Chapter 38

**LUCIANA'S POV**

I continued staring at Luciana with pity and I was sure I was boring holes into her. I moved closer to her and enveloped her in a hug.

“You know that I'm okay, right?” She asked but she accepted my hug and we stood in silence,until tears started to drop from my eyes,wetting her in the process.

“Don't cry,big auntie.. my mother always tells me that big girls don't cry.”

It appeared that her personality had changed again.

“That's not true.. big girls can cry.”

She furrowed her brows and her lips settled in a pout. “But,that's not what mama told me.”

I tousled her hair and smiled. “Your mama was wrong.”

“Can a mama make a mistake?”

I nodded,and she opened her mouth in shock,just like a child. My heart squeezed in my chest as I watched.

“Really. But,I thought that my mama is always right because she's my mama.”

I shook my head dramatically and she followed my movement, shaking her head as well.

She widened her eyes like she had just made an important discovery. “That means that I'm smarter than my mama.” She beat her chest and smirked proudly.

I smiled with her,sharing in her enthusiasm but with tears still streaming down my face. She didn't deserve any of this.

“Is that why you're still crying?” She asked, tilting her head to one side.

I wiped away the tears from my eyes and shook my head. “I'm no longer crying.”

She opened her mouth and squinted her eyes in a very cute manner. “That's not true. I see you! There is water on your face and in your eyes,that means that you're crying.”

“What? No!” I made a show of my hands. “I'm only sweating in my eyes.”

“Wow! Teach me how to sweat in my eyes. If I can sweat in my eyes,I'll be able to eat candy at night because it will look like I'm crying.”

“I'll teach you when you're older.”

She frowned and threw her hands up in the air,signaling resignation.

“Do you miss your parents?”

“My parents?”

I nodded.

She scoffed. “Why would I miss them? They want me dead. They want their daughter dead all because of money. I dont even think they're my real parents.”

“Oh..”

“Don't worry,I'm alright. The proof is that I'm not dead. I also will not try killing myself,life is too precious to let it go because of people who do not give a damn about me.”

She gave me a smile and went to find Keira. I stood at the spot for three minutes straight in silence,not doing anything until Damon came and gave me a hug from behind.

I was startled so I pushed him away. I turned back and saw him. I gave a sheepish smile as I watched him play with his hair nervously.

“Mate…” He called.

I immediately looked down at my shoes and he laughed.

“I won't bother you or anything but I want us to have a friendship, even if it's only as friends.”

“What do you mean?”

“Honestly, I don't know.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I don't feel the spark between mates. It's a really weird situation, so I'm suspecting the possession. It could be the aftereffects. Although I won't lie to you, there is an attraction towards you.” He muttered and I turned beet red.

“You're …attracted to me?” I asked,not sure if I heard correctly. “Why? I'm not even pretty.” I stated blinking.

“No,that's not true. You should try looking at yourself in the mirror. You look like a goddess.”

I hiccuped. He was the first guy to say that,apart from Lorenzo.

He cleared his throat and handed me my phone. “I took it from your purse yesterday, though I lost your purse. Sorry.”

“It's okay.. I have another one and payday is almost here.” I smiled,and he gave a wolfish grin before leaving.

I found myself smiling moments after he had left until I registered that I was holding my phone. I switched it on and admired the wallpaper I used.

“Celine!!!”

I immediately opened my message app and saw countless messages and missed calls.

“Shit!” I cursed. I had totally forgotten.

I called and was half expecting her to yell at me but instead she started crying.

“I thought something had happened.”

“No…I'm okay. I'll explain everything to you when I get home.”

“Please ensure that you are safe.” I could feel the worry in her voice and I couldn't help but smile. She was more of a mother than my mother.

“I'll be safe..”

“Okay then, I'll be expecting you. I'll prepare a delicious meal for you also…”

“So,hurry back..I'm gonna take everything.” Jericho commented in the background, interrupting her.

I couldn't help the laugh that erupted from deep within me. For the first time,I actually felt like I was in a family. A real and happy family.

My mind went to my family, no,they weren't my family. The only family I had there was Lorenzo. They were only the group of people I lived with.
……

“Starve her!” My mother, Larissa ordered.

“Mother,but I've not eaten for five days. At this rate, I will die of hunger. Please mother.” I begged on my knees, with snot and tears.

She crouched and raised my head gently,inspecting it. For a moment, I saw love flicker in her eyes and I smiled, breathing a sigh of relief that she was ready to listen to me. She continued looking at me and then her grip tightened. She removed her hands and gave me a hot slap. I parted my lips in shock and pain,but she wasn't done with me.

“Do you think I care if you die? I never liked you from the start, and the fact that you brought disgrace on my family is repulsive. You are nothing but a mistake. Your death will be an achievement for me.”

My chest felt tight at her words. “But,you are my mother.. how can you do this, how could you say that?”

She slapped me again. “Mother?” She scoffed. “I am not your mother,cunt. Don't ever make that mistake again.”

She stared at me with so much hatred,I could almost see it.

“Lock her up in the dungeon for three days,no food or water.”

….
“Are you there?” I heard Jericho.

I wiped the tears on my face and nodded before realizing that he couldn't see me.

“Yes.. I'm coming home early, and my food better be kept.”

He laughed heartily and we ended the call.
They were my real family. Lorenzo had to meet them.