Page 157 of Arianna

The book is about a seven-year-old who travels the world, meets new people, and learns new things. Not very realistic, but it makes her smile, so it’ll do. “I want this all for you, Ella.”

“Me?” My baby girl points at herself.

“Yes,” Arianna whispers sadly with a faraway look in her eyes. I hate it. I want to kiss it away, but instead, I stand back and listen to what she has to say. My heart is in my throat choking me. “I want you to be free to explore the world and be whatever you wish to be. And most of all, I want you to fall in love with life before anything else.”

Thud.

Crack.

Thud.

My heartbeat slows, and I swear I can feel the fucking thing crack inside my chest.

At this moment, I realize my mistake.

I tried my best to shield her from the dangers of her world, but I ended up thrusting her into mine, which is not that much different. Last night proved it.

Now, here she is, looking younger than usual and vulnerable while the snakes in my world trash-talk her, wishing my daughter everything she didn't get to have or experience.

Am I the same as her bastard father?

Did I also get in the way of her and her dreams?

Maybe that is why she hasn't accepted any of the internships I have arranged for her.

“My sisters and I dreamt about visiting all these places you see in this book, Ella,” Arianna whispers while my daughter raises her head and grins up at Arianna. “I go?”

A look of complete devotion crosses over Arianna’s face, but it fades away quickly when she answers. “You’ll go places, Ella. I know it. You’ll do great things. Things I didn’t get to do, you’ll do them. You’ll see.”

The sadness in her tone almost brings me to my knees, but I try my best to hold my emotions in check. I was too busy enjoying this blissful feeling of getting all I never thought I wanted, and I was too blind to realize that she never chose me.

Nor did she choose this life.

How could she? When she hasn't experienced anything else but being inside her father’s cage, and now being here with me, not really knowing anything else.

Closing the door softly, I leave my heart inside that room.

You’ll go places…

You’ll do great things…

Things I didn't get to do…

Fuck, this hurts as if a gun went off and a bullet pierced my chest.

Her words haunt me all the way back to my office.

I have everything I ever wanted and never knew I needed, but does she?

* * *

ARIANNA

After tucking Ellaiza in for the night, I go in search of her father. It’s been a crazy week, but everything else feels insignificant when I am with them.

I find Sebastian in his study, sitting in the darkness while drinking a glass of scotch. The only light comes from the moonlight outside and the flat screen TV on the wall.

He’s watching the news channel where they are playing the video of what happened at the gala. Sebastian looks both furious and worried. Walking to his desk, I grab the TV remote and turn off the news. There's no point in reliving what happened.

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