Chapter ninety nine

Chapter ninety nine
Alora’s POV

It had been two days since the fight with Victoria. I was glad we hadn’t crossed paths again, because I had been locked up in my room or at the hospital with Macko.

His condition had not improved, at least according to Dr. Gibson, who spoke about it vaguely. He was definitely hiding something.

I really missed Macko, he would have been dragging my ass downstairs by now, complaining about how late I was.

I walked through the hallway, clutching my backpack to my side. All I wanted was a few hours of normal somewhere I did not have to think or feel or pretend.

I grabbed the handle, ready to open the door, when someone held my hand.

“Hello,” Victoria greeted.

Damn. She just had to pop up this early. I exhaled and forced a smile.

“How may I help you?” I asked, my hands slightly fisted.

“Oh, nothing. I just wanted to wish you good luck and hope you like my back to school gift for you. Bye.” She blew me a kiss before turning away, the click of her heels louder than my thoughts.

What did she even mean. What gift.

I shook my head and opened the door. Whatever plans she had were not my business. Still, the feeling did not fade. It settled, like a warning I did not know how to read yet.

I rushed to the parking lot. I had asked Santino to drive me to school, but there was no sign of him anywhere.

I walked to where my car was parked and found Rafe leaning against it.

“Good morning,” he greeted.

I did not even have it in me to answer. Every time I looked into those cold eyes, I thought about the fact that he was getting married. I wanted to scream at him, hit him with something.

He would occasionally drop by my room, asking me to go with him places, and it was irritating. We did not even sleep in the same room anymore, and the thought of him being with Victoria made my stomach churn.

“If you keep looking at me like that, I might kiss you,” he teased, a smirk tugging at his lips.

I bit down on my lip, my eyes dropping to his legs. “Whatever,” I muttered.

“Nico will drive you to school.”

“Why him. I asked Santino to drive me,” I argued, a lump forming in my throat.

“You do not order my men around. Here. Your breakfast.” He handed me a bag I had not noticed before.

“I do not want it. I will get something at school.”

He did not respond. He just dropped the bag into the back seat.

Then he stepped closer, closing the distance between us. I moved back until my spine hit the car.

He grabbed my hands and pinned me against it. “Keep challenging me, and you will not like the outcome, gattina,” he whispered, his lips brushing my neck.

I shut my eyes hard, hating how much it affected me.

He finally let go of my hands, and I released a shaky breath, but he was not done.

He pulled my waist toward him, and I felt how hard he was. I gulped, my heart racing.

“Have a lovely day, wife,” he said, his voice husky with need, before walking away.

I stood there, rooted to the spot, breathing like I had just run a marathon. His cologne lingered in the air. For one terrifying second, I wondered if he already knew what his devil of a fiancé had up her sleeves.

I yanked the car door open, got in, and slammed it shut.

I screamed, clutching my head.

“In case you need a contact for a mental hospital, I will be happy to help,” Nico’s voice came from the driver’s seat, startling me.

I shut up immediately, glaring at him through the rearview mirror as I fastened my seat belt.

I turned just in time to see Victoria storming off as Rafe walked past her. She did not look angry. She looked satisfied.

The ride to school was quiet. I occupied myself with my phone, only looking up once or twice to find Nico staring ahead like he thought we were being followed. I did not see any cars, but my chest stayed tight the entire way.

He pulled into the parking lot. I grabbed my bags and stepped out, and before I could even turn around, he had reversed and sped off.

“So annoying,” I huffed.

I walked toward the main entrance. Bored students milled around on the first day back.

“She’s here,” someone yelled behind me.

I turned around to see the hallway flood with students moving in every direction. I stood in the middle of the chaos, confused.

“If it is not the gold digger herself,” Bella’s taunting voice jolted me back to reality.

She strutted toward me, her minions right behind her, calm and composed, like she already knew how this would end.

“I do not have time for your tantrums, Bella,” I scoffed.

“But you had time to open your legs for someone else’s fiancé. You are such a cheap whore.”

“What are you talking about.”

The tension in the hallway was suffocating. Everyone watched, waiting for me to break. I wanted to cry, but I refused to give her that satisfaction.

She clapped her hands, and a projector lit up.

The screen burned my eyes as images flashed. Me working at the restaurant. Me sleeping in an unfinished building. Me walking into a public washroom. Then a photo of me and Rafe at a mafia conference. Another of his engagement to Victoria. And finally, a video of Victoria crying, claiming I had tried to ruin their relationship.

The hallway erupted. Gasps. Insults. Laughter.

That was when I understood. This was not about embarrassment. This was about erasing who I was and replacing it with who they wanted me to be.

I could not take it anymore.

I dropped my bags and ran, shoving my way through the crowd.

I did not know how long I had been running, but when I finally stopped, I was in the middle of nowhere. A bar sat to my left, a big shop across the street.

Before I could rethink it, I walked into the bar.

I might as well drown myself in something. Celebrate Victoria’s win. Such a thoughtful gift.

I headed straight to the counter, took a seat, and called out, “Shots.”

“Where is your ID?” the bartender asked.

Before I could answer, someone tapped me on the back.

“She’s with me.”