Sei

During the afternoon, Victoria heard a different commotion in the house again. Peeking through the door's gap, she saw tables and decorative objects being carried by Dominique's henchmen. The loose ends of the conversations she overheard through the door weren't enough; she needed to be in the midst of those people. To live with them and understand the entire scheme involving this family.

As everything indicated that a reception would be held in the house, Victoria thought it would be the perfect opportunity to gather as much information as possible. She would find a way to contact these people, one way or another.

Looking through the window facing a part of the garden, she saw cars arriving with large decorative items, flowers, and drinks. There, she realized it wouldn't be a simple reception; it would be a grand family party.

Eager, she tried to devise a plan in her head that would lead her to the location. Without any restraint, Victoria left her room, exploring the house for the first time. From a distance, she could see the large hall with books where she was taken when she arrived at the house.

Whatever is going to happen will be there.

With no security at the entrance door, the redhead left, placing her bare feet on the lawn. She closed her eyes, feeling the warm sunlight piercing her skin, and for the first time since she arrived, she felt free in some way. All the staff stared at her, but no one dared to interrupt her. They continued their work, completely ignoring her presence.

She stayed there for a few good minutes, and even though the idea of trying to escape crossed her mind several times, she knew that at the end of the extensive garden, there would be a large gate with armed men securing it. A family like that wouldn't be so foolish.

Sitting on a bench in the garden, Victoria remained quiet, listening to the sound of birds as she watched the staff enter one by one with boxes in their hands. Distracted, she was startled when she saw Dominique sit beside her.

"Victoria Moretti, decided to enjoy our facilities?" he asked, resting his cane on the bench.

"Unfortunately, I don't have the option to enjoy what's on the outside," the redhead replied cynically.

"Good observation. But don't be sad; not everyone can take advantage of a luxurious place like this. Some are stuck in wooden boxes without seeing daylight for weeks," Dominique ran his hand through his graying hair, adjusting the glasses on his head.

For someone like him, there was no need to have a threatening posture or use aggressive actions. Knowing how to use words is enough. If the person isn't foolish enough, the message will be effectively delivered.

"True, I have to admit my privileges. Thank you for being safe," the redhead tried not to show all the disgust she felt seeing him puff on his cigarette. Anything related to everything she had gone through with this family caused her revulsion.

"It's nice to maintain a peaceful coexistence, don't you agree?" as he stood up, the man gently stroked Victoria's face.

Her first instinct was to remove his rough hand from her face. She wanted to hit, scream, and throw a tantrum in every way, saying that this man was responsible for the horrors she had been through so far. For being separated from her family, for assaulting her parents, and who knows what else they could do.

However, she remained calm. Took a deep breath and found within herself the survival instinct she needed.

She raised her head and smiled in his direction, ignoring the disgust that invaded her upon feeling the dirty touch of his hand.

Observing him as he went back into the house, the redhead noticed that he whispered something in the ear of one of the maids, who subtly observed her.

At that moment, the woman approached Victoria, leading her back to her room.

"Take a shower and wait here. I'll come to get you in an hour," she said quickly before leaving.

Victoria obeyed her, without questioning or trying to find out any information.

She decided to take Catarina's advice seriously. From now on, she would follow all the orders they gave her. After all, it would be the only way to find a path to save her parents.

After a long time—which Victoria wouldn't be able to identify because there were no clocks in the room—the maid returned, taking her to a room where she hadn't been before.

The room was isolated from all others in the house, and she didn't remember ever passing through there before. Although tidy, she noticed some dusty objects, as if they had been untouched for a long time.

She strolled around the large room, examining every detail of the decor, trying to pick up anything that might be useful in the future.

When she stopped in front of the illuminated dressing table on one wall in the room, she saw a golden box with a padlock. His first reaction was to touch it, and seeing her near the object, the maid quickly headed in her direction, taking the box away and placing it in a drawer.

"Come, I've picked out an outfit for you," the woman held her hand, guiding her to the closet, which seemed to have come straight out of a movie.

The racks seemed to have more than a hundred dresses, and the shelves with designer handbags were endless. In addition to other items such as jewelry and accessories. In the spotlight was a dress in a red hue with a satin-like fabric, draped and with a slit on the side. It was the most beautiful dress Victoria had ever seen, and if it weren't for the unfortunate occasion, it would have been a pleasure to wear it.

The woman handed it to her, leaving her alone to change in the closet. Her hands trembled as she slid the zipper through the red satin, while trying to decipher why she was being treated this way, given that she had been kidnapped.

As soon as she finished putting it on, she looked at herself in the mirror and thought that despite the circumstances, she had never been so well-dressed in her life. The piece fit perfectly, but her weary face and still recovering from some bruises did not enhance the ensemble.

Noticing this, the maid took her to the vanity, reaching for some brushes and makeup palettes. The woman was kind, and at every moment, she asked for Victoria's permission to touch her or asked her opinion on a particular makeup color she could use.

Without caring about such details, Victoria seemed more interested in trying to guess to whom such a well-decorated room belonged. However, the dusty table where the used items were supported implied that the person who had used the room didn't live in the same house for a long time.

Once she finished her makeup, she finally realized that she was now worthy of the clothes she was wearing. To finish, the woman handed her a pair of Louboutin heels. Ironically, she wasn't used to wearing such high shoes, struggling to make her way to the main hall.

Her appearance was stunning, and she could tell by the way all the surrounding employees stared in awe.

As the doors opened, all eyes turned to Victoria, who, startled, had no reaction. A security guard next to her guided her, placing her at a separate table from all the guests.

She was simply in shock. There were so many people, more than she imagined it would be. She didn't have to think much to conclude that any chance of escaping would result in unimaginable havoc.

However, she couldn't help but wonder if all those people present knew about the illegal activities the family practiced. Or worse, were they as bad as them?

While serving herself champagne, she noticed a different movement starting to happen in the hall when she finally saw Dominique, accompanied by his sons. The sight of them together made them seem like an ordinary family, only slightly uncomfortable with the extreme exposure.

It was evident that they were the center of attention, as a cocoon formed around them, and flatteries rained down on all members, but especially on Damiano.

Victoria heard the ladies beside her comment on how attractive Dominique's son was, making their explicit admiration clear. However, as much as Victoria hated to admit it, it was completely understandable.

He was wearing a white tuxedo with a navy-blue shirt underneath, matching the handkerchief in his pocket. His wavy hair fell perfectly over his cheeks, and his face had features that made his Italian origins clear, with a prominent nose that marked his face, making him different from the other men present. His beauty was original and rustic at the same time, with strong and striking features.

A face that would easily be remembered by anyone who analyzed it closely.

Noticing all the details she hadn't noticed before, Victoria forgot for a moment her real goal at the party, as she didn't understand why her presence there was necessary. Noticing the redhead's eyes on him, Damiano looked back at her, and his indifferent gaze softened a bit when he noticed the way the young woman was dressed.

Her satin dress embraced her curves completely, accentuating every beautiful feature on her well-drawn body. Her face was painted with light makeup that enhanced her beauty, and her long copper-colored hair fell perfectly over her ample bust.

However, something further ahead completely drew Victoria's attention. For a moment, she could swear she had seen a familiar face in the crowd. So, taking advantage of being alone, she slipped into the crowd standing around the tables arranged in the space, walking among the extensive bookshelves on the walls.

When she prepared to move forward, a sudden and mysterious touch made her recoil.