Alanna Ferrari is the youngest child of the family. She was living her best life with her parents and her brothers who would do anything she would ask for. But she got kidnapped at the age of 5 and was raised by a man who claimed to be her father. S...
Sarah entered the room and placed her belongings nearby before taking a seat on a beanbag next to Alanna. She reached over and gently pushed a strand of hair behind Alanna's shoulder before speaking softly, "Alanna, I want to apologize for how I reacted the other day. It wasn't fair to you, especially after all these years. I hope you can forgive me."
Alanna, appreciating the soothing sensation of Sarah's touch on her hair, offered a warm and understanding smile. "It's okay, Aunt Sarah," she replied softly. "I can imagine it was quite a surprise to see me after all this time. I hold no hard feelings. I'm just grateful to be here with my brothers and to finally get to know my family."
Sarah's expression dimmed as she continued to speak. "I want to apologize not just for my initial reaction, Alanna, but for something much bigger." She took a deep breath before recounting the painful memory. "The day you were kidnapped, you were supposed to spend the night at my house. The boys wanted to go to a theme park, and I wanted to have a special day with you, so I offered to babysit. But that night, while you were in my care, you were taken from me."
Alanna's eyes widened as she absorbed the weight of Sarah's words. She had no memory of that fateful day, and this revelation sent shivers down her spine. "I... I had no idea," Alanna whispered, her voice quivering.
As Sarah finished recounting the painful past, her eyes were glistening with tears. Santiago, sitting nearby, reached out to comfort her. Alanna, who had been listening intently, felt a deep well of emotions bubbling up within her. She couldn't help but empathize with the profound sadness and guilt Sarah had carried all these years.
The weight of the story pressed down on Alanna's heart. She had been a victim too, but now she understood that Sarah had been a victim as well, bearing her own wounds from that dreadful night. It was a tragedy that had torn their lives apart.
Tears welled up in Alanna's eyes as she tried to find the right words. "I... I can't even imagine how difficult that must have been for you, Aunt Sarah. I'm so sorry that you had to go through all of that, too."
Santiago nodded in agreement. "Alanna's right. None of us blame you for what happened. You were injured and unconscious when you woke up. It's not your fault."
Sarah looked at both of them with gratitude and a hint of relief. It was as if a heavy burden had been lifted from her shoulders. She wiped away her tears and gave Alanna a warm, appreciative smile. "Thank you, both of you. It means the world to me to have your understanding and forgiveness."
After their heartfelt conversation about the past, Sarah took a moment to compose herself before turning to Santiago with a more business-like demeanor. "Before I forget the reason I came here, can I have a word with you, Santiago?" she asked.
Santiago nodded and glanced at Alanna, silently signaling that she could leave for now. Alanna understood and left the space, giving them privacy.
Once they were alone, Sarah explained to Santiago that she wanted to provide vitamins from her company to boost Alanna's immunity, with his permission, of course. Santiago had complete trust in Sarah and her intentions, knowing that she would never do anything to harm their family. He agreed, appreciative of her gesture to help Alanna.
As they continued their conversation, Santiago shared the latest developments in Alanna's case, including the news of Piero's death and his lingering questions about what had truly happened. Sarah urged him not to give up and assured him of her unwavering support throughout the ordeal.
They also took a moment to discuss their respective companies, with Sarah sharing some insights about her business, and Santiago touching briefly on his love life. It was a more relaxed and casual conversation, a stark contrast to the emotional intensity of their previous discussion.
As they talked, Santiago found solace in Sarah's presence and the reassurance that they were not facing this difficult situation alone.
***
Valentino sat with a guitar in hand, strumming the strings skillfully as he played a melodic tune. Alanna watched him with rapt attention, her eyes fixed on his nimble fingers dancing across the fretboard. The music filled the room, creating a soothing ambiance.
Intrigued by what she had seen, Alanna expressed her interest in learning to play the guitar. Valentino, always eager to share his passion, agreed to give her a lesson. He handed her the guitar gently and began explaining the basics.
"Okay, Alanna, let's start with the basics," Valentino began, his voice gentle and encouraging. "Place your fingers here and here..."
Alanna tried to follow his instructions, but despite her best efforts, her fingers seemed to fumble on the strings. She produced a discordant sound that was far from the melodious tune Valentino had been playing moments before.
Valentino smiled reassuringly, his eyes reflecting his patience. "It's okay, Alanna. Learning takes time. Let's try it again, slowly."
Alanna nodded, her determination pushing her to try again. She attempted to mimic Valentino's movements, but the guitar strings continued to elude her fingers, producing another jarring note. Frustration welled up within her, and she pushed the guitar toward Valentino, crossing her arms with a frustrated huff.
"I give up for now," Alanna declared, her voice tinged with exasperation.
Valentino couldn't help but chuckle at her reaction. He set the guitar aside and reached over to ruffle her hair affectionately. "Don't worry, Alanna. Learning to play the guitar takes time and practice. We'll try again another day when you're ready."
Valentino observed Alanna's somber expression and decided to broach a sensitive topic that had been lingering in his mind. He spoke gently, his voice filled with concern. "Hey, kiddo, will you answer me honestly if I ask you something?"
Alanna nodded her head, her curiosity piqued by Valentino's serious tone. She knew she could trust her brother.
Valentino hesitated for a moment, choosing his words carefully. Then he asked about the bruise that had marred Alanna's ribcage when she had first arrived. "How did you get that bruise, Alanna? Can you tell me?"
Alanna's gaze dropped to her fingers, and her voice carried a hint of sadness as she recounted the painful memory. "Dad... I mean, Piero, he punished me for eating without his permission. I was really hungry that day because we had to run laps at school, and he didn't give me any money to buy lunch. When I got home, I tried to eat, and Piero caught me. That's how I got the bruise."
Valentino's concern deepened as he listened to Alanna's painful revelation. He gently inquired, "Can you tell me how he used to punish you? Does he do it often?"
Alanna shook her head slightly, her voice quivering as she recalled the horrors of that day. "That day, he was really drunk," she whispered. "He pushed me down and kicked me until I passed out. Usually, he would only slap me, but I'll try to be a good girl so he doesn't punish me."
Valentino's heart shattered hearing the extent of Alanna's suffering. He couldn't hold back his emotions any longer. He rose from his seat and walked over to where Alanna was sitting, pulling her into a warm, protective hug. As he held her close, he murmured softly into her hair, "You don't ever have to go through that again, Alanna. We're here for you now, and we'll make sure you're safe and loved."
Don't forget to vote! ❤️
Ops! Esta imagem não segue nossas diretrizes de conteúdo. Para continuar a publicação, tente removê-la ou carregar outra.
