In the evening, Sara and Luca returned home. She reached for the bags he was carrying, but he wouldn’t let her, holding them firmly instead. With a resigned sigh, she simply followed him, her gaze sweeping across the familiar interior until it landed on his parents, seated on the couch with an expectant look.
"Who let you two inside?" Luca asked, tilting his head toward the house butler. The man lowered his eyes immediately, clearly anxious under Luca’s scrutiny.
"We are your parents. And is this really the first thing you have to say to us after coming home?" Michael De Augustino, Luca’s father, asked with his stern tone.
"When you knew I was going to treat you like this, you shouldn’t have come," Luca retorted. He ignored the butler entirely and added, "Jonathan, show them to the car outside."
Sara’s eyes widened in disbelief. The way Luca spoke to his father was astonishing as if Michael’s authority meant nothing to him.
Finally, Vinni, Luca’s mother, broke the silence. "Why did you marry my son, Sara? Was it just to save your father’s company or did you have some hidden motives? I’ve heard your father has thrown you out of his house!"
"Mom, please don’t start," Luca said with annoyance.
However, Vinni didn’t stop.
"I met Asher this morning, the one you were arguing with after the wedding. I know my son has a habit of defying his parents. And your reason to marry him was supposedly to save a company that isn’t even yours anymore."
She reached for an official envelope resting beside her and placed it deliberately on the table. "I’ve prepared the divorce papers. Sign them. Of course, I’ll provide you with enough money to buy Falcone Industries, but you must leave Luca’s life. He is supposed to marry the woman we have chosen for him."
Sara’s eyes flicked toward Luca, and a small chuckle escaped her lips.
"So, this was why you entered a contract marriage with me. You’re engaged to someone else," Sara murmured, glaring at Luca.
Luca didn’t answer her and went straight to the couch. Putting the bags down, he grabbed the envelope and tore it off into pieces. "There, Mom. I don’t know which woman you’re talking about. I’ve married Sara lawfully. I don’t care what you two think about this. Now, please leave when I’m too kind to both of you."
Michael stood up in anger and walked out first. Vinni grabbed her handbag and walked past her son. Stopping in front of Sara, she said, "Leave my son’s life. If you don’t, I’ll have to use my own methods to kick you out of his life. Also, Asher is bailed out."
Vinni tilted her head briefly toward her son before turning and walking out.
"Jonathan, why did you let them in? Are you wishing for your own death?" Luca growled at the butler.
"Forgive me, Master. I couldn’t refuse the order from your father," Jonathan replied, bowing slightly.
Sara silently made her way toward the stairs, and Luca hurried after her, carrying all the bags. As he stepped into the room, he noticed her removing her earrings.
"I don’t have any fiancée. My parents chose a girl for me a few years ago, but I wasn’t interested in her," Luca began, carefully placing the bags on the table.
"And that’s why you offered me a contract marriage," Sara said, turning to face him. "I don’t mind. You promised to help me, and you did. I stopped expecting the truth from you long ago."
"You’re upset," Luca observed.
"Why do you want to keep me by your side? I’m involved in scandals, and you know that it will affect you as well. Yet, you still want to hold onto me. That’s truly strange. If there’s something more you’re hiding, please say it. I don’t want to hear it from anyone else," Sara said. She knew he didn’t marry her just because Luca’s parents wanted him to marry the woman of their choice.
"I felt the company you held once can bring profit to me," Luca stated.
Before Sara could speak further, there was a knock at the door. She hurried over and opened it.
"Madam, your grandmother has arrived," Jonathan informed her.
"What? Grandma is here!" Sara’s eyes lit up at the news. Without another word, she ran downstairs.
As soon as she reached the couch, she cried out in joy, "Grandma!"
"Sara!" Katherine rose from the sofa and opened her arms wide to embrace her granddaughter. She held her tightly, gently caressing her back. "I’m sorry I couldn’t attend your wedding."
Katherine cupped Sara’s cheeks and noticed the tears already streaming down her face.
"I missed you so much... I’m sorry. I’ve brought... shame to the family. But honestly, I—I didn’t have any way out, Grandma. I tried so hard. For a whole month, I’ve been trying," Sara said, her voice breaking as she sniffled.
"I know you’ve been trying, my dear. But why did you marry so suddenly? Don’t tell me Luca only offered to help you if you became his wife," Katherine said with worry.
"That’s not true, Grandma," Luca said as he stopped a few meters away from them. "Good evening, grandma. It’s been long since I last saw you. You look the same as you used to be years ago."
Sara stepped away from her grandmother’s side.
"Don’t lie to me. Sara was seeing Asher for a year. Why would she marry you suddenly? I might have been old, but I can separate truth from lies," Katherine pronounced. "And don’t even think of troubling my granddaughter. You are supposed to take care of her till your last breath. If you ever hurt her, or make her cry, you’ll have to face my wrath."
Sara smiled seeing how protective her grandmother was toward him.
Luca smiled a little as he couldn’t fool the old lady.
"Grandma, you have to tell your daughter then to stop looking at me with suspicion all the time," Luca remarked, glancing at Sara. "Tell her to love me and I will bring the world to her feet."