Page 131 of His Cursed Heart

"What's missing?"

"I promised you I'll take care of it,"

"Venus please calm down and tell me what's missing." I don't recognize my voice.

There's only one thing that I gave her to keep safe, and if that thing is missing...

Fuck, I can't even think about it.

Venus takes a few breathes in and out, and with a small voice, she crashes my world. "I came back home from hunting Ivan because I had a bad feeling, and I searched the whole house, Althea. It doesn't show that someone broke into it, but it's gone. I kept it there since you first gave it to me."

I feel my body light and with one hand on the wall to keep my balance, I ask. "What's missing, Venus?"

A second goes by.

Then five.

Then ten.

"The painting."

I suck in a big mouth of air and I feel my body giving out. My chest hurts and I think my heart is breaking in two broken pieces.

"What painting?" My throat hurts, feeling like its closing until no words can come out.

"Althea,"

"What painting, Venus?" I demand broken.

I gave her only one painting.

"Everest." And the tears fall, leaving hot traces on my face.

No.

No Dio, ti prego no.

It's a dream.

A nightmare.

No, no, no.

A sob takes ahold of my body and it almost brings me to my knees.

What if he sees the painting before I can explain to him?

What if he doesn't let me explain?

Will he hate that much?

Will he forgive my broken heart that beats only for him since I was twenty?

"Althea, I'm so sorry. Dio, what have I done?" I hear Venus punching the wall hard, and more tears are escaping my eyes.

"It's not your fault," I whisper.

"How can you say that?" Venus snaps at me and I close my eyes when I feel my heart numb.

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