Chapter 1

• *Ariana*
• My eyes swept the sitting room to make sure no one was there. The room was silent as I had expected, and a smile brightened my face when I noticed it was safe to pass. It was past my parent’s bedtime, and I was very sure they were both settled in bed.
• I tiptoed gently, making sure I made no noise at all. I would never be able to bear the consequences if I were caught trying to leave the house I had been locked up in for the past three days.
• I had not been allowed to go outside for the past three days. Not that I was allowed to go out much before, but at least I was always sent to the market and sometimes ran errands for my stepmother. But for some odd reason, I found it hard to figure out; I had been restricted from going to the market.
• My stepmother Greta did the grocery shopping herself just to make sure I stayed at home, and this made me very curious, but I dared not ask any questions if I didn't want to be killed by her wrath of anger.
• Slowly, I inserted the key into the keyhole, and immediately, the door was unlocked. I went through hell trying to steal this key from Greta, and it was all worth it. I turned the doorknob and cautiously opened the door, exited the house, and closed it back in the same slow and steady way.
• My phone beeped, and it was a message from Renzo Gustavo. My boyfriend and the only reason I had not killed myself, Renzo, was and still is the love of my life and the only one who gave me hope that everything was going to be okay. He gave me hope in this hellish world.
• My mother died when I was ten years old, and since then, my life has been hell on earth. My father remarried six months after her death. He married Greta, and she hated me and maltreated me every single time she had the opportunity. I was whipped for the smallest mistakes I made, and my father would not say anything but rather watch her beat and punish me and still put the blame on me.
• I tried to end my life after several years of suffering, but Renzo was the one who saved me from myself and the wicked thoughts of killing myself. That made him the number one and only important person in my life.
• "Where are you? Were you able to leave?" His text read, and I chuckled. He must have been worried sick that I might have been caught. "I'm on my way," I texted back and increased my pace.
• When I got to the cafe, Renzo was already there, and I could see his eyes searching around as he waited. As soon as his chestnut brown eyes met mine, his face brightened with joy, and he waved at me cheerfully. I waved back at him and couldn't help but blush at his cheerful behavior.
• He was so handsome and tall, with platinum blonde hair that fell to the side while some strands were scattered on his forehead. His brown eyes were the most beautiful set of eyes I had ever seen. I ran and hugged his huge body, and he immediately picked me up and twirled me around before dropping me gently and hugging my small body.
• "Hey, baby," he said in the most cute and sweet voice as he touched my cheeks playfully. I was as red as an overripe apple as I giggled and pouted like a baby. "Renzo, did I keep you waiting for long?" I asked him, and he frowned. "No, I'd rather wait for you than have you waiting," he replied as he brushed my dark blonde hair with his palm and pinched my chin playfully, pulling me into another warm hug.
• I was very sure he had missed me as much as I had missed him. "Let's go in," he said and held my hand as we went inside. Renzo had ordered my favorite ice cream and cake, and he watched me eat. "Aren't you going to have some?" I asked, and he shook his head. He didn't like sweet things like this, and I always felt sorry that he watched me eat. "I'd rather watch you eat. It makes me feel full," he answered, and I smiled and continued eating my strawberry ice cream and vanilla cheesecake.
• I couldn't help but question the way he looked at me. His eyes seemed to be trying to tell me something, like he had something to say but wasn't sure if he should speak up. Renzo was the type to hide his feelings or thoughts, and this made me worried. "What do you want to say?" I asked, drawing back his attention as he was deep in thought.
• "Ariana," he called my name, then paused for a few minutes without saying anything. "Yes?" I snapped him back to reality again.