The sting of betrayal and abandonment was something Nia carried with her every day, like an invisible weight pressing down on her heart.
Only her Aunt Sheila Russo, Francesco's mother who is her father's only sister, and her husband, Benjamin, had shown her any kindness. After her father's harsh disownment, the estrangement left scars too deep to ignore. Aunt Sheila would still try to meet Nia for coffee, trying to maintain some semblance of a relationship. But every meeting felt like a bittersweet reminder of the family Nia had lost.
Though Aunt Sheila's presence was comforting, it was impossible to ignore the strain it put on the relationship between her father and his sister.
Nia felt like a burden, a source of conflict and unease. And despite the warmth Aunt Sheila always show, Nia couldn't shake the feeling that she didn't belong, that her presence would always be an unwelcome reminder of the family's shame. She hated that her very existence caused a rift, that she was the reason for any tension or discomfort. It made her feel small and insignificant, as if she were a problem no one wanted to deal with.
"I know, Franc," Nia said quietly, her voice tinged with the sadness she tried so hard to hide. "It's just… complicated."
She felt the words catch in her throat, the emotions too raw, too tangled, to fully articulate.
How could she put into words the agony of being cast aside by those who were meant to love her without conditions?
How could she make anyone understand the profound loneliness of knowing that the very people who should have stood by her had chosen to turn their backs instead?
The hurt of it all gnawed at her—her father's indifference, her mother's cold disapproval, and Rihanna's betrayal. Not one of them had bothered to check on her in all these years. Not one message, not one call. How could she describe the pain of constantly looking for a sign, any sign, that they still cared? The way her traitorous heart would still, even now, compel her to check her emails, to scroll through her messages, to scan her call history, hoping against hope that there might be a missed call or a text from them. Each time, the silence was like a slap, a harsh reminder that she no longer mattered to them. It was as though she had never been part of their family, as if she had been erased from their lives entirely. They had gone on, still the whole, happy family they had always been, while she was left on the outside, looking in. The years hadn't dulled the pain; they had only taught her how to conceal it better.
She had learned to mask her wounds, to present a brave face to the world, even as the scars throbbed beneath the surface, a constant reminder of the love she had lost.
Nia's heart swelled at her cousin's words, a sense of belonging washing over her. She blinked back tears, her emotions teetering on the edge, but one lone tear managed to escape, rolling down her cheek. It was moments like these, where unconditional love and acceptance wrapped around her like a warm blanket, that made her feel whole again.
"Thanks brother! I love you all," Nia said softly, her voice tinged with emotion.
"Alright, enough of the heavy stuff," Francesco said, his tone lightening. "We'll see you tonight.
Arlette's making her famous lasagna, and Ryker can't wait to show you the new toy that Zack gave him. Oh, and Theo? He's just learned to walk, so get ready to chase him around. You know how fast those little feet can move!"
Nia chuckled softly, the heaviness in her chest easing just a bit. "Sounds like I'm in for a fun evening. I can't wait to see all of you."
"Same here, Nia. It's been too long," Francesco replied warmly. "See you soon."
As Nia hung up the phone, she felt a flicker of excitement.
Nia's heart fluttered at the casual mention of Zack.
The tall, suave, handsome tech genius she had met while working as a Network Engineer at Bennetti Groups had always been the perfect mix of geek and sexy with those black-framed glasses of his.
Their encounters had been infrequent but enough to send butterflies racing through her stomach whenever he was near.
Despite the magnetic pull between them, neither had ever made a move—until that night.
It was at the pre-wedding celebration of Zain Bennetti, Francesco's best friend, and the CEO of Bennetti Groups. Zain was marrying Rizelle, a formidable woman in her own right, and their love story was finally getting its happily ever after.
Nia had been invited to the celebration because of her close ties with Francesco and young Leonard, Zain's son who was 6 years old genius at that time in his own way, with whom she often partnered in gaming competitions.
She and Leo had won numerous tournaments together, bonding over their shared passion for games.
That night!
Nia could never forget that night. It was the night she experienced her firsts. Her first real kiss, one that had left her breathless and dreaming. Her first intimacy. Her first love!
Zachary Alexander Morris had kissed the life out of her like she was the only woman in the world, and for a moment, everything had felt perfect. They had an amazing night together. It was magical!
But that magic quickly turned to disaster as soon as she received a text. After she hurriedly left, a storm had erupted—a scandal that shook her world to its core.
Zack was deployed overseas on a mission soon after, and they never had the chance to reconnect. She felt surge of anger and disappointment towards him on how easily he left without looking behind.
In the whirlwind that followed, Nia's embarrassment, pain, anger and disappointment had kept her from reaching out.
She knew if Zack wanted he would have reached out to her after what happened between them. But that sting of disappointment when he went awol from her life added to the list of betrayals she had received back to back.
She had assumed Zack was wrapped up in serving the country as he was on a very long mission, just as she was grappling to piece hers back together. As time passed, Neither of them made an effort to break the silence that stretched between them, and as time passed, the chasm only widened.
Yet, even now, the mere mention of silver eyes smouldering man- Zachary Alexander Morris could still summon those butterflies, a reminder that he had been, without a doubt, an extraordinary lover. But everything turned sour when she recalled how easily he had left her without even bothering to check on her. She knew he must be aware of what happened to her, but even after knowing there wasn't any effort from his end. That hurts the most!
She quickly pushed the thought aside, focusing on the excitement of seeing her nephews. "Can't wait. Give everyone my love."
"Love you too, sis! I'll see you this evening. Could you please whip up your signature cheesecake for me? I'm craving something delicious after the cleansing routine Arlette has me on. And don't let her in on this, okay? See you soon!" Francesco ended the call with a chuckle, and Nia couldn't help but laugh at his sneaky request.
Nia smiled as she tossed her phone onto the sofa and stretched out. The idea of spending time with Francesco and his family filled her with a comforting warmth, though the mention of Zack brought up emotions she wasn't quite ready to confront.
Those piercing grey eyes had been a constant presence in her mind. Shaking off her thoughts, she resolved to focus on the tasks ahead.
"Alright, Pixel, let's get to work on that cheesecake for my brother!"