have told you."

I nodded my head and sat there for a moment before speaking up. "I forgive you all. Sort of. Biologicals aren't forgiven but they get a chance. You idiots," I directed this to the Russians, "Are forgiven but you have to let me do all of your makeup. And you have to go out in public wearing it. Yes, dad, you too."

There was protests from them but Alexei shut them up. "Guys, be quiet! She'll make it worse if we don't shut up. We got lucky. Remember what she made us do last time we made her angry?"

"What did she make you do?" Valentino asked curiously.

"She made us stand outside. In the steaming hot weather, with many layers of sweaters and sweatpants on, scarves- beanies, gloves, you name it. We had to glue bird feed to our jackets, pants, and basically everywhere while we walked around the city...for 3 hours. She only let us come back and take off all the extra layers because she said, and I quote, 'I can't have you dying from heat stroke. One of you drives me to school, one buys me snacks, one watches movies with me, one makes really good food, and one is just funny to look at."

That was very much true. Maxim drives me to school, Dad buys me snacks, Andrei watches movies with me, Mom makes really really good food, and Alexei...well, he's so ugly that whenever I see his face, I burst out into laughter.

Lorenzo let out a sound. I don't know what it was..it sounded like a mix of a pig snorting and a cat chocking. We all looked at him weirdly.

"What? I was just laughing. Can't a guy laugh nowadays? You are all weirdoes."

I rolled my eyes and looked down at my phone as the uncomfortable and tense silence hung over us once again. At least this time, people were eating their food and trying to make as much noise as possible, clinking their forks against the plates and slamming the glasses on the table.

I looked down at my phone and decided to open my newest contact -- "Asshole". Who is that you may be wondering? Nicolas. Duh.

I opened our chats and started typing.

Asshole

How'd you get my number? And how the hell did you know who I am?

Magic. How else?

He responds almost right away and I scowl at his message. This bitch. Before I get the chance to respond, I realize the Russians are leaving. I say goodbye to my family and beeline my way to my room, not bothering to spare a glance at either of my families again. What? I can talk to the Italians anytime I want, and I'll just call the Russians. No biggie. The tension was much lighter but this didn't automatically fix everything. I was still mad.

I laid on my bed and thought up a response.



Wow. Are you a wizard? That makes sense. You look a whole lot like Dumbledore.

Is that meant to be an insult? Dumbledore is seriously hot.

You're mentally ill.

You wound me, Angel.

Stop calling me that.

Whatever. You aren't much of an Angel either way so I guess it doesn't matter.

Shut up, Jabba the Hutt.

Oh no you didn't. You're so dead on Monday.

I'm so terrified. Wasn't I the one to beat your ass last night? Oh, right.. how did you know it was me again? I never got the rundown.

Like I said, magic.

Just tell me you asshat.

Fine. Your eyes.

My eyes?

Your eyes. They're the most unique thing about you.

Nothing's unique about my eyes. All my brothers have green eyes. There's like, billions of people who have green eyes.

I know, but yours are different.

How?

They just are, okay? Now stop questioning me. Jeez.

Whatever. I still don't believe you but I guess it doesn't matter.

Blah Blah Blah. Go to sleep.

No.

Go. To. Sleep.

Why?

Because I'm trying to sleep and you're making it very difficult for me to.

Good. I hope you suffer.

Wowwwwwwww. I see how it is.

Shut up. Go to sleep.

THAT IS WHAT I WAS JUST TELLING YOU TO DO.

Well now I'm telling you to.

....I dislike you.

And I don't care. Go to sleep, Dumbledore.

..whatever.

I put my phone down and plugged it in charge, pulling my covers over me and getting ready to get some shut-eye when my phone buzzed again. Jesus fuck. It was still Nicolas.



You awake?

No.

Oh. What about now?

Still asleep.

Well wake the fuck up.

No, go the hell to sleep Jabba.

Stop calling me that. And I'm bored.

What do you expect me to do about it?

Idk. Cure my boredom.

No. Cure your own boredom, brew up a potion or something, Dumbledore.

Stop calling me that.

I said no.

I say yes.

Go to sleep.

Why should I listen to you?

Because I'm the queen. Bow down to me, you peasant.

No.

Shut up.

He typed for a moment, stopped, then started typing again.

I hate you. A lot.

Ouch. That didn't hurt at all. Note the sarcasm. I don't know why it hurt, but it did.

I hate you a lot too.

Great. Glad we have a mutual agreement. I was just being friendly because you seemed sad when we were fighting.

Uhm..Okay??

Oh. Cooooooooooooooooll.

Cool. Now that we have that established, can I go the fuck to sleep.

Oh. Yea. Goodnight, sleep well or whatever.

I left his ugly, flatass on read as I finally turned over and got some shut eye, not bothering to ponder on the last few day's events. Though as my mind settled on Nicolas, a new, unknown feeling came upon me. As I drifted off to sleep, he was the only thing on my mind- this odd feeling stuck in my chest.

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Word Count: 1969

69 lol.

If ima be honest, I had huge writers block on this chapter. Ik what ur thinking. 'things shouldnt have gone to normal so fast and she shouldnt have forgave them so fast'

I GET ITT. I KNWOWWW. but trust me, she hasnt. I just wanted to get that over with so we can continue with other plots in the storyline. But just to let you know, she is still very much angry at the Italians. She'll be indifferent towards them but they are trtying to get her to forgive them.

From this point on, they'll be trying to earn her forgiveness. Trust me when I say they'll be 10x better. ANyways

I LOVE YOU ALL, STAY HYDRATED AND EAT SOME FOODDDDDDDDDDDDD. THANK YOU FOR READING, DONT BE A SILENT READER- COMMENT, VOTE, SHARE, ANYTHING- ILY ALL LOVELIES THANK YOU FOR READING<333333333333



P.S. i wrote this on my computer so i apologize if some parts are glithced and are like idk weird or if the spacing is off. I was too lazy to go thryu and edit so there will garunteed be mistakes. I apologize.

DONT MIND MY TYPOS I WAS TOO LAZY TO CORREDCT THEM.