Page 22 of About Love and Revenge

The hand that holds the paper cutter shakes, but she still doesn't budge. “You're not my friend.”

“No, I'm not, but I would never hurt you. I just want to see if you're okay.”

After a few seconds, she finally rests the object on the table. “Why do you care? Why did you lie and say I'm your guest?”

I wasn't prepared for her to turn the tables on me like that.

I can't answer her questions for the simple reason that I don't even know myself. Even though I made the excuse that I went to see if Leandros had really run away, I was beside myself when I realized that Naim was alone with her. So instead of trying to explain something I still don't understand, I decide to take the softer side of the issue.

“I didn’t lie. Youaremy guest for now.”

She embraces her own body, perhaps unconsciously, showing fragility. “Is the deadline you gave my father still in effect?”

“What?”

“You said yesterday that we still have seven days. Can I stay here for the remaining six?”

I've never felt so ashamed of myself before. I've always justified my actions in the name of revenge, but something about the brave way she doesn't let herself be defeated makes me regret that I'm being her tormentor.

“Let me call the doctor. After he makes sure you're okay, we'll talk.”

Elina

CHAPTER EIGHT

I don't thinkI've ever had to make such an effort in my life not to cry.

For me, faking is not uncommon—I already told you that, remember? I learned to bury what I feel very deep. Even my father, who is a master at unraveling people's souls, doesn’t know me anymore.

An emotion impersonator needs to be a good actress too.

Today, however, I came close to breaking.

There were too many things to process at once: at the same time I realized that Naim was inside my house, I was informed by the disgusting man that my parents had run away.

It all unfolded very quickly: the certainty of being alone and then the aggression that followed.

First, my survival instinct screamed. I fought as best as I could, kicking and clawing the bastard. After all, I'd rather die than let him take my body against my will.

By the time Odin arrived, I was even considering using the card cutter on myself to prevent the sheik from hurting me anymore.

But then, once the man who destroyed my family entered the room, I knew, in a bizarre way, that the greater danger had passed.

As the dread of being attacked subsided, the feeling of abandonment finally overtook me.

It's the second time I’ve felt this way. The first was when I was still a little girl and believed I was happy.

My parents took me and my brothers on a trip to Athens. My three sisters had already been born, and Theo was just a baby. We are all a year apart from each other. My mother was constantly pregnant, as I recall.

That day in the capital, we went to a park and I got away so I could watch a man doing magic tricks. The kids were sitting on the ground, and after picking out a free patch of grass, I sat down too. I don't know how much time passed. I was mesmerized by the way he made colorful scarves flow endlessly out of his hat, but at some point, I looked back and couldn't see my family anymore.

I remember the exact sensation.

Even though I was so young, I can remember how my heart skipped a beat at the thought that I was alone and that there was no way I could go back to my house.

Suddenly, someone grabbed me from behind, and when I saw it was my father, even though he didn't like being cuddled, I hugged his neck tightly.

I couldn't let go.

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