"What on earth are you doing, Luca? And what did your father mean by saying you’re involved with the mafias?" Sara’s voice trembled with fury. "Seriously, Luca? Who gave you the right to take the law into your own hands?"
She raised a hand, cutting him off before he could speak. "No. Don’t you dare give me an explanation. You’ve lied to me this entire time! Was this your plan all along? To build our relationship on lies?"
Her voice broke at the end, her eyes glistening with hurt. Before Luca could utter a word, she turned away sharply and ran upstairs.
Luca stood frozen for a moment, then slowly set the coffee mug on the table. "He called me a madman," he murmured, a bitter laugh escaping his lips. "Maybe he’s right... but I need to fix this before Sara walks away for good."
He climbed the stairs and pushed open the bedroom door. Sara was standing by the window, phone in hand. She wasn’t speaking, just listening to the silence on the other end before hanging up.
"Sara, please," Luca began. "Just hear me out once."
She ignored him, redialing Asher’s number again. When the call went straight to voicemail, she exhaled sharply in frustration, lowering the phone. Without looking at Luca, she walked to the closet and pulled out a formal dress.
"I have to meet Asher," she muttered under her breath.
Luca followed her, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Asher deserved what he got," he said quietly. "Have you already forgotten what he did to you?"
Sara didn’t respond. She moved toward the door, but Luca stepped in front of her, blocking her path.
"Can’t you just listen to me once?" His voice was rough now, but almost pleading.
She met his gaze. "So you can lie to me again? No, thank you." She paused, taking a breath before continuing, "You helped me when I needed it. I’ll give you that. But from now on, let’s keep this relationship strictly business, Mr. De Augustino."
Then she pushed him aside and walked past him.
Returning to the bedroom, Luca sank into the recliner, eyes fixed on the washroom’s door, waiting for Sara to return. Half an hour passed before she finally emerged, clad in formal attire that accentuated her elegance and poise.
She checked her phone, silently hoping for a call back from Asher, but there was nothing. Setting the device aside, she moved to the dressing table, ran a brush through her hair, and tied it into a high bun. Slipping into her pencil heels, she was ready to leave when Luca stepped in front of her, blocking the doorway.
"I have work," Sara said curtly, attempting to sidestep him.
Luca stepped forward, forcing her to take a small retreat. Calmly, he closed the door behind him, cutting off her escape.
"Luca!" she exclaimed, panic rising as she saw him lock the door from the inside. She lunged for the key, but before she could reach it, he dashed to the window and flung it out.
Sara’s eyes widened in disbelief as she peered over the ledge, realizing just how high up they were. "Are you insane? Why did you throw the key out?"
Luca turned to her. "So that... you’ll listen to me," he said. "You won’t leave me. My dad can’t return the company to you. That’s the truth. Keep this in mind."
"I don’t believe you," Sara said, crossing her arms tightly over her chest.
"Why not?" Luca asked, stepping closer. "Everything I’ve done so far has been for you. Don’t let the words of others blind you."
"Did I ask you or not whether you hurt Asher?" Sara shot back, demanding the truth.
"No, you didn’t," Luca admitted. "And I lied."
"Exactly," Sara said, her voice trembling slightly. "That’s my point. You’ve lied to me twice. You acted like you knew nothing about what happened. I asked you about the gun in the morning, yet you didn’t give me a straight answer. And now... your father’s words, they weren’t lies. You are involved with mafias. I can endure a lot, Luca, but I can’t bear this. You didn’t have to take the law into your own hands for me. You can’t go around beating anyone you want. Suddenly... the boy, the man I once knew, it’s like he doesn’t exist anymore."
Her voice softened at the end as disappointment filled her eyes.
"Sara, I’m sorry," Luca said, his voice laced with guilt.
"No, you’re not," she countered. "If you were, you’d come with me and apologize to Asher yourself. His phone’s been off all morning. I can’t go around doing what you did, hurting people just because they once hurt me. How is that even justifiable?" She frowned, frustration flickering in her eyes. "I don’t understand your ways, Luca."
He studied her for a long moment before asking, "Do you think I’m a madman?"
Sara let out a bitter laugh. "Of course you are. Who sends men to beat up someone’s ex? Only an insane man would do something like that."
She brought a hand to her forehead, exhaling slowly to steady herself. When she finally spoke again, her voice was calmer, but colder.
"Your father doesn’t know about the contract we signed," she said. "So, I can’t divorce you until the one-year period is over. But after that year..." Her eyes lifted to meet his, "you’ll make sure to free me, and return Falcone Industries to me."
She gave a faint, humorless smile. "What do you say to that, Luca? You’re not the only one who knows how to strike a deal. I do too."
"If we are able to find the real culprit who tried destroying your image and the company only then I’ll return it to you. People don’t trust you anymore and I can’t return it to you," Luca pronounced, giving her a reality check.
"We will find the real culprit soon," Sara said with a determinated gaze. "Now, give the spare key of this room. I’ve to go and see Asher."
"Leave that jerk in his state. I threatened him not to come near you. Got it?" Luca said, suppressing his irritation.