CHAPTER 27

Ed Sheeran ft JB: I don't care

~A person who never made a mistake, never tried anything new~

SERAPHINA'S POV

"You didn't tell me beforehand."

"Now you know." She shrugged on her coat and applied lip gloss.

We just ended our session for the day and were now setting for home.

"How can you expect me to go on a two-month ketogenic diet?" I whined and stomped my foot. Apparently, I was too fat for a model. Peyton's words, not mine.

"How about I make it a ye...

"No thanks. Two months  is fine." It's already bad enough that I've to survive ninety days without a single bread crumb, what more of 365 days?

"Thought so." She smirked.

"You're just like my mother."

"Thanks for the compliment."

"It wasn't one."

"Whatever helps you sleep at night honey." She shrugged nonchalantly.

"Dismiss me and I'll sleep at ni...

"Forget it." I threw her a dirty glance, which she returned with a sly grin.

"Let's move. I've dinner tonight." She ushered us outside and locked the door, before handing the key over to Susan.

"Dinner huh?" I wiggled my brows.

"I'm not telling you anything."

"And who asked for something?"

"You were about to."

"Wasn't. " I protested.

"Was."

"Wasn't. "

"Wasn't. "

"Was."

"And you finally confessed." She laughed.

"What no...oh my." I can't believe I outdid myself.

"So..you're telling me or something?" Who was I fooling? I'm the busiest person to have ever walked the earth's surface.

"I knew it was only a matter of time before you lose it."

"But to answer your question. Yes, it's a date and with whom, you won't know."

"Pretty please." I pouted but she brushed me off. We reached the underground garage and Peyton pressed the unlock button on her key. A Lamborghini few feet away alarmed, making my jaw drop to the floor.

What

in

the

blazing

hell!?

A Lamborghini!?

"Keep on gawking there and I'll ditch you."

"Bro, is this a Lamborghini?" Unbelievable.

"No, it's a Volkswagen, now move. I don't have all day." She sarcastically retorted, opening the passenger's side door for me. I almost moaned when my butt made contact with the comfy leather seats. I'll trade my entire house for this car in a heartbeat.

Halfway into the ride and my phone beeped with a message. Severina.

Dad said to come Asap. 

Trust Del Varia's with improper timing.

"I'm afraid your lips might reach the dashboard if you continue pouting like that."

"Shut up." I yawned and slid down my seat.

"I can see that you and Aurelia are pretty comfortable with each other."

"Yeah. She's fun to talk to." I smiled, thinking back to our discussion.

"She went through a lot you know," I mumbled. Peyton briefly glanced at me before redirecting her focus on the road. Although, I didn't miss the sadness that flickered in her eyes.

"She told you." It was a statement.

"Paul's so heartless. How can one rape an innocent girl for two hours straight? God." I felt as though the pain was being inflicted on me. I can't imagine what Aurelia must've gone through. I would've committed suicide had it been me. I wouldn't be able to live with that misery. The fact that another man brutally took my virtue without an ounce of remorse.

"Paul didn't do anything. Aurelia's aunt was the mastermind behind that scandal."

"How? wasn't she the one who helped Aurelia get the job?" According to her anyway.

"Help? She merely used her as leverage to get off Paul's hit list." Peyton scoffed.

"I don't understand."

" Gianna borrowed a huge amount of cash from Paul and failed to repay it on the due date. She was offered two options. Either lose her career or give one of her models to Paul, to do as he pleased. Out of greed, and ineptitude to bear losing one of her models, she signed Aurelia up instead. Her own blood, seeing as she was young and naive at the time." Peyton narrated, gripping the steering wheel so hard her knuckles turned white. Her features displaying fury.

Money venture people into anything. Place it, and nothing matters anymore, not even family. How someone could risk the life of their own blood for money, I couldn't decipher. Poor Aurelia. She was merely a sixteen-year-old trying to make a name for herself, and instead ended up losing all that she'd ever worked for. On top of that, her dignity, to a nymphomaniac. As if that wasn't torturous enough, she gained the title of a money launderer. It would take a lot for someone to move past such a depressing phase of their life. Aurelia was a heroine.

"She's brave you know. Had I been in her shoe, you'd be visiting my grave daily."

Peyton wasn't wrong though. Only a steel heart could survive such a hard blow. We pulled up to my driveway and I bid Peyton goodbye before heading to the front door. The door flew open before my fingers could make contact with the bell, revealing Stella.

"Good day, Ma'am." I rolled my eyes and hugged her. I wish she stops calling me that. I wasn't Camille Donna Del Varia.

"We've been over this Stella. Call me Seraphina." She blushed and nodded, leaving in the direction of her second home. The kitchen.

"I thought you died." Tiffany blurted, the instant I walked into the living room.

"Tiffany." Dad scolded. I gave him a hug, and a light peck on the cheek.

"Hey, sweetheart. How was training?" He asked.

"Hectic, but okay." I flopped down between Asher and Severina. My mother was seated beside dad with her legs crossed.

Was there a family meeting?

"What's going on?" I nudged Asher but he merely shrugged.

"Don't know."

"We're flying out of the country for two weeks." Dad started.

Okay, and so what? It's not like they inform us whenever travelling anyway. So why was today white-headed?

"And?" Severina raised a quizzical brow. Nobody understood what was going on. Why were they informing us out of the blue?

"We want you to stay home and look after Tif...

"No can do, I'm out." Severina stood up, but Dad's booming voice sent her butt reconnecting to the couch.

"I wasn't asking. I'm telling you to look after your sister while we're away!"

Dad wasn't high tempered, but it's almost impossible to calm him when he's mad. The reason we avoid getting on his bad side most of the time. Only mom succeeds in that district.

"Did I make myself clear?" He bellowed, making Tiffany slightly tremble.

"Yes, Dad." We chorused.

"Stella will be occasionally checking in on you," Mom added.

"Good. We love you and stay safe. Call us if anything happens okay?"

What!? They were leaving now.

"Dad, you're leaving now?" I asked.

"Yes."

Okay then.

"We won't stay long, I promise. I've deposited some cash to each of your accounts." He affirmed.

"Sir, everything is set." David came in and announced. Dad nodded and pulled us into a group hug before leaving. I watched through the window as their car drove off through the gates.

Peace at last.

"Two weeks of serene silence. I can't believe it." Asher cheered, doing a moonwalk. A failed attempt, I meant.

"And two weeks of partying. I can't believe it too." Tiffany squealed.

"I know right, party in your dreams." Severina scoffed, making Tiffany's face fall.

"Remember, you're under Asher's custody now." I wiggled my brows.

"To think that I'm stuck at home for fourteen days with overprotective siblings." She huffed and threw a piece of chips in her mouth.

"Rule number one. Eat your food with manners." Severina pinched her ear. She yelped and frowned.

I was loving this already.

"Rule number two, no dodging school," Asher smirked.

That reminded me.

"Speaking of dodging. Why did you skip school the previous weeks?" Thank you, Severina. I've been dying to bring this topic up, but it invariably escaped my mind.

Must be Tiffany's charms at work by then.

"She skipped school?"

"You didn't know?" I asked a perplexed Asher, and he shook his head.

Tiffany groaned "Can't you guys forget that."

"Fuck, no."

"No cursing in the presence of kids Severina." Asher reprimanded.

" Kid who? this girl? You don't know half of the shit she knew." Severina snorted, eyeing Tiffany with scrutiny.

"Tiffany can sell you and generate change worth this mansion from it." I might be laughing but it was the plain truth. She was too smart and experienced for her age.

"Guess I must've been in oblivion for a while." Asher countered.

"No shit." I shrugged, leaning back in my seat.

"Why were you skipping school, Tiffany?" Asher grilled, all traces of amusement gone.

Now, this is what I call a big brother.

Tiffany flushed and bit her lip. Discomfort.  She wasn't comfortable. Whatever made her ditch was pretty uncomfortable to talk about. Don't ask me how I knew. I was just good at reading people.

"I'm not going to ask you again Tiffany."

"I just...I was healing from my belly button piercing." She explained, her face flushed.

Graveyard silence followed after Tiffany's confession.

"You did what?" Asher menaced in a dangerously low tone. Oh, no. He's mad. This doesn't look good.

"Tiffany, did you just say you pierced your belly button?" Severina reiterated in disbelieve.

Tiffany's chest rose and fell as she nervously stared at Asher, fear prominent on her face.

"Does mom and dad know about this?" Asher scrutinised.

Tiffany cleared her throat and nodded.

"Yeah, they give me the permission."

"That's settled then. I thought it was your decision." Asher shrugged, standing up. Is he for real?

"Asher, Tiffany's just fifteen. She needs elderly advice to guide her through life." Severina cautioned.

"Certainly she had one." Asher scoffed.

"You know mom and dad won't deny Tiffany anything right?" She was too pampered and spoilt.

"What do you want me to do Seraphina? This isn't the first time Tiffany made a bad decision on our parents' approval. It's her life to do with as she pleased. Have a great evening." Asher stormed out.

"Tiffany w...

" Just stop, okay!? This is my life, my body, and my decision. You weren't there when I needed you, and now it's okay for you to breathe down my throat?"

"Tiff...

" Seraphina, I'll do what I want. If y'all have a problem with that, the cliff is a shouting distance away." She dismissed in a crude tone.

"You're playing with your life, Tiffany." Severina softly let out.

"Thank God it's mine and not yours." She scoffed, rolling her eyes.

"What did you gain from all this?" Severina chastised.

Tiffany smirked and twirled a strand of hair around her index finger.

"My school's football team."