Target :-

50 likes on Chapter 17

50 likes on Dedication

50 likes on CHP - 8,10 & 11

Among one of the above target is completed I will try to update the next chapter as soon as possible.

So faithfully complete it guys !!

Third Person's POV

The evening has arrived and Alessandro's car entered the Moretti's Mansion.

Alex who is Alessandro's P.A opened the door for him and Alessandro got down from the car after hanging up the call he was talking about for the last five minutes.

"You can take your leave, Alex. Tienimi aggiornato anche sulla nuova spedizione, sì ?" Alessandro said as he spared Alex a glance and continued to type something on his phone.

(Keep me updated about the new shipment also, yes ?)

"Certo, don." Alex firmly said with a curt nod and walked away.

(Sure, don)

Alessandro stood outside as he scrolled through some emails and eventually when he was going to walk inside he heard the gate opening sound and turned in that direction just to see his brother--Dante's car scrolling in.

Soon Dante got down from his car as well while talking on his phone and his eyes fell on his elder brother who was patiently looking at him.

Dante said a few words on the phone before he hung up and walked near Alessandro who raised his eyebrow at him in slight amusement.

"Fancy to see you come back home earlier than your usual time."

Dante shrugged,"Work got finished just earlier."

Alessandro smirked,"Is it ? Or you just want to spend some time with someone and that someone happens to be our sorella."

Dante rolled his eyes, clearing his throat as well. "You think too much, fratello. I just got over today's work earlier and thought about coming home & rest."

Alessandro scoffed,"It's quite funny to hear that from someone who is a workaholic as you."

Dante scoffed back,"Oh really ! Who is talking here ? Who himself is a big workaholic man himself."

"I never denied that I wanted to spend some time with my princess." Alessandro deadpanned.

"Whatever." Dante said and started to walk away--inside.

Alessandro quietly chuckled as he followed his brother who won't admit the real reason for which he had come back home earlier.

"Care to enlighten me about this morning's morning scene." Dante heard his brother saying making rolled his neck to the side where Alessandro was walking beside him now.

"What scene ?"

"I remember someone was literally ghosting our principessa and now suddenly he is hugging her this morning. So ?" Alessandro prompted, raising his one eyebrow at Dante who looked ahead.

"We kinda talked and she told me she was nervous about her first day at new high-school so I just consoled her."

Alessandro hummed, "You did right, Dante."

The addressed man glanced beside him where his elder brother was slightly smiling at him, making him feel kinda happy as well.

"I know. I will always be there for her."

"Me too. Always."

Both of them soon reached inside the living room where a complete chaos was going on.

"You pig ! Come here I won't leave you." Matteo growled out as he chased Massimo who was laughing and running here & there.

"You can't catch. You snail !" Massimo shouts back as he throws a pillow at his brother.

Matteo dogged the pillow and caught it. "Oh really ?! Here take this !" Saying this he threw the pillow back at Massimo who quickly bent down and the pillow directly landed on Xander's face who was just entering the living room while being busy on his phone.

Due to a sudden hit on his face, his grip on his phone loosened and the device fell down and a clear crack sound was heard.

Matteo & Massimo stopped in their tracks and gulped hardly.

'Shit ! We are doomed.' Matteo & Massimo thought, simultaneously.

Xander slowly looked up and dangerously glared at his so-called brothers with a murderous glint in his eyes.

"Run !" Xander said before he took off like lightning speed behind his brothers who ran off to save their asses from their hot-headed brother.

Alessandro & Dante looked at each other with done faces. They surely didn't want to get welcomed like these but somewhere they were happy to see a bit more lively environment than their usual cold & silent one.

Their eyes find their sister who was standing near the stairs with Francesco & Galene.

"Shouldn't we stop them ?" Valentina said as she looked at her brothers chasing each other like wild dogs.

"No ! Just enjoy the drama, sisy." Francesco said while munching on a five star chocolate.

"But they will get hurt." Valentina voiced out, frowning.

Francesco laughed & Galene smiled hearing her.

"Surely they will but it's nothing new to them. They poke the angry bird(Xander) so they have to deal with it now." Francesco muttered as he watched Xander gripping both Matteo & Massimo's collars; ceasing them in their tracks & throwing them on the floor.

"Gotcha ! Losers." Xander said before he tackled both his brothers. He was a gym freak and he made sure his annoying brothers knew about his fine muscles.

"Okay-Okay, we are sorry. Leave us !" Matteo screamed at his twin and tried to get away from his steel grip.

"Why ? Now what happened ? you weren't sorry before you were the damn pillow at me huh ?!" Xander fired back.

"I wasn't aiming at you ! My aim was Massimo." Matteo justified.

"You have a bad aim then." Xander said as he threw a punch at his twin's jaw.

And seeing this Valentina thought it was enough and she intervened.

"Stop it !" She said as she made her way to the three rolling dogs on the floor who also happens to be her dear brothers.

"You three get up now !" Valentina said, loudly only to be ignore by her hot-headed brother Xander who continued to torture his brothers with his not-so-soft punches.

Alessandro & Dante shared a look seeing their princess frustrated & worried for her stupid brothers.

Valentina's eyes fell on Xander's phone and she immediately picked it up before saying.

"Xander Moretti ! If you don't get away from them now I will surely break your phone this instant."

Just as those words left her Xander froze in place whereas five star chocolate which Franceso's was eating fell on the floor with his jaw.

Xander looked up at his little sister who was tightly holding his phone in her small hands like she was holding a trigger bomb.

"You wouldn't dare it." Xander warned.

Valentina gulped, "Try me."

The remaining brothers shared a look of amusement as it was new to see their usual sweet & kind princess who wouldn't even kill a fly is daringly challenging their most hot-headed brother.

Xander slowly got up from his brother who didn't miss a chance to stand up and get away.

"Looks like shorty has some guts huh." Xander mocked.

Valentina narrowed her eyes before saying, "I told you not to call me that."

"Oh yeah ? But it doesn't change the fact that you are short, shorty !"

"Just because you are tall like a lamp post you don't get to call me shorty !"

Francesco, Matteo & Massimo choked on air when they heard her meanwhile Galene, Dante & Alessandro eyes widened slightly.

Xander glared, "I am not a fu*king lamp post !!"

"Then I am not shorty !"

"You are."

"Then you are lamp post as well."

"No I am not."

"Yes you are."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

While Xander & Valentina were busy playing 'yes & no' game the remaining Moretti brothers were whispering to each other in the background.

"What the f*ck is happening here ?!" Matteo whispered.

"How did they end up playing a yes-no game ?" Massimo whispered.

"I am excited to see who will win this game." Francesco whispered, grinning.

"M-Me too." Galene mumbled under his breath.

"Should I find this annoying or adorable ?" Dante wondered.

"I am finding it both."Alessandro said, smiling, lightly.

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"N--"

"Yes."

Valentina cheered, "Got ya !"

"Wait-Wait ! You said 'no' first." Xander exclaimed being defensive.

"For your kind information, I didn't entirely say 'no' word before you said 'yes' It was a trick to catch you." Valentina said, proudly of the little trick she pulled on her brother who looked dumb founded at her.

Except Xander, the Moretti brothers burst into smiles & laughter hearing their sister who very smartly pulled a trick on their hot-headed brother.

"That's cheating." Xander accused.

"No. It's called a smart trick." Valentina clarified.

"No. It's definitely called cheating." Xander continued to accuse, not accepting his defeat.

Valentina huffed before she looked at her remaining brothers before saying.

"You all tell him that it's not cheating."

Unknown to her, Valentina was already looking at her dear brothers with puppy dog hazel eyes which has become their weakness from the time she was born.

"Amore is right. It's not cheating."

"My little dove played fair & smart."

"Sisy defeated you bro ! Accept it already."

"It's a smart t-trick. Not at all c-cheating."

"Accept your loss already."

"I agree with my princess."

Xander's jaw was touching the ground as he listened to his brothers while Valentina grinned happily seeing her brothers taking her side without missing a heartbeat.

"Fu*king betrayers !" Xander mumbled as he scoffed.

"You shorty ! Come here." Xander said as he took a step in Valentina's direction who stepped back.

"What ? You lost so accept it !"

"First, let me catch you then I will show you my so-called acceptance." Saying this Xander charged over his little sister who took off running.

Now suddenly Valentina is running here & there and Xander is chasing behind her.

"How did the scene change so suddenly ?" Dante wondered, loudly as he watched his younger sibling running around.

"I don't have an answer for that fratello." Alessandro said while shaking his head.

Valentina ran behind Dante to his from Xander who stopped in front of Dante.

"Come out, shorty. Now why are you hiding ? You weren't so scared when you pulled your 'smart trick' at me earlier." Xander taunted.

Valentina peeked out like a small kid as she said.

"W-Who said I am scared of y-you ?"

"I never said you are scared of me." Xander smirked.

Valentina tried to save herself by taking a quick run away from Dante's back but unfortunately Xander caught her by her right arm as if sensing her plan.

"Aah ! Leave me." She said as she tried to pull away but who was she kidding ? Xander was way more stronger than her.

"Got ya ! Now where will you go huh ?" Xander grinned, evilly as he stared down at his little sister.

"X-Xander we can t-talk you know.." Valentina trailed off nervously.

"Doesn't seem so to me, shorty." Xander said as he quickly took away his phone from her and just as he was about to tickle her a loud voice bloomed in the living room.

"What is happening here ?!"

All the siblings heads snapped in the direction of the voice coming to only see their father standing there with a confused hard face.

Xander's hold on Valentina loosened and taking this chance Valentina quickly ran to her father & hid behind him now like a small girl who knows her father will protect her from anything in this world, even from her angry-bird brother.

"Woah ! Slow down, sweetheart." Leonardo said as he wrapped his one arm around his daughter's shoulder, protectively.

"Can anyone explain to me what is happening here ? why are the pillows scattered here & there and why is a damn five star chocolate on the floor like that ?"

Leonardo threw his questions at his sons and looked at the fallen chocolate which was melting and staining their spotless floor while being quite disgusted. He was clean f*eak after all.

"Well dad..." Francesco began and explained the earlier chaos in a short brief.

"And about that *points at his fallen chocolate* I was eating it but when sisy called Xander a 'lamp post' the chocolate slipped from my hand." Francesco explained, barely containing his laugh.

Leonardo's eyebrow raised as he looked down at his daughter who sheepishly smiled at him back, telling him indeed she called her brother a 'lamp post'

"Ugh ! Dad at least you disagree that I am not a fu*king lamp post by any angle." Xander voiced out.

Leonardo chuckled, "Well, Xander my tesoro isn't entirely wrong."

Xander's jaw dropped. Matteo, Massimo, Francesco barked out a laugh. Alessandro, Dante & Galene coughed to hide their laughs while Valentina giggled happily seeing her father take her side too.

"Then Alessandro & Dante should be called as--Burj Khalifa as they are the tallest ones here."

Now Xander was smirking and Alessandro & Dante were glaring at him, offended.

"We are not." The elder Moretti's brothers exclaimed, sternly.

"Oh my son, you mean I am also Burj Khalifa as I am just tall like them." Leonardo prompted as he looked at Xander with raised one eyebrow who slightly flattered.

It was true. Leonardo, Alessandro & Dante shared almost the same heights.

"No ! Dad, I didn't mean like that." Xander quickly said.

"Are you sure, son ?" Leonardo asked, trying to hide his smile. He was quite enjoying teasing his son.

"Si fratello, you clearly addressed dad as Burj Khalifa." Massimo piped in.

"How can you call our dad Burj Khalifa, twinny ?" Matteo gasped, exaggerating it dramatically.

"Very bad bro." Francesco added.

"Shut up !" Xander snapped, "Ugh ! You guys are annoying." He added.

Finally others burst out in laughter even the silent brothers aka Dante & Galene chuckled too.

"Fine, we stop now." Leonardo said.

"Alessandro & Dante you both go & freshen up then come downstairs for dinner." Leonardo ordered.

"You all let's go to the dining table." Leonardo added and everyone complied with his words.

Soon the whole Moretti family was present in the dining room and eating their dinner while doing small chit-chatting.

Third Person's POV End's

Valentina's POV

"So, how was your first day, princess ?" Alessandro asked and my eyes met him & Dante who looked quite attentive for my answer as well.

"It went smoothly. I enjoyed my day." I answered, smiling a bit.

"That's good to hear." Alessandro said Dante just hummed back but I can see quite relief in his black eyes.

"Yeah everything went smoothly except.." Franceso trailed off and I narrowed my eyes at him.

He can't leave Nico's topic alone right ? Right !

"Except what ?" Dante asked, surprisingly.

Then Franceso narrated the whole Nico matter in brief to my elder brothers.

I watched as they shared glances with each other before Alessandro turned his eyes to me.

"You did a good job there, princess."

I just smiled at him in return.

"You are forgetting one more thing." Xander suddenly said.

"And what is that ?" Papa asked.

Xander then told about the teacher who talked rudely with me in the first period making me whine internally. I thought he & others forgot about that incident but clearly they didn't.

I watched as Alessandro's fists clenched around the fork he was holding and Dante & Luciano's jaws were clenched too.

My eyes turned to Papa who looked furious as well then he coldly said.

"Fire her immediately."

"No !" I said and every head turned towards me.

"Princess she needs to get fired for talking like that with you." Alessandro calmly said yet his voice was stern.

"I agree with him." Dante added, coldly.

"She doesn't deserve to lose her job just for this small reason." I speak out my very thought, openly.

"Tesoro, this isn't a small reason at all. I can't tolerate anyone talking ill about my one & only precious daughter." Papa said, his voice both firm & sincere.

"Dad is right. No one gets away after disrespecting you, princess." Alessandro said, his voice was dark & firm.

"She dared to disrespect Moretti's one & only principessa for which she should be punished." Luciano said and I can't believe he is the same person who sweetly packed me lunch today.

He sounded quite scary to my ears right now.

"And that woman tried to embarrass you in front of a whole a** classroom on your first day. So there isn't any chance that she will get away with it easily." Dante said, his voice was deep & dark.

My heartbeats raise hearing my father & brothers words.

Back then, no one cared if I was being disrespected or if my self-respect was degraded down with rude jokes.

But now, I have a family who is ready to stand up for me, ready to punish those who disrespected me.

My heart filled with warmth and I slowly exhaled a deep breath as I tried to calm my raising heart.

"I understand you all but if you fired her how is she going to pay her bills." I said.

"Not our problem. It's hers." Dante said, coldly.

My eyes clashed with him and keeping the eye contact I said.

"No firing her from the job. Just minus her salary for the next 2 months. That's it !"

"Sweetheart.." Papa sighed out as he rubbed his temple with his index finger.

Why the duck ? Once a calm & happy environment changed into a tense one just because of the silly teacher.

"The twin pairs & Francesco already agree with my decision." I said, remembering the conversation or more like bargaining I have with my brothers in the cafeteria.

"Well, I don't mind if that so-called teacher gets fired. Besides I will quite like it." My head snapped in Xander's direction.

I looked at two M's, Galene & Francesco who as well looked agreed with Xander making my jaw drop.

So my hardwork of bargaining with them in the cafeteria was futile ?!

"You guys are unbelievable !" I expressed and huffed back in my seat.

After a moment of silence, I heard Papa sighing before he finally said.

"Fine, we will not fire her."

I smiled, widely hearing that and my brothers not at all look happy.

"That's why you are my favourite." Papa. I said instead of a simple 'thank you'

Papa's eyes shine brightly hearing me and it touched my broken heart knowing my words matter to him so much.

I got startled when my brothers that are Matteo, Massimo & Francesco shouted.

"Dad is your FAVOURITE ?"

Papa glared at them, "Why ? Can't I be my daughter's fav huh ?!"

"N-No dad, it's not like that." Matteo said, gulping.

"Yeah, we were just...surprise. Yes very surprised." Massimo piped in.

"More like shocked." Francesco whispered but we all heard it.

Papa rolled his eyes, "Quit excusing. I know you are just jealous that mia figlia & your sorella finally accepted that I am her favourite."

(my daughter & your sister)

Papa looked at me in the end, grinning widely which made him look younger than he already looks.

Papa looks more handsome when he is genuinely happy like right now.

"Dad, are you sure ?" Alessandro asked.

"You heard me, son. No more discussion on this matter. Let's continue our dinner." Papa ordered and we all followed it.

After sometime we were all done with our dinner and moved out from the dinning room.

After Alessandro handed me my medicines which I intake I was greeted with by rounds of good night & light pecks which had become a night routine for me and I enjoyed my family's love wholeheartedly.

Suddenly a 'ping' sound was heard from everyone's phone.

Everyone including me took the devices out and checked it just to see Francesco had sent something.

I looked over at him who was already looking at me with a teasing face which made me narrowed my eyes at him and as if a truck hit me I realised what he had done.

But it was too late as everyone already opened the video he had sent on the group.

The video where I was introducing myself to the whole class today played on everyone's phones.

I passed Franceso a glare that I can muster up.

"I told you not to share it, Franceso !"

"And I told you I will share it, sisy."

Before I could say something I was cut off by others.

"Aww you look so adorable, amore." I heard Matteo saying.

"Si, you look cute, dove." Massimo added.

"I agree with them, little doughnut." Luciano said.

"You did w-well." Galene said, smiling slightly and Xander showed me a thumbs up.

"Tesoro, You introduced yourself very well." Papa said as he patted my head.

"My princess you did a good job." Alessandro said as he stared at me with his warm deep brown eyes.

"You didn't flatter, little duck. That's good." Dante said nodding his head.

My heart swelled in pure warmth as I heard my family's lovely compliments just for such a small simple thing like introducing myself to the class I did.

I blushed and looked down, "Grazie."

(Thank you)

"Although, it isn't a big thing." I mumbled to myself but papa heard it as he said while caressing my hair.

"It is for us, princess."

"We have missed many important things related to you. Like your first first day at school, like your first homework where neither me or your brothers were there to help you to complete it. We missed how you spend your primary school days or what fun activities you did that we didn't get to include ourselves. We were absent when you were sad for getting low marks or whatever reason--we weren't there for you for the last 13 years and that will be a deep regret which we all shall carry in our heart forever."

Papa's voice held pain in it which every one present here I can feel it including me. His deep & painful words cut directly across my broken heart because he was so right.

My eyes blurred as I remember those days of mine where I genuinely needed someone to be there for me.

No one was there to help me get ready for my first at pre-school.

No one was there to wait for me when I get back from school.

No one was there to ask me how my first day went ?

No one was there to ask me if I made any friends or not ?

All I got was beating & starving once I returned.

I cried myself to sleep that day & many days ahead of it as I was so upset about everything that I was going through while being all alone.

I used to ask myself & God one question always, 'Why me ?'

But now I understand why I went through all those painful times because Jack & Elina were my tormentors not my parents.

I blinked as I felt a touch on my cheek and looked up to see Papa looking down at me with a worried face.

"Please, don't cry sweetheart."

I touched my cheek only to realise that indeed I was crying. I looked around to catch others reactions.

Francesco was silently crying, Matteo & Massimo were trying to blink their tears away but failing miserably, Galene was looking away but I can hear him silently sobbing, Xander was looking down with clenched fists which were shaking, Dante was staring at me with an unreadable face but his black eyes held regret & pain too.

My eyes clashed with those warm deep brown eyes which went a darker shade, almost like black. Alessandro. He tried to hide his emotions like always but his eyes which are like a mirror that unfortunately let me see his feelings freely & openly.

Alessandro blames himself for not being able to protect me, for not being able to save me from those bad people, for not being able to find me sooner.

I looked back at Papa whose black eyes are moist too. I took a deep breath before wiping my tears away.

I took hold of my father's hand in my small ones as I began to speak my heart out.

"We cannot change the past. What has happened will remain the same & untouched. But we can definitely work on our present & future."

I looked up to see Papa looking at me with a bit of a shock face probably thinking how mature my earlier words sounded.

Only if he knew that his daughter faced some adult sh*ts that forced her to think as an adult at a very early age of life.

I chuckled as I looked around as I said. "Moreover we have now a lot of time to create some beautiful memories or are you guys planning to spend it boringly huh." I ended my words playfully as to lighten the dense mood.

And I was successful when some chuckled while some smiled after hearing me.

Papa pulled me into a warm hug and I happily hugged him back.

"As you say, mia figlia."

I smiled against his body, knowing my dark past can't be erase from my mind. Somewhere it will always be there to frighten me, to haunt me.

But I also knew that my family's true care & love will heal my hidden wounds which I am not planning to show to anyone. Not even my family.

"GROUP HUG !!" I heard Francesco's shout before I felt his body attached to mine and like these more bodies were attached too while some grunts were heard as well most probably coming from Xander.

And my smile only widened feeling the genuine warmth of my family that enveloped me like a protective cocoon where I will be shielded from the outside world yet I will bloomed into a beautiful butterfly which will fly high in the sky from now onwards.

"Let's create some beautiful & precious memories that we all will cherish in our hearts forever, si ?"

"Si, princess."

•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•

Hey ya beautiful & handsome people this is Chapter 17. Hope you like it.

A roller coaster of emotions in one chapter only, isn't it ?😅

Chaos of emotions you all can say.

Share your thoughts on this chapter in the comment box because I will genuinely like to know your Pov's !!

Complete the given target above as well guys !!

As the last chapter one & half target was completed I am updating this one. Let me remind you all again that I said before I will 'try' to update the next chapter if among 3 target even one target is completed. So here you go !!

I am giving proper clarity before you all think that I ain't updating even if you all completed the target. I will always tell you guys if I will update or try to update as the target gets completed.

See you guys soon in the next chapter.

Take care, bye.

Thank you, everyone : )

Words Count :- 4455