Dante's POV

I stared at my little sister's face who was now sleeping after throwing up like crazy in the washroom earlier.

After Xander stormed out to his room followed by Alessandro who I knew didn't go to his room but instead elsewhere in our mansion.

I walked out as well as I felt like somewhere it was my fault for what happened during the dinner.

A dinner which meant to go smoothly without ending up ruined like it did a few minutes ago.

But the logical part of me told me that I wasn't wrong to ask about the wound that my sister got on her wrist.

I was worried for my sister who I lost hope of reuniting with her again.

But here she was lying in front of me with her beautiful innocent sleeping face.

I got up and moved towards the washroom. I got a plastic mug which was used to keep her toothbrush and washed it before filling it with warm water then I moved to grab a small towel and walked out from the washroom and made my way to my sleeping sister.

I sat beside her while keeping the mug of water on the night stand table making sure that the electric lamp and the mug had enough distance between them.

Then I carefully wetted the small towel inside the mug and stretched it to remove excess water from it and but still keeping it wet then I slowly yet gently began to wipe Valentina's face with a small wet towel.

As I remembered how I got here in the first place.

Flashback

I was passing by the corridors when I found myself in front of Valentina's bedroom door.

Something inside me told me to check on her but I shook it and was going to walk away when I noticed the door was slightly open.

I slowly walked near the door in order to close it as I don't want anyone to enter her room especially the night patrolling guards in our mansion.

I was going to close the door completely when I heard some faint weird sounds coming from the other side and I frowned.

And the voice inside me urged me to at least have a glance of my sister for once so I gave up and opened the door, quietly.

I will leave as soon as possible when I have a glance of her being okay.

But I knew she was far from okay.

How can she be okay ? After listening to Xander's hurtful words.

That jerk brother of mine absolutely said the wrong words to our little sister.

She doesn't deserve to hear those words from her brother but now she did and she is hurt because I saw the deep hurt that flashed on her face downstairs which she tried to mask but failed from my observant keen eyes.

I frowned when I didn't see her on the bed or anywhere inside the room.

I got completely inside the room and looked around and then my sharp eyes heard the same weird sounds coming inside from the washroom.

'Is she inside there ?' I thought as I got closer to the washroom's door and kept my ear on it so I could clearly hear her.

Something inside me again told me to go inside and check on her and I did not think twice and barged inside the washroom.

If she was showering then the sound of the shower can be heard but it didn't that means she isn't bathing.

As I got inside my eyes roamed around the huge washroom before it landed on a small human body that was crouching down in front of the toilet seat.

I immediately realised it was Valentina, my sister who was vomiting her guts out in the toilet and I went alert as I quickly walked towards her and bent down enough to pull her long light brown hair into a ponytail where my hand was holding it instead of a rubber band.

I rubbed her back with my palm after noticing that she was having a breathing problem.

"It's okay. I am here now." I said while continuing to rub her back, gently.

After listening to my voice she froze. Of course, she didn't expect me to be here. I didn't say a word to her except asking about her bandaged wrist earlier.

I was still trying to digest the fact that my little sister who was fucking kidnapped by our bitchy aunt now is back to her home where she truly belonged.

After throwing 2 times more she finally stopped and dropped down to the floor and I flushed the toilet.

She literally vomited all the food that Luciano made and my brother will surely be upset when he gets to know about this.

I heard a whimper sound coming from Valentina before she fisted her hair and was going to pull it but I was fast enough to stop her.

"Don't." I said and without wasting a second I scooped her in my arms in a bridal style.

She is so light-waited. My dumbbells have more weight than her.

'Was that bitch not feeding my sister properly all these years ?!' Just this thought made me see red but I tried to calm down because my sister needs me the most right now.

"Sleep." I said to her before moving towards her bed and laying her down on the mattress.

I watched as her eyes were closed and I knew she was tired from throwing up so much and for some reasons it's not okay to throw this much.

Luciano always makes sure that whatever he cooks is made with complete cleanliness.

He makes sure that nothing is dirty or has any bacteria or gums that can contaminate his food.

So there might be two reasons behind Valentina throwing up like these.

1) That she took Xander's words really hard to her little heart.

2) She is sick.

Whatever the reason is I will find it soon but right now my top priority is to take care of my baby sister.

I realised that she was soon going to be asleep so I quietly whispered thinking she won't hear me.

"I got you, little duck. Sleep tight. I will take care of you."

Flashback Ends

I moved my hands as I was now wiping her hands with which she touched the toilet seat earlier.

The only sounds of my breathing and her soft snore can be heard in the silent bedroom. Soon I was done and threw the water in the basin and put everything back in its place before I took a seat beside her again.

My eyes followed every feature of her face and I couldn't help but a small smile appeared on my face after 13 years.

After Valentina went missing and our mother died I stopped smiling.

It was like the reason for my smile & joy vanished completely because two beautiful people in my life left me.

I had watched our dad breaking down like shatter glass pieces when he was crying his heart out while holding our mother's burnt body.

The funeral day images are still fresh in my mind and I can't help but curse myself for having a photogenic memory.

Because how much I tried to remove those memories from my brain I can't and they kept coming back as my nightmares.

No one knows about me suffering from nightmares except Alessandro who accidentally walked one night inside my room to talk about something and he finds me withering & crying like a mess when I was suffering from a terrible nightmare.

Alessandro handled me and asked from how long I was suffering like these and at first I didn't want to answer but he had his ways to get answers and in the end I told him everything.

He tried to make me consult a doctor for my nightmares and I straight away refused but knowing how stubborn Alessandro can be, he ended up making me visit a doctor in secret and till now in the family no one knows about this secret and I hope that stays that way only.

I still suffer from nightmares but not that much but for keeping my little secret safe I ordered the architect to make the room soundproof so my screams or whimpers don't go out of my room at night.

I ordered the architect to make each & every room soundproof so my brother & especially my father don't get suspicious.

But now as I stared at my sister's sleeping face I cursed myself for ordering making soundproof rooms because---

What if the door was locked and I didn't get to hear the voice ?

Just the thought of my little duck suffering like that alone made me clenched my fist.

No. She will not suffer like me in loneliness.

She has her elder brother's back that is me.

I leaned down and pressed a kiss on her forehead and I closed my eyes as I finally digested the fact that---

My little duck is back. She is finally at her real home which is me, our father & my brothers and our late mother.

Dante's POV End's

Valentina's POV

I slowly opened my eyes but closed it back when some warm light fell directly on my face. I groaned as I slowly tried to open my eyes again and I was successful in it.

I slowly came out from my slumber and looked around to see I was in a proper bedroom and I frowned. What I was doing he--then it clicked that I was at my new home with my real family.

I sighed and turned to look at the window where morning sunlight was peeking inside my room. I couldn't help but get down from the bed and move towards the window. I slid away the curtains and opened the window and I smiled widely when warm sunlight jumped on my face and I felt so good.

Back when I was staying in the storeroom I never got to experience the warmness of the sun and it was always so cold but at this moment I was blessed to experience it.

And all the credit goes to my family who found me and brought me here. I looked down at the sky and saw how beautiful the weather is today. It sounds silly but I felt the weather in Italy was welcoming me.

'Thank you beautiful clouds, air, sun and every tiny thing of Italy for your warm welcome.' I thought, smiling and closing my eyes and drowning myself to enjoy the good weather a bit more.

I opened my eyes when I felt I had enough enjoyment. I closed the window but let the curtains open and moved to bed as I set my new bed in the right way.

As I was folding the sheet something clicked inside my brain and I stopped mid-way.

Yesterday night the dinner with my family got ruined and I ran back to my room and was vomiting my guts out in the toilet and someone held my hair up and rubbed my back and helped me.

And that someone was---Dante !

My eyes widened and I dropped the sheet to the floor.

My 2nd eldest brother saw me in that state. Oh duck !

I closed my eyes in pure embarrassment. Why does that someone have to be Dante ? Why can't Alessandro or Father be that someone ?

Maybe Francesco would be fine but Dante ! Really him ?!

I grabbed the pillow and screamed in it. I pulled away and dropped on the bed with my back as I spread my arms like a starfish and I stared at the ceiling of my bedroom.

Mumma has stuck some little stars stickers on the roof. Did she know that I like stars ? Maybe.

I smiled but groaned. Oh-fo ! Valentina it's not the time to get distracted.

Your 2nd eldest brother--Dante saw you vomiting like crazy last night. Just think how are you going to face him ?

Should I just run away whenever I see him ?

No !

Should I thank him for his help last night ?

Maybe yes !

Should I tell him that I was just a little sick and prayed that he believed me ?

Yes !

I nodded to myself but startled when I heard a knock on the door.

"Come in." I said after making myself a bit more presentable. My hair literally looks like a bird's nest so I pulled the hoodie cap over my head.

Francesco's head peeked inside and he smiled when his eyes met mine.

"Hi, sisy ! Good morning." He greeted as he fully came inside while closing the door.

"Hi ! Good morning too." I replied as I felt suddenly warm in a nice way because back in New York no one had wished me a simple 'good morning'

"You just woke up ?" He asked after he saw the sheet on the floor and the pillows here & there.

"Yeah." I replied as I quickly picked the sheet up and started to fold it but Francesco stopped me.

"Maids will do that. You don't need to do their work, sisy." I shrugged my shoulders as I continued to do my work.

"It's fine. I am used to making my bed and beside a small work like these should be done by us only. It's a basic manner." I explained as I kept the sheet nicely on the bed.

Francesco hummed as he watched me doing my work. "I have never made my bed before as that work should be done by our maids."

"Oh ! Maybe I am just helping them a little bit then." I chuckled, jokingly and set every pillow in its respective place according to my liking.

"You are so nice." I heard Francesco mumbling but I pretend I didn't hear him. I was never good at taking compliments maybe because I never received one.

"Well, may I know the reason behind your presence in my room this early morning ?" I asked as I turned to him.

"Early ? It's past 11, sisy." He chuckled and I widened my eyes. "What ?!"

"Si. Look there." He pointed and I looked over there to see the wall clock showing 11:30 am.

Damn. This is the longest I have slept ever. Maybe last night's incident took a really bad troll on my body.

"Guess what ? I just like this soft mattress so much that I overslept my usual waking time." I said as I played with my hoodie strings.

"It's fine. Matteo once slept till 4 in the afternoon before he was woken up by Luciano who poured cold water on him." Francesco said and I amused hearing that.

"Really ? Did Luciano do something like that ?" I asked. "Yes, he did. I was there too and made a video of it. I will show you after we are done with our breakfast."

"You didn't eat your breakfast till now ? Why ?" I asked, frowning.

"Not only me but no one has their breakfast. Everyone is waiting for you downstairs, sisy." Francesco informed and I froze hearing him.

My family waits for me to have breakfast together.

No one has ever done that for me before.

"I-I..you all don't have to do that. You know ?" I mumbling asked but Francesco shook his head.

"But we want to, sisy. It's your first breakfast with us after 13 years. So Luciano has prepared some really amazing food." Francesco gushed out and I blinked, twice.

"How long has Luciano been preparing for breakfast ?" I asked.

"Hm maybe from 6 in the morning ? I am not quite sure as I myself wake up around 10." Francesco said but I heard only his starting words.

Luciano--my 3rd eldest brother has been cooking breakfast from 6 in the morning just because I am here now.

I am completely lost for the words for my brother's efforts. How can he be so sweet like honey ?

"Valentina ?" Francesco shook me a little and I blinked coming back to reality. "Yeah ?"

"Are you okay, sisy ?" He asked as he looked at me in worry.

"Oh ! Yes I am. I-I am shocked to hear what Luciano has been doing for me."

Francesco smiled. "Well. He loves you, sisy and let me tell you his love language is cooking special food for that person which is you now but before it was me and he replaced me last night." In the end he playfully rolled his eyes and I can't help but giggle.

"He loves you too, Francesco." I voiced out, smiling.

"Oh shush ! I knew it already. I just like to tease him." Francesco voiced out back and I chuckled shaking my head.

"Sisy, I don't mind having a long talk with you but right now the mice in my stomach want food." Francesco said as he pout and tapped his stomach and I quickly nodded.

"Give me 15 mins. I will get ready as soon as I can okay ?" I said and moved towards the leather bag which was laying at a corner.

"Okay, sisy. Take your time." Francesco said as he sat down at the end of the bed and I took my clothes for today from the leather bag and walked inside the washroom to take a bath.

Exact 15 mins later I walked out fully fresh & dressed for today. I saw Francesco busy playing something on his phone while his headphones were on. I walked near him and tapped his shoulder and he turned to look at me while removing his headphones from his ears.

"You look cute, sisy." He suddenly said and my eyes narrowed as I looked down at myself, particularly at my clothes which consist of a dark green hoodie and black skinny leggings and I pulled my hair into a quick messy braid.

"I don't think so." I said as I moved my eyes back at him. He shook his head as he got up to his full height.

"You do look cute. Trust me." That's all he said before he pecked my forehead and dragged me out from my room and to the dining area.

My heartbeat rose as I remembered what had happened last night during the dinner and I tucked on Francesco's hand which he was holding.

He turned to look at me. "What happened ?"

"Um. Xander." I just said my brother's name who was angry at me and I hoped Francesco would understand me.

Francesco sighed as he stopped walking and I followed his action.

"Whatever Xander had said to you last night was wrong. I & others don't agree with him. We are more than happy to bring you back here. It's your home and you deserve to stay here with us. So don't take his words to your heart okay ?" Francesco said and I listened to him, quietly.

"But Xander isn't wrong at his place. He has the right to get angry & maybe upset too." I said looking down.

"You should be angry at me as well but why aren't you, Francesco ?" I asked as I looked up at him.

"To be honest, if I was at your place I would have done the same." I raised my eyebrows at him before asking.

"So you think what I did was right ?"

"I wouldn't say that but yeah your thinking at that moment wasn't entirely wrong. You just did what you felt was right." He casually said but he didn't realise that he helped me to lift a huge burden that was choking me from the last night.

"Grazie." That's all I said before hugging him and he was surprised by my action but still hugged me back.

(Thank you)

"For what though, sisy ?" He asked but I shook my head. "Nothing." And I thanked him mentally for not pushing me to answer.

We heard a throat clearly sound and we broke our hug and turned in the direction where Galene was standing there.

He looked between us then said.

"Others are w-waiting for y-you." That's all Galene said before he walked away from us.

I find his stuttering unusual but I shrugged it off thinking he is just nervous or maybe awkward to talk to me by judging how introverted a person he is.

I know how much confidence & will power it took for an introvert person to talk to someone who they rarely knows.

But I am his sister and I will make him talk to me in the future, slowly.

"Let's go, sisy." Francesco said and pulled me towards the dining area.

We entered and I saw everyone was there except one Xander. Did he not show you here because I was going to be here ?

We walked towards the table and everyone looked in our direction even Dante who looked straight in my eyes and I looked away.

I don't know if he told anybody about last night's incident or not ?

I hoped he didn't though !

"Good morning, mia figlia." Father said as he walked over where I was standing and kissed my forehead, gently. A sweet good morning kiss from my real father.

"You look pale, princess." Father voiced out as he analysed my face, carefully. I gulped and said.

"Oh ! I am just under the weather. I will be fine in a few days. Don't worry."

I can feel intense gaze coming from one of my brothers and I am sure it's Dante because he knew the reason behind my pale face.

I should have pinched my face hardly to make it a bit red but I forgot as I was rushing to get ready as fast as I can.

"If you say so, tesoro." Father said before he pulled out a chair for me and made me sit beside Massimo who greeted me with a smile and I greeted him back, followed by Luciano & Matteo.

Francesco took the seat to my left and I looked at Alessandro and smiled at him and he smiled back, slightly and I noticed his usual warm eyes which I love to stare in the little time I had spent with him looking tired.

"You didn't sleep well at night, Alessandro ?" I asked and he kinda looked taken a back from my question.

"What made you think I didn't, princess ?" Alessandro asked instead of replying to me.

"Your eyes. They look tired so tell me. Did you sleep or not ?" I asked not to let him get away from my question.

Valentina's POV End's

Alessandro's POV

I stared at my princess's face who was narrowing her beautiful hazel eyes at me right now. Trying to intimate me to answer her question and I can't help but smile at her in return.

She looks so fucking cute right now.

She is like a kitten who was glaring at a tiger like me.

"What's funny, Alessandro ?" Valentina asked when I didn't answer her and was smiling at her like an idiot.

Others were silently watching & listening to our conversation.

"Nothing. I just had urgent work so I stayed awake the whole night to complete it." I said half-truth because she doesn't need to know what urgent work I am talking about. At least not now as dad said before.

"Alessandro, I can understand your work is important for you but sleep is something you shouldn't compromise with." My little sister said seriously and I raised my eyebrows at her.

"You know, you can complete your work by having enough sleep. Like you can wake up around 4 or 5 am and complete your pending work in your office." Valentina innocently explained in her serious voice and I can see from my peripheral view that my brothers especially Francesco, Matteo & Massimo were trying to control their laugh, whereas Luciano was smiling as he was filling our sorella's plate with food which he made with his own hands.

Dante & Galene were quiet as usual but I knew they were listening to her with attention. They were just not showing it. Typical them.

Meanwhile, dad was enjoying & happy to see his daughter getting worried for his eldest son.

But my little princess's words reminded me of a sweet memory from my teenage years when mom was alive.

Flashback

I entered the dinning hall while yawning but stopped immediately when I noticed mom was already there while setting the table like always.

Even if she is the Donna of the Italian Mafia and the Princess of the Russian Mafia.

She was the best mother anyone can ask for and I & my brothers were glad to have her as our mother indeed.

"Good morning mom." I greeted her as I hugged her torso and kept my head on her shoulder.

"Good morning, my son." She replied while patting my cheek and after she was done with her work she turned to face me.

I watched as her eyes narrowed at my face and mostly at my eyes so I looked away.

She was a good observant and that proved it when she culped my face in her soft hands and said.

"You again didn't sleep the whole night, Alessandro." She ended while glaring at me with her beautiful hazel eyes.

"How do you always know about me not sleeping mom ? I don't even have eye bags under my eyes." I exclaimed.

"I am your mom. I don't need to see some eye bags just so I can know that my son didn't sleep well." She replied, patting my cheek, gently while a proud look was spread on her gorgeous face.

"No ! Tell me how ?" I asked, sulking and she laughed before looking straight & deep in my eyes.

"Your eyes, Alessandro."

"My eyes ? What about them ?" I asked, frowning.

"Your eyes are enough to tell me that you didn't have good sleep and were studying all night long to have straight A's for your today's test." Mom said, smiling softly and my mouth gapped before I chuckled.

"Oh ! Mom. Can I ever hide anything from you huh ?" I asked, playfully and she poked my heart with her manicured index finger.

"Try me, son and you will know your answer for your question hm." She replied with a smirk that made me laugh and she laughed with me.

She is the best woman & mom in the world !

"Alessandro, I know you want us to be proud of you that's why you always do your best in everything you do. But son I & your dad are already proud of you so you don't have to compromise with your health like these. Your health matters to us so don't keep doing this again. Sleep on time at night then wake up early in the morning and prepare for your studies okay ?"

"Okay, mom."

"I love you, my son." Saying this, she kissed my head and I smiled widely.

"I love you too, my beautiful mom." I replied while kissing her cheek.

Flashback Ends

"Alessandro ?"

I blinked and came out from the sweet yet bitter memory with my mother from the past.

Sweet because I was lucky to make those memories and bitter because I will never make those memories anymore.

"Yes, princess ?"

"Are you okay ?" Valentina asked, worriedly and I realised I zoned out and noticed everyone looking at me and dad has a sad smile making me realise he knows what I was thinking about. He is my dad after all !

I cleared my throat before answering my princess who has a frown on her pretty face.

"I am alright." I offered her a small smile but she didn't return it.

"You sure ?" She asked and I nodded. "100% sure."

"Okay." She mumbled and started to eat her breakfast and I sighed, quietly in relief.

As I stared at Valentina who was giggling seeing Luciano & Francesco bicker with each other. I realised one thing as I thought.

'Although, mom isn't with me, with us anymore. She left us with someone that will always remind us in one way or another that she is still with us and that she is always watching over us.'

'And that someone is our sister. Our princess..Valentina.'

Alessandro's POV End's

Valentina's POV

I was almost done with my breakfast. This time I made sure I eat till my stomach has the capacity.

I didn't miss the way my 2nd eldest brother--Dante was keeping his one eye on me the whole time.

I wonder what he is actually thinking ? while silently watching me from the other side of the table.

His handsome face was stoic & blank but his black eyes weren't that cold like they were tomorrow.

Maybe I was just hallucinating but I saw my brother's Dante eyes going soft tiny bit the moment they met my hazel ones.

Was he worried for me ? Because he saw me in that state last night ?

I don't know.

I took the last bite of the tasty sandwich that Luciano made for me and left a sigh. I can eat this much only !

I looked around to see everyone else was done as well but my eyes went to the entrance in hope to see my brother whose absence made me worry & anxious.

Where is Xander ? Why didn't he come to eat breakfast ? Was he so mad at me that now he didn't want to see my face ?

The last question made me clenched my fist tightly. I hope I am just overthinking again.

He is my brother. He can be mad at me for some time but not forever.

Right ?

I don't know why I care so much if Xander wants to talk to me or not but my broken heart does care.

Maybe I am afraid to lose my brother whom I just met yesterday after being 13 years away from him.

Although, till now I only saw one emotion on Xander's face--anger.

But somewhere I felt that there are other emotions inside Xander that he tries to hide behind his anger because when I stood beside Alessandro and Xander saw me. His annoyed black eyes were showing multiple emotions in them like shock before they turned hard & cold.

"Valentina." I snapped my head in Dante's direction who called me.

"Y-Yeah ?" I mumbled, nervously.

Was he going to reveal what had happened last night in my room ?

I dig my nails in my palm as I tried to prepare myself for what is going to happen next but my brother's next words confused & shocked me.

"Come with me. I need to have a talk with you." Dante said while looking straight in my eyes. He wasn't taking a 'no' for an answer. He was ordering me.

And I wasn't going to deny him knowing he can expose the last night events in front of everyone so I nodded my head.

"O-Okay."

Valentina's POV End's

Third Person's POV

Every Moretti except Dante & Valentina were surprised to hear Dante but Leonardo was happy thinking finally his son was trying to bond with his little sister.

Meanwhile, Alessandro knows there is something he doesn't know but again he is sure that Dante will tell him and by chance if Dante doesn't. Alessandro has his ways to find everything and especially if it is related to his siblings.

Dante stood up from his chair and moved towards the entrance of the dining hall to leave and Valentina followed closing by while looking down.

"I want to talk with Valentina in private." Dante suddenly said while he kept moving forward. They were now at the corridor. Valentina frowned and looked behind only to see Francesco.

"Ugh ! Why ?" Francesco asked, annoyed. Dante stopped and looked back from above his right shoulder that made Francesco sighed loudly and raised his hands in surrender.

"Bene, privato è"

(Fine. Private it is)

Meanwhile, Valentina was wondering how the duck Dante knew that Francesco was following too ? Not even she realised that Francesco was behind her.

'Does her brother have six senses or two eyes behind his head ?!' Valentina thought as she stared at Dante's head from behind.

"Don't worry, sisy. Our brother is normal. He is just very alert about things around him." Francesco voiced out while patting Valentina's head.

Valentina snapped her head at him in surprise like how does he read her mind every time ?

Francesco laughed, "The way you were staring at our brother's head. It wasn't hard to guess what you were thinking."

Valentina cleared her throat, feeling embarrassed. Wondering why can't she keep her reactions in check when she is around her brother's. Her brothers are really just too observant for her liking.

"Francesco." Dante's cold tone rang in the broad corridor.

"Yes-Yes. I am leaving as you want to have a 'pRiVaTe' talk with our sorella." Francesco exclaimed, dramatically making Valentina smile while Dante rolled his eyes.

"Sisy, after you are done with him. Come to the living room. I will be waiting for you there, okay ?"

"Okay." Francesco walked away after pecking Valentina's forehead.

"Follow me." Dante ordered as he resumed his walk God knows where and Valentina quietly followed him.

Soon Valentina found herself in front of a brown wooden door which has golden colour door knobs. Dante opened the door but instead of entering he stood at the side to let Valentina enter first.

Valentina muttered a quick 'thanks' before welcoming herself inside the room which appeared like more of an office.

'Woah ! A home office ? My family is really rich.' Valentina thought as she took in the elegant & sophisticated interior of the office.

She heard a throat clearing sound and she snapped her head in that direction where her 2nd elder brother was watching her who was busy admiring the room.

"You seem to like the room a lot." Dante voiced out, slightly amused. Valentina nodded but quickly cleared her throat before saying.

"Y-Yeah. I mean i-its beautiful." Valentina voiced out while fidgeting with her fingers which Dante found cute but didn't say loudly.

"Take a seat because we are going to have a long conversation ahead, Valentina." Dante stated as he moved to the wide wooden desk and took the seat on the leather chair on the other side.

'Yeah. A long talk about the last night events you mean.' Valentina thought as she took a seat, opposite to her brother.

The Moretti's siblings were now facing each other but more like Valentina staring at the pretty paper weight because suddenly she found that paper weight more interesting and less intimidating than her 2nd eldest brother who was watching her like a hawk.

A handsome hawk to be precise !

"Let me first ask you Valentina. Is there something you need to tell me ? Because once I start to ask you questions precisely about yesterday's night I would like to hear the answers, honestly may I add." Dante said, his voice professional and Valentina knew she will not get out of this office if the man in front of her didn't get his answers from her.

"So, speak." Dante said as he crossed his arms over his broad chest and looked straight in Valentina's eyes whose confidence to talk to her elder brother was flying away.

10 seconds passed away...

"Umm..Thank you. Thank you for handling me & helping me last night to the bed." Valentina said and looked at Dante who just nooded his head before saying.

"It's alright."

"So yeah..I overeat the food. I am aware of my capacity to eat but yesterday I wasn't able to control myself after seeing Luciano put so much effort for me. So not caring about me at that time I just ate everything that Luciano made for me."

Valentina ended and glanced at Dante before looking back at her sweaty palms. She had said the half-truth and kept the remaining words or truth hanging in the dark.

Yes ! She took the risk !

But she wasn't ready to tell anyone including her brothers about what she had gone through in New York for having such a small capacity of eating.

Dante attentively heard every word that came out of his sister's mouth. His eyes flattered when Valentina said she overeat just because Luciano had made for her.

Their little sister cared about her brother's feelings even if she met them just yesterday, after 13 years.

"That's all ?" Dante asked just to confirm. Valentina nodded and mumbled. "Yes, that's all."

Dante hummed and unfolded his arms as he leaned on the wooden desk with his elbow on it with criss-cross fingers.

"Valentina, even after hearing the explanation you gave me about last night--I still felt like there was more to the story." Dante voiced out and youngest Moretti froze as she gulped, hardly.

"Although, you overeat yourself but the way you were vomiting your guts out doesn't make sense to me until & unless.." Dante paused and looked directly in his sister's hazel eyes.

"You are suffering from any actual illness."

Valentina blinked, twice and opened her mouth but Dante raised his palm, indicating her--he isn't finished speaking.

"Valentina, I don't know about how you were living in New York. I don't know how that vile woman was taking care of you or not..."

Valentina watched how her brother's jaws clenched as he mentioned about their aunt.

"But now you are with us. You are with your real family so if you are suffering from anything or if you feel that something is wrong about yourself then do not hesitate or ignore it. Tell me and I am here to help you."

Dante ended as he stared deep in his sister's hazel eyes whose little heart was suddenly filled with surprise & warmth.

Surprise because she didn't expect her stoic but handsome face brother to say that he wants to help her.

Warmth because she finally had someone who is ready to help her to come out of her misery.

"So say the truth only. I prefer to hear the truth from your mouth, Valentina." Dante voiced out, sternly.

Dante knew he was kinda forcing his sister to say what she wasn't to voice out yet but yesterday's night the whole scenario was playing in his mind like a broken tape recorder.

So he refused to ignore it. He can never ignore anything that is related to his only little sister, his little duck.

On the other hand, Valentina was competing with herself. Her heart was touched by her brother's words and it was telling her to say everything to her elder brother.

Everything that she had gone through in that hell hole.

Meanwhile, her mind was refusing. It was telling her that she can't trust someone that easily even if it is her brother.

Her brain was just trying to protect her already broken little heart.

Valentina's throat dried she wasn't able to utter a word now so she just kept staring at her brother with raising heartbeats.

Dante observed how his little sorella took his words. His black eyes can see the hazel ones having a battle inside her little head.

Those beautiful hazel eyes behold so much in them and right now he can see confusion, nervousness but most importantly fear which shattered his heart.

He never wanted to see fear in his little duck's eyes. Those eyes were always mean to shine like stars which they used to do 13 years back.

"Here." Dante said as he forwarded the glass of water in Valentina's direction.

Valentina with shaky hands held the glass of water and in one go she drank the whole glass. She kept the glass back on the wooden desk and wiped her lips with her hoodie's sleeves.

"Grazie." Valentina whispered as she looked at Dante who just nodded before saying.

(Thank you)

"I am waiting & listening to you, Valentina."

Valentina slowly nodded. "I-I..it's h-hard for m-me to t-tell you e-everything b-but yeah I-I can't just e-eat or c-consume food that a n-normal person should actually d-do."

"And what is the reason behind that hm ?" Dante asked, calmly.

Valentina gulped. "B-Back in New York..Elina & Jack u-used to stay out of the h-house most of the t-time so I-I was left a-alone mostly." Valentina voice out, nervously.

"Continue." Dante greeted out. He knew where this was going but he needed to listen from his sister's mouth.

"I-I didn't know how to cook when I was a-around 6-7 but I-I learned it when I was around 9-10." Valentina said, her mind was replaying how she learned to cook the food.

She didn't learn she was forced to learn because if she didn't she was welcomed by the brutal beatings day & night.

So her little burned hands learnt to cook food after standing in the kitchen for hours & hours straight.

Flashback

"Cut those carrots." Elina said to a 6 year old Valentina who looked at her mother with innocent fear filled eyes.

"B-But I d-don't know how to c-cut them." Little Valentina voiced out in a shaky tone only to be welcomed by a hard slap on her right cheek.

"Shut up you shit ! Just so as I say. You will learn to cut them or else I won't mind cutting your dirty little fingers one-by-one. Do you want me to do that huh ?!" Elina asked, venomously.

Little Valentina terribly trembled and shook her little head while tears were staining her small cheek which was turning red with the fingermarks on it.

"N-No please I-I will cut it." Little Valentina said before she climbed the stool and took hold of the knife in her little hands.

"Start." Elina barked and flinching little Valentina put the sharp knife over the carrot and began to cut them with shaky little hands.

"Ahhh." Valentina screamed as she accidentally cut her little finger and blood oozed out.

"I-Its h-hurting." She sobbed as she looked at her mother with pain in her little eyes only to be welcomed by an eye roll from her.

"It is hurting because you did that to yourself, you little shit. Quit winning and continue your work. You have other things to do as well." Elina snapped at the little one who flinched badly but nodded her head knowing she doesn't have any choice so she continued to cut the carrot after wrapping a small cloth around the wound to stop it from bleeding.

Flashback Ends

Dante's eyes turned black in anger. His little duck who was suppose to play outside, do silly things that kids around her age should do instead she was killing her time in a fucking kitchen.

The atmosphere in the room grew tense each passing second. One was again reminiscing about her terrible past while the other was seething in anger.

Dante sighed. "Valentina." He called her name which made her come out of her thoughts and said. "Y-Yes ?"

"Don't stop talking. Complete your words." Dante said, sternly even though he wants nothing more just to pull her in a tight hug.

"Yeah so I-I learned to cook but Elina & Jack were so busy or maybe careless to check that there was no groceries in our house for weeks or sometimes months." Valentina said while mumbling the last part but however Dante's sharp ears caught them.

"So you used to starve for weeks or maybe months ?!" Dante asked with greeted teeth and clenched jaws and Valentina just nodded, quietly.

"So I-I just developed this habit of eating less a long time ago and that's the reason I can't eat much even if that seems so less to other's eyes." Valentina completed and leaned back on her chair.

She didn't lie to her brother. She just said things which he should know.

It's better if him or any of her brothers or her father doesn't know what she had gone through. It will only complicate things between them.

She is okay to suffer in her silence.

A tense silence took over the whole room. Dante's muscle body was fuming in anger but seeing his sister's face he tried to calm himself.

"Okay." He said. Valentina just stared at him, wondering what her elder brother's 'okay' means ?

But the next words from Dante shock Valentina as well as scared her to the core.

"We will be visiting the doctor tomorrow."

*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*

Hey yo beautiful & handsome people this is Chapter 8. Hope you like it.

The doctor's visit on the way~~

Let's see how Valentina is going to face this. Is she going to escape it ? or is she going to face it ?

To know what she is going to do--keep reading my story and vote & comment down on it !!

See ya in the next chapter.

Take care.

Thank You, Everyone : )

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