This doesn’t make sense at all!

I was the only one who knew about that diary. She never lets anyone get close to it or read it, even me.

"Looking for something, Ana?"

A shiver shot through me as I veered my gaze toward the doorway.

"Elliot."

He stepped in, eyeing the scattered room. "You seem busy." 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

"What are you doing here?"

"I’m here to escort you back home. Don’s orders."

Don’s orders? I knew it was too good to be true that I was left alone during my class hours. He must have had a car tailing me the entire time, watching my every move.

"Home? You mean take me back to my gilded cage?"

"You and I both know it isn’t much of that anymore."

"Excuse me?"

"I saw the pictures from the opera house," he said, picking up a plushie and dropping it on the bed. "It’s either you have a hidden talent for acting, or you truly do see yourself as his wife."

I felt a gnawing feeling in my stomach. Pushing it aside, I grabbed my handbag.

"Don’t go making assumptions as if you know a thing about me, Elliot." I brushed past him, my mind reeling on what to do now.

Annabeth’s diary was my only hope in getting the truth. She practically documented her whole life in that thing. If I can’t find it, then how am I supposed to find out the truth?

However, that wasn’t the pressing issue right now because I knew for a fact that the diary should be in her room.

Someone took it, and why?

"Mr. Salvero, Ana! What are you two doing here?"

I stopped in my tracks when I saw my father. He handed his briefcase and coat to the butler.

"Ana seems to be homesick. We thought we stopped by."

I narrowed my eyes at Elliot’s response. What was that about?

"Were you?" my father asked, almost in shock.

"You may have sold me off to Don Salvero, but this is still my home. Nothing can change that."

I feel sick.

"O-Of course."

"I need to speak to you, alone."

"About?"

"Homesick, remember? We’ve got a lot of catching up to do." I was already heading towards his office.

Hopefully, he hadn’t changed the location. He didn’t. I opened the door and walked in, and suddenly I remembered the day I was dragged away by Jacob so that I wouldn’t see what was left of Annabeth.

"What is it you wanted to talk about?"

I didn’t reply, allowing the memories to sink in. My father sat right in that chair when he grabbed the pen and signed the contract.

"Are you pregnant?"

I faced him with wide eyes. "What?"

"That must be the reason you came to see me!" He took my arms. "Very good, Ana! Now we can be sure the Salvero family will never abandon us. We’re set for life."

"Let go of me!" I forced my arms away from his grip.

"What’s wrong?"

I gritted my teeth. "I’m not pregnant."

My father’s expression drastically changed, but I wasn’t here for his nonsense.

"I’m here to talk about Annabeth."

A frown twisted his face. "I thought I made it clear that—"

"Was she in a relationship with Zade?"

His mouth hung before he shut it.

"The rumors about her were very vivid, and it makes me wonder. Some say she was whore, that she willingly spread her legs for the Salvero brothers and tried to turn them against each other. Another said she was in some sort of relationship with Zade and—"

"That’s enough..." he cut me off, voice heavy in anger.

"Everyone had something to say, and you just stood there and let them."

"I said that’s enough!"

"What’s the truth, what’s the lie?!"

"Because it doesn’t matter!" he boomed, chest rising and falling.

He stumbled, but luckily, there was a nearby chair for him to hold onto.

"I came back from my business trip... found out that you were in a hospital and your sister was missing. Do you realize what that means to me? As a Don? I lost face!"

I glanced away, unable to even look at him. Memories of how I woke up in the hospital, confused and asking for my sister flooded in.

Apparently, I was in an accident. I don’t really know what happened or how I ended up in the hospital. Everything about that day was fuzzy. The last thing I could clearly remember was meeting up with Jacob.

"And then your sister Annabeth was sent back to me in a box. I was the laughingstock of the city."

"Laughingstock? Is that all it ever was to you? Did it ever occur to you to find out what really happened to her and why Zade killed her in cold blood?"

"Your sister was an adult, and whatever choice she made got her killed."

"So she was dating Zade."

He didn’t meet my eyes. "It was the talk of the Undercity."

Undercity. Again, I’m met with that name, which could only mean something that had to do with the mafia’s bullshit.

Shane was telling the truth. I really was a replacement for my sister.

"And here I am, married to Zade like I’m nothing more than a substitute." I laughed bitterly. "You let another daughter fall into his clutches, and you couldn’t care less. Your reputation mattered more than family."

I took a step forward, my voice hardening.

"Well, here’s a newsflash for you. The entire Morri family is labelled as pawns. You’re not even fit to be called a Don anymore."

My father raised his hand to strike me, his face twisted in fury.

"Go on, do it!" I hissed unwaveringly.

His hand in midair froze.

"You’re no father... Not to Annabeth or me. We were never daughters to you, just investments. I wish Mom could see you right now and see how far you have fallen to your greed. I bet she’s rolling in her grave too."

I walked out of the room without a moment to waste, my eyes stung painfully as I brushed past Elliot.

I hurried out of the house, straight to my car. I got in and let the tears come out freely.

I sobbed painfully, feeling like my nose was about to come off. I squeezed my eyes shut, resting my hands on the wheels as I ducked my head, crying to my heart’s content.

But the pain... it didn’t stop. It just sank deeper until it felt like there was a hole in my chest.

Hearing a knock against the window, I leaned back against the seat, exhausted.

Elliot opened the car door, sank his hand into his suit jacket, and brought out a neat white handkerchief.

"Thanks..." I murmured, taking it and wiping my face before blowing my nose.

I offered it back to him.

"Keep it."

I gave him a smile that didn’t reach my eyes.

"I guess your fatherly reunion went well."

"Yes, it did. It came with warm hugs and kisses on the forehead, just your typical family."

Elliot didn’t share in my amusement, giving me a worried expression.

"Don’t look at me like that."

"Like what?"

"Like you pity me."

"I don’t. I’m concerned about you."

I gave a mocking laugh. "I’m sure you do."

"We’re family now."

"Don’t give me that bullcrap..." I muttered, closing the door.

I started the car and drove out.

A few minutes later, I eyed the side mirror and found his car tailing behind me.

I fixed my eyes back on the road, letting the window roll down so that I could feel the breeze. I took a longer route, driving slower, practically lingering more around the harbour quarter.

I eyed the mirror again. Elliot was still following closely until he was literally behind me.

I let the loud seagull noise drown my mind, and even though this was nothing like the alone time I wanted, it was better than nothing.

I took my sweet time until it was dark, that was when I finally decided to drive back to the old quarter.

The map on the dashboard guided me, and before I knew it, I was pulling up at the compound.

I got out and gave my key fob to the waiting valet before I ambled into the house.

When I got to my room, I shut the door behind me. Coca and Boba curled around me, brushing their tails on my leg.

I crouched and rubbed their heads before I began stripping from my room until I got to the bathroom.

I turned the shower to cold to get rid of that numb feeling. I brushed my hair backwards and tilted my head back to let it rain on my face.

I need to find Annabeth’s diary, that was the only piece to the puzzle. I had two suspects in mind. Jacob and Zade. I couldn’t reach Jacob, so my best chance was Zade.

I’ll find it if it’s the last thing I do.