Special mass release for the novel's launch, 18/20.
※※※※※※
MIA
※※※
By 9 pm I walked into the dining room as I agreed with nonna. In a Versace off the shoulders black corset top with red details and a square cut on the cleavage that marks my wide breast in a elegant way, a Ralph Lauren high-waist black leather shorts that hugged my waist, hips, and the curve of the top of my legs perfectly well, together with a Jimmy Choo pair of black heeled slippers with a fluffy point. My hair fully loose to cover the tattoo on my back, but with a Bottega Veneta snakish gold tiara on, together with a matching necklace that serpentines around my neck, the rings that serpentines around my ears, the bracelet on my left wrist, and ring on my right hand, and my Bvlgari gold wrist watch on my right wrist.
Lastly, I had made a fox red eyeliner that highlights my siren shaped eyes, some mascara on my already long lashes, a bit of gold highlighter on the right places and in my collarbones, and my favorite carmine red lipstick.
"Are you going to a party or something?" Maria choked when she saw me and I stared her a look. "You look amazing."
"I always look amazing," I said with a condescending smug on. "Nonna told me not to come in pajamas and to dress up well, when she forced me to come down here, so, don't complain. This is me not using pajamas."
"I didn't force you," nonna Giulia pouted.
"Emotional manipulation is the same as forcing, nonna," I chuckled. Mama got up in her pretty pink long dress, came to me and gave me a very tight hug that kind of made me feel pretty fucking awkward, but I hugged her back. "Hm, are you… alright, mama?" I blinked when she stepped away.
She held my face in her hands, then kissed my cheeks, "Have you been crying, Mia?" She asked worried and I stilled up. "Your eyes look a bit puffy. Are you okay?" Of course they do.
"I'm always okay," I scoffed, trying not to come out so bitter. "I'm the focused here, mama, it's you. It's your marriage season, after all. Don't worry about me, you are already anxious for yourself, you will have a breakdown if you try to worry about me too. I can do that on my own, I'm an adult. For your initial question, no, I have not been crying."
Mama narrowed her eyes, "Have you been sleeping well?"
I licked my lips, "Sleeping well? I don't even know what that means." "Mia!" She frowned and I pressed my lips together.
"I'm joking," I lied. "I'm sleeping just fine, mama. Stop worrying."
"Last time you said you were having nightmares."
It was a struggle not to stilled up, clench my fists and jaw to that, but I had to hold my shit together, as I promised nonna I would. "Everyone has nightmares when they go through some traumatizing shit, mama. It's the way life is. It doesn't happen every night, just once in a while. It's alright," it does happens every night, but it's not like I'll tell her. "It's been 5 years, I'm used to it. It was worse before. Now, stop interrogating me, yeah?" Turning her around, I pushed her to seat. "All of your children are adults, take care of your life and of your soon to be husband."
"Are you sure you're okay, Mia?" Zio Ricco asked me, worried.
Sighing, I sat on the only free seat, in front of Rosalia, who was sitting on fucking Misha's side, with Emma on my side and in front of him. A nightmare to say the fucking least. "I've never been better," I exclaimed and the sarcasm on my voice didn't go unnoticed. "How are you, zio?" I countered instead.
"I'm amazing, Mia," he said and gave a cute look to my mama who melted in a disgustingly adorable way. "Thanks to your mama."
Ew. Ew-ew-ew.
"As you should so close to your marriage," I rolled my shoulders. "Why am I even sitting down in here?" I glared at nonna Giulia, knowing that it's her who chose everyone's places.
She gave me a mischievous smile, "Everyone else is dating, mia belle, but you and Rosa aren't, so, it's the only place for you, since we seat in couples."
"Is that so?" I scoffed and got up, then I walked to the couch at the side. "I'm not sitting there. I'll eat here, thank you very much." Then I put the book I bought with me at my side, Haunting Adeline by H. D. Carlton. "You can enjoy your little disgusting couples setting all you want. Since you are all so made for each other, so lovely, so blinded with how pure hearted your partners are."
Yes, I am shading Misha. So what? I don't care. Stare at me all they want.
Nonna frowned, "What are you talking about, mia belle?"
"I don't know, I'm just saying random things that come into my mind," I mocked, taking off my shoes and laying on the couch. "You can all pretend I'm a crazy bitch with schizophrenia if you want, I don't really care. Enjoy your lovely group date, since you insist in siting like that. I'll just stay here and exist, since you said I could just be here without participating on anything, nonna."
"Just like I said that if you only focus on your book, I'll burn it."
I arched my eyebrows, laying on my side and turned to them. "I'm just going to stay and watch you. It's like experiencing in a different species, we first watch their behavior and then study their patterns to understand what makes them do such stupid things. It's pretty cool, like going on a zoo. You will give me a full experience for sure."
Mama, to my dismay, burst out laughing, "Did you just call us animals?" "You are animals. Humans are all animals," I brushed it aside.
"Rational animals," he corrected and I fully on glared daggers at him.
"That is very dubious, specially coming from you, Grigori Mikhail!"