Page 84 of Forbidden Fruit

I choked down bile, panic rising. My own father had essentially served me up to these vultures to use as bargaining leverage. I had to get away, now.

Murmuring weak excuses about freshening my drink, I slipped into the crowd before they could stop me. Blindly, I made my way out of the glittering ballroom toward the darkened hallways,pulse racing. The lewd stares followed me, making my skin crawl.

Once alone, I sagged against the wall weakly. How could Father exploit me so callously?

My heart ached at the painful truth - he clearly saw me as a valuable asset to be leveraged, not a cherished daughter. I had never felt so worthless and alone.

Blinking back angry tears, I withdrew to my bedroom away from the party still raging. These predators could enjoy the lavish gala without me as their entertainment for the evening. I was done being paraded around.

Changing hastily into casual pants and a hoodie, I wiped off the heavy makeup and yanked my hair up in a simple ponytail. The polished seductress gazed back now looked young and vulnerable again. But I preferred this simple version of myself.

After washing my tear-stained face, I lounged on my bed and tried reading to pass the hours. But fury still simmered just under my skin at being so callously used. I needed to confront Father about this unacceptable arrangement once the vultures had gone.

Around midnight, the music and raucous laughter from downstairs finally died down as guests began trickling out. Soon only low voices remained echoing up from the foyer.

I crept onto the balcony overlooking the grand entry to spy unnoticed. Father was shaking hands warmly with the older gentlemen from earlier, looking smug. My hands clenched on the railing.

"We have an understanding then," Father told them conspiratorially. "I'll be in touch soon to finalize details." Their lewd chuckles churned my stomach.

Steeling myself, I hurried silently downstairs before he could disappear to his study again. As much as he intimidated me, we needed to have this out.

I crossed my arms, blocking his path. "We need to talk. Now."

My father looked startled to see me blocking his path, still dressed in casual loungewear with my hair pulled up.

"Natalia? Why aren't you mingling with our guests?" he asked with a frown.

I stood my ground. "Because I'm not some piece of meat to be served up to your sleazy friends," I shot back, anger simmering hotly in my veins.

Father's eyes darkened dangerously at my defiant tone. "Watch yourself, young lady. I brought you down tonight as a courtesy. But if you can't handle simple conversations politely..."

"Is that what you think happened?" I cut him off sharply. "Those men didn't want 'conversation'. They wanted a pretty young plaything to feel up."

I saw a muscle tick in Father's jaw, but forged on recklessly. "I heard you promise I'd be 'accommodating'. What exactly was on the table tonight?"

Father moved closer, looming over me menacingly. "It was business, nothing more. You know we have to nurture certain strategic alliances."

My stomach churned with disgust. "At the cost of your own daughter's dignity? I'm not some bargaining chip you can whore out."

The crack of Father's palm striking my cheek echoed brutally. I stumbled back, pressing a hand to my stinging face as fury blazed in his eyes.

"You obviously need to learn respect and obedience again," he said coldly. "I've given you far too much freedom, and you've only proven more brazen."

I glared at him, vision blurring with angry tears. "Because for once I'm standing up for myself instead of playing the good little mafia princess? I won't let you use me like that."

Father's face contorted with outrage. He stepped closer, wrenching my wrist in a painful grip. "You forget who you're talking to, girl," he spat through gritted teeth.

Despite the throbbing ache, I refused to show an ounce of pain. "No, I know exactly who you are," I said lowly. "A man willing to sell his own daughter to gain power."

I wrenched my arm free, holding Father's enraged stare challengingly. "I hope it was worth the price."

With that, I turned and stormed away upstairs before he could see me break down entirely. I refused to shed tears over his cruelty and betrayal. But the heartwrenching truth remained - my father saw me as nothing but a pawn to leverage as he wished.

In my room, I paced furiously as tumultuous emotions crashed through me. Hurt, fury, disgust all warred hotly in my veins. How could my own family betray me so callously?

I thought of turning to Leonardo for comfort, but hesitated, not wanting to drag him into this ugly mess. He would likely insist on dangerous retaliation that could provoke my father further. As vile as he was, provoking his temper seemed unwise until I had some kind of plan.

A few hours later, a knock summoned me to an emergency family meeting. Still reeling emotionally, I took my seat silently,keeping my gaze lowered submissively. But dread knotted my stomach, certain Father intended to drop the guillotine after my defiance last night.

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