Chapter 4 A sister's poison.

"Well, look who we have here."

Victoria froze.

She knew that voice too well...

Her stepsister's.

Amelia was like a green snake under green grass.

In front of everyone she was the sensible child, but Victoria knew too well how dirty she could be.

"Amelia," she whispered.

"The runaway bride," Amelia scoffed.

The two girls beside her laughed.

"Amelia, please, not today." Victoria said she was trying to leave since she'd already bought the phone.

On the other end of the line, Nina heard Amelia voice and knew that she would pick her fight with Victoria very soon. "Victoria, send me your location," Nina asked over the phone

. Victoria, not thinking about why Nina asked, just casually mentioned the name of the phone shop for her.

Amelia strutted closer, flanked by two friends with smirks plastered on their glossy lips.

"You've got some nerve showing your face outside, sister dear. Shouldn't you be on a honeymoon with Kelvin?"

Her friends snickered. "Oh wait, she ran away at the altar," one mocked, twirling her hair.

Everyone turned, looking at Victoria, making her uncomfortable. She'd wish for nothing more than to give this bitch a dirty slap.

"You're right, I ran away from my wedding. What about you? Has anyone ever proposed to you, not to talk of taking you down the aisle?" Victoria snarled at her.

Amelia gaze darkened as she glared at her supposed sister. "You left a good man for a gangster who pulled up gun with a to your wedding."

The people around began to murmur, and some of them even looked at her with disdain.

"Not only did she abandon her fiancé, who did everything for her, she ran off with a fuckboy. Do you want to kill Father?" Amelia continued seeing that everyone now judged Victoria.

"Some ladies don't know how to live a decent life," an elderly woman who was getting a phone with her daughter hissed.

Victoria bit her lip, anger building underneath her skin.

Amelia circled her like a cat cornering a mouse. "Dad's disappointed, you know. He said you embarrassed him in front of the Valens. You ruined everything. Even your dress..." she sneered, tugging at the hem of Victoria's outfit. "Is this fake silk? God, I can't breathe the same air as you."

The other two girls giggled beside Amelia, clearly fanning the fire.

"You don't have to worry about whether the man I ran off with is a fuckboy or not, and I'm going to see Dad, so it's none of your business," Victoria warned.

"You've said enough."

"Relax, I'm just trying to tell you what's good for you," Amelia purred. "Maybe I'll introduce you to one of my new friends since you like to jump from one man to another."

"I'm a model now, didn't you see? This was your dream, right? I got signed by Halo Agency. I meet real men with money, Vicky. Not your little street thug pretending to be rich."

Her friends giggled louder.

Victoria's eyes stung. Modeling was her dream, but she wouldn't give her that satisfaction of seeing her crumble. Not anymore.

"Enjoy your little modeling gig," she said, voice trembling but steady. "I hope you no longer sleep with old, dirty men like five years ago when you used me to cover up your dirt."

Amelia froze for a second, her eyes darkened, but she quickly masked it with a twisted smile."You'll regret those words. Don't come crying to us when you and your thug boyfriend can no longer survive."

Victoria turned to leave, heart pounding, but then her phone buzzed.

Nina.

She remembered she'd given her the location a while ago.

She picked up instantly. "Nina?"

"Where the hell are you?" Nina's voice cracked through the line. "I'm opposite the phone plaza."

"I'm fine. I just ran into Amelia."

"Oh, perfect," Nina snapped. "That viper is still breathing? Where is she? Let me teach her manners."

Victoria laughed, masking her feelings. "Please don't."

Nina said. "Come meet me at Café Bloom."

Victoria nodded, slipping her phone into her bag, ignoring Amelia's eyes burning holes in her back.

"Running away again?" Amelia mocked as she walked off.

"Walking away," Victoria shot back. "There's a difference."

...

At Café Bloom.

Nina was already waiting, stirring her iced latte with that bored, dangerous expression she wore when she was about to explode.

"Wow, Vicky, you look like you've walked out of a telenovela," Nina said, eyes googling her best friend. "Who do I punch first?"

"No one. I just need to think."

Nina sighed, leaning back. "You look good, so Dante is back, and do you want him now?"

"Nina, you wouldn't understand; he just came back because he heard I was getting married to his former friend, I suppose."

"Overthinking, as usual. Look, I never liked Kelvin; there was just something off about him. Who would fall for their best friend's woman?"

"Your family's worse. You need to stop letting them define you. Do you think if Kelvin wasn't investing in your dad's business, they'd give a fuck about you?

Victoria smiled faintly. "You always make it sound so easy."

"Because it is," Nina fired back. "You want your freedom? Take it. You want answers? Go get them. You said your dad's office is downtown, right? Let's go."

Victoria hesitated, glancing at her phone screen.

She had just finished setting up her phone and restoring her social media account.

"Fine, I would head to my dad's place and then meet with Kelvin. I owe him answers."

Nina grinned. "That's my girl."

Both ladies ordered while they discussed catching up.

Just then a text came through.

"I think you should check your phone." Nina said.

Victoria glanced at the strange number.

She picked up the phone.

"Where are you?"

Just then another text pops up again just before she could figure out who it was.

"Vicky, it's not safe. Text me your location now."

Her hands froze; only Dante called her like that.

What does he mean by not being safe?

She had not yet married into the Moretti family, and now it wasn't safe?

"Who is that?" Nina asked, seeing her face turn pale.

Her phone started ringing.

Then a black car pulled up outside Cafe Moon with men in black suits who all came outside.

Three men stepped out in matching suits, scanning the café like hunters who already knew their prey was inside.

The sight causing a commotion.

"Vicky..." Nina whispered. "Tell me you know those men.".

Victoria's hands trembled as she locked her phone. "No. But I think they know me."

Then, the man at the front reached for his earpiece. His gaze landed directly on her.

He smiled.

Panic clawed at her throat.

Something told Victoria they were here for her.