to look my best, I even took the time to straighten my hair and pull it into an elegant bun. I had no interest in Alessandro's things or money. If that car appeared, I would leave everything behind—including bad memories. The only thing I had decided to take was Alessandro's recent gift. Pride demanded me to leave it together with the rest of the thighs, but I knew a fresh start wouldn't be easy. And I couldn't get May without money.
Minutes before the agreed time, the driveway was still empty and it became hard to breathe. I had already convinced myself Lorenzo wasn't serious, and that perhaps it was for the best. Then, at eight o'clock sharp, a black SUV pulled into the driveway. Instead of leaving the room, I just stood there—frozen and wondering if I had gone mad to even consider doing this. There might not be another chance, and the notion snapped me out of my trance. I dashed into the hallway, descending the stairs and raced straight to the front door. All of my instincts were alerted and I expected to see Henry lunging at me from some hidden corner, but no one was there to stop me. I snuck out the door without being disturbed.
For a moment, I stood still, collecting the courage to approach that car. The knowledge that everything Lorenzo had told me turned out to be true, encouraged me to take the few steps to the black tinted vehicle. Ignoring the instincts that screamed this was my last chance to turn around and return inside the house, I continued moving ahead.
The moment I opened the rear door, a nervous shiver passed through my body as I imagined someone in there might be waiting to shoot me or hurt me in some other way. But there was nothing. The back seat was empty. The only person in the car was the chauffeur who glanced at me shortly, and waited for me to enter.
Taking one last look at Alessandro's imposing mansion, I said goodbye to the miserable existence I was leaving behind and eased into the back seat of that car. I closed the door and we were moving. The gate opened in front of us, and the car sped off onto the road, disappearing into the night. During the entire ride, I mentally prepared myself for the one last thing I would have to do to regain my freedom. The more I thought about it, the more apprehensive I became. But I was determined to see it through, and then try to forget it had ever happened. I didn't know how long we drove, but at some point the car stopped in front of a luxurious five-star hotel. The chauffeur extended a piece of paper to me. I accepted it and offered a silent 'thank you'. He didn't say anything in return. Instead, he cleared his throat, and I knew it was a sign for me to leave, so I did.
I closed the door behind me and listened as the car sped back onto the road, leaving me alone in front of the hotel. I glanced at the paper and read the note. 'Request the key to room 47B at the reception.' There was no point in delaying this any further. I proceeded straight over to the reception and asked for the key to that room. To my surprise, the hotel receptionist simply handed it to me and wished me a nice stay without asking any questions. I thought it was very strange she didn't even ask for my name, but I didn't ponder on it any further.
Following the signs that explained which part of the hotel the room 47B was located, I entered the elevator and traveled to the fifth floor. The room where Lorenzo waited for me was a mere few feet away. As I approached the door, my forehead broke into a cold sweat, my heart thumped against my ribcage and it was hard to breathe. Calm down, Olivia. You have to do this. Stay strong.
Sucking in a deep breath, I unlocked the door and entered a vast space bathed in darkness. The only source of light was the moonlight penetrating the room through a line of wide windows covering the entire front wall. I wrapped my arms around my middle and took a few hesitant steps forward. I gazed around, wondering if I was alone. Perhaps Lorenzo hadn't arrived yet. Comforted by that thought, I searched for the light