Page 15 of Forbidden Fruit

I buried my face in the pillow, muffling my frustrated sobs. It wasn't fair! I was so tired of living under Father's crushing rules. I felt like I could hardly breathe in this mansion sometimes.

My thoughts turned to Leonardo and the liberating moments we'd shared - speeding down dark roads on his motorcycle, dancing breathlessly together, kissing in secluded corners away from watchful eyes. He made me feel alive in ways my family never could.

But those stolen moments had come at too high a price, it seemed. Now I was trapped in my gilded cage even more securely than before, all because Father refused to see me as anything but a porcelain doll to lock away.

Maybe I shouldn't have yelled at him. I knew beneath his stifling protectiveness, part of Father did care about me in his way. But I was just so tired of never being listened to, having my own desires ignored and dismissed as silly adolescent whims.

I wasn't even allowed basic things like friendships outside the family or hobbies to help pass the long, boring days cooped up in this mansion. Father expected me to simply smile and play the demure mafia princess role effortlessly, no matter how it suffocated my spirit.

I wiped my tear-stained face and took a few deep breaths, trying to calm down. Getting overly emotional wouldn't solve anything right now. I needed to figure out a way to make Father understand me better, see that I was nearly an adult capable of making some choices for myself.

Maybe in a few days, if I apologized for my outburst, he would be willing to discuss giving me slightly more independence. I had to try reasoning with him again when we both had cooler heads.

The thought gave me a small glimmer of hope. I wouldn't give up on finding a way to spread my wings a bit, even within the constraints of this world I'd been born into. There had to be some freedom possible if Father would just open his mind and heart a little.

I clung to that fragile hope like a lifeline. Curled up on my bed that had become a luxurious prison cell, I whispered a fervent wish into the darkness - please still let there be a way for me to fly.

I was jerked from my turbulent thoughts by the beep of an incoming text. I grabbed my phone from the nightstand and saw it was from my best friend Ashley.

Ashley: Hey Nat! Some of us were gonna catch a movie later and hit up the diner after. Wanna come?

My heart sank. I wished more than anything I could escape with Ashley tonight. The normal teenage activities she described sounded infinitely better than being trapped here alone with my despair.

But of course that was impossible now. Reluctantly, I texted back:

Natalia: I wish! But I'm sort of grounded at the moment...Dad blew up at me for coming home late.

Ashley: Yikes, that sucks! What happened girl?

I hesitated, not ready to reveal the full truth about sneaking out to meet Leonardo yet. Ashley knew only vague details about my mysterious forbidden romance.

Natalia: It's complicated...but the short version is I broke curfew and Dad found out, so now I'm stuck at home.

Ashley: No way, that's so unfair! You gotta live a little.

Natalia: I know, but you know how strict my dad is. I'll just have to ride out this grounding.

Ashley: Well that's no fun??We'll just have to plan an epic girls day as soon as you're free again! Hang in there babe!

I felt a rush of gratitude for Ashley. She was the one bright spot in my restricted world. My forbidden romance might be thrilling, but Ashley's steadfast friendship gave me true joy.

Natalia: You're the best Ash. I don't deserve you. Can't wait for that girls day!

Setting down my phone, I exhaled slowly. I hated missing out on time with Ashley. But her loyalty despite everything gave me hope. No matter what happened, I had one true friend in my corner. And that bond was something not even Father could take from me.

CHAPTER 6

GILDED CAGE

Natalia's POV:

The days dragged by agonizingly slow. I paced my luxurious bedroom that had become a gilded cage. Father had restricted me to the mansion for weeks now after my last attempt to sneak out. But the isolation only increased my restlessness.

At night I stared out my window, longing for freedom. During the daylight hours, I distracted myself by reading or chatting with Ashley, my one connection to the outside world. But I missed feeling sunshine on my face, the thrill of driving fast down winding roads, the taste of adventure.

Most of all, I missed Leonardo. His mysterious aura called to my rebel spirit in a way I couldn't deny, no matter how hard I tried to be obedient. I replayed our secret trysts and heated conversations to pass the time. But it wasn't enough.

I needed to feel alive again, to embrace that sense of reckless possibility Leonardo and I generated together. These walls and rules were smothering me, even as Father insisted it was all for my protection. Didn't he understand the only thing being crushed was my spirit?

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