"People cry, not because they are weak. It's because they've been strong for too long."
Ava's body was completely numb. She was walking mindlessly, shivering on the cold Italian streets with a mere hoodie covering her pale, thin body. The sky turned almost dark and she didn't have the guts to go back home and face herself. She couldn't believe that she got fired for a mistake that she didn't even commit. The satisfaction which she got after slapping Lorenzo was slowly fading away. Her mind was continuously replaying her awful memories of the past.
[Flashback]
It was a cold dark night, Ava was kneeling down, tied with ropes in a creepy place since the last 10 hours. Her got goosebumps all over her body due to freezing cold. Her dishevelled hair, her chapped lips and her tired eyes made her look almost dead. Her knees became numb due to her whole body's weight on them. The only source of light was the moon shining from a small window. The door creaked open and knowing who it was, cold blood rushed through Ava's body. Her breath hitched when she heard a loud noise of whip meeting the ground. She looked up only to see her 'father' Joe Adonis, with a devilish smirk on her face.
Knowing what was about to happen, she bent her head down and closed her eyes tight shut. A loud scream escaped Ava's mouth as the cold leather met Ava's back, leaving another scar on her body. The abuse continued and after what felt like eternity, it came to an end and for the start of another abuse.
Then pulled her up by her hair and asked, "Who survives in the world?"
Ava was completely drained off. She was in no position to answer his question. He pressed the bleeding wound of her back and screams ripped out of the poor 14-year-old girl's throat.
"Now tell me baby, who survives in the world?" Joe asks psychotically.
"S-Strongest." The weak girl said crying. As soon as he heard it, he was completely satisfied and left her hair.
"And who are you?" He asks.
"The weakest." Ava whimpered only to get a satisfied smirk on Joe's face.
"Now get up and don't rest before 300 punches." He said pointing at the punching bag before going out.
She would train for 12 hours in a day to become strong and impress her father. All that little Ava needed in her life was an appreciation from her father or at least a small smile towards her. But Joe always had an ugly scowl on his face.
Joe Adonis bet his poor 14-year-old daughter almost every day, just to make her 'fittest' to survive. He took her to the basement, tied her hands, made her kneel down and started his abuse. He used whips, which left permanent scars on her body and most importantly in her heart.
[End of Flashback]
She recalled all the past incidents. A single drop of tear flowed from her eye and touched the ground. She was having a mental breakdown after a long time. The last she cried was when her mother died. That day she promised herself not to cry ever again. Yet she broke down in the middle of the dark creepy street.
While she was engrossed in her past miseries, a car stopped by and the glass of the car slid down. She was shocked to see Lorenzo. She immediately turned around and wiped her tears. She didn't want to show anyone how weak and miserable she is. At least that's what her father said her since she was small. What she didn't know was that, she was strongest among the people of her age.
"Get inside, I'll drop you off." Lorenzo said. Ava hated his dominating tone. Not wanting to have any meaningless arguments, Ava ignored him and started walking away. She was even more pissed at the fact that Lorenzo showed up in front of her acting like gentleman, like he didn't just fire her from her job.
"Ava, it's raining. I said get in." Lorenzo said. Ava didn't even realize when it started raining. She was completely drenched in rain. She still ignored him and walked away. Lorenzo sighed and ran hand through his hair in frustration.
As it started raining even more heavily, Ava was shivering in cold but tried her best not to show her weak side to the person who was now following her in his car. Lorenzo decided to let his guard down as he requested her, "Miss, please get in. You'll catch cold. I promise I'll just drop you home and go back."
Ava decided to get in as she wasn't fond of getting sick. Plus, she needed energy for searching a new job tomorrow. Ava opened the car door and sat in the passenger's seat and gave Lorenzo her address. Lorenzo would take side glances at Ava. Lorenzo noticed that Ava was shivering from cold, he turned on the heater and gave her a towel. She hesitantly took it and started wiping her hair. Her hair was no longer tied in a bun as it went down till her waist. There was an awkward silence in the car.
"Where is your house?" Lorenzo asked as he reached the given address..
"The left one in green colour." Ava said shortly. He stopped the car.
"This is your house?" Lorenzo asked in a shocked voice but immediately regretted as it he realized it sounded as an insult.
Ava was furious "Yes. THIS is the house in which I live by paying rent. But," She said through her gritted teeth and took a deep breath before continuing "I don't think I can pay rent anymore from now on" And now she was facing Lorenzo, "Because I have been removed from my job because of a stupid egoistic bastard."
"You can continue to work. I'll talk to Jaxon." Lorenzo said ignoring the fact that she just called him stupid egoistic bastard.
Ava quickly replied, "If you think I'll go back in that crappy place after what happened today, then you are crazy Mr." Her voice was unbelievably calm now.
Lorenzo gritted his teeth at her comment. Ignoring her taunts, Lorenzo stopped the car and as she was about to get out of the car, he stopped her. She waited for him to say something. All he did was to take out bundle of cash before saying, "Take this to pay your rent and other expenses."