Equal
POV: Elena
I enter Lorenzo's office and find everyone, including Eloisa, standing there.
I sit down in the only empty seat and hear Vicente closing the door behind me. He leans over it, almost as if he's showing me that there's no escape from here.
I smile coldly at him and turn to face Lorenzo.
"So?" My voice is disinterested, almost bored. It irritates them and that's the intention.
"Elena, behave yourself, you're in enough trouble as it is," Eloisa says and I roll my eyes.
"Elo is right, your situation is not good," Sandro says and I realize that Eloisa has already managed to play her games with him.
"Elena, can you tell us why you ran away?" Luca asks and I can hear a hint of annoyance in his voice.
I look at him with a raised eyebrow. Is he really upset?
Don't be fooled, Elena.
"I just don't want to stay here," I say, turning to Lorenzo. "This isn't my home and you're just strangers," I calmly repeat what I've told them a thousand times.
"We're your brothers," Sandro says angrily, and I laugh sarcastically.
"And where have you been?" I ask about one of the things that has haunted me the most since I arrived. "Why were we living with people we thought were our parents?"
"Didn't you know Henk was your stepfather?" Leonardo asks, confused.
"Not until our parents died," Eloisa says quietly, and Sandro hugs her.
I look at her with pity. Our parents may have been my biggest monsters, but they were her heroes.
I've always wondered if Henk hated me because I'm different from Eloisa. While she has dark eyes like his and Jocellyn's, mine are green.
But now I know it's because my father was never Henk, but another man.
"Jocellyn divorced our father when you were one year old, she took custody of you and then disappeared," Lorenzo says as if he's telling us what he had for breakfast. I can tell he doesn't like this story.
"And our father?" I ask quietly and I see hurt flash across all of their eyes.
"He disappeared eight years ago while he was looking for you," Leonardo replies, and I feel his hatred in every word. Could that be why he hates us so much?
I turn to Lorenzo and smile sarcastically.
"And then one day the social worker calls to say that there are two orphans who need a home and they are your sisters," I finish the story with my usual sarcastic tone. "What a happy story."
I look at Lorenzo and assess his expression and posture. He seems relaxed, as if this story doesn't affect him, but I know it's not true.
"The funny thing is that there was no record of you looking for us," I say, and surprise flashes across his eyes for a second. "Then don't use that excuse that you're my brothers, when you didn't want any of us here."
My tone is sharp and he sighs almost impatiently.
"We stopped looking when Dad disappeared. We assumed Jocellyn was looking after you, and we weren't wrong." Lorenzo uses his dark tone.
His words anger me and hurt me. Would I have been saved if he had insisted a little more?
His giving up only shows me that I've always been alone and that will never change.
"She was a good mother, and so was my father," Eloisa says decisively. "They were good people." Of course she would defend them.
But Lorenzo's eyes don't look at her, but at me, as I roll my eyes at Eloisa's statement.
"I want to discuss something with you two" Lorenzo changes the subject and we look at him "You start school tomorrow, I know you're still adjusting to everything, but I don't want you to be late for the school year"
"But I'm still in mourning" Eloisa complains and a simple look from Lorenzo shuts her up.
"Like I said, I'm not willing to let you miss classes" his tone is harsh "I ask that you keep up your good grades, I won't tolerate laziness or complaints from school"
I don't complain about that. My grades have always been exemplary and I intend to keep them up.
"Sandro and Leonardo, go with them to school, they study there," he finishes and looks at me. "Elena, I don't want any games, don't even think about running away, I'll have eyes outside to watch you."
I smile innocently at him and I can see that he's seething with anger.
"You know your rules, and I expect you to follow them. Eloisa, you're already dismissed," he says and she smiles, promising to behave and leaves the office.
Leonardo looks at her with irritation, he knows perfectly well that Eloisa is not who she seems to be and for that I give him points.
"Elena, what you did yesterday was stupid and dangerous." Lorenzo assumes an authoritative posture and I notice the boys stiffen.
"I will not tolerate your attitudes or this type of behavior."
I sigh deeply and lean back in my chair with my arms crossed.
"All you have to do is send me away," I say, looking at him in the same tone as he does.
"You have no choice, whether you like it or not, this is not your house and you will not leave until I say you can," he says loudly and stands up, slamming his hands on the table.
I also stand up because I will not allow him to intimidate me, no one will do that to me again. Never again.
"You have no right, Lorenzo. I didn't ask to be here and I don't want anything from you. I never needed and never will need this damn family" I scream and I don't register fast enough the slap that hits my face.
I touch my cheek with my shaking hand.
The boys behind me don't breathe, Lorenzo stares at me in shock and I pull away from him still holding my face.
"Elena, I'm so sorry" Lorenzo whispers softly and I shake my head taking another step back.
I feel someone's hand on my shoulder and I tremble.
"Don't touch me" I try to say loudly, but my voice comes out almost like a plea.
I reach the door and leave the office feeling lost. I walk back to my room holding my face that is now burning.
In the hallway I come across Eloisa who looks at me carefully and notices my red cheek and smiles.
"It didn't take long for them to see who you are," she says with satisfaction and walks closer.
She takes my hand away from my face and looks at the red mark. I let her because I'm still in shock.
"Maybe they're worse than our parents, and if they are, you won't last long." She smiles and pats my bruised cheek twice. "You better be careful."
She walks away laughing and I go back on my way.
I close the bedroom door and push my bed against it. I go to the bathroom to look at my face and groan when I see the handprint on my right cheek. The slap was hard enough to make that part of my face swell.
I knew they would be the same. Everyone is the same. That's what family is, Elena.
My mind screams at myself and I sigh knowing it's true. I will never have peace in my life. Ever.