Chapter 23: Confessions and Consequences

Elliott

Luca opens the door before I even knock. His apartment smells like coffee and cedarwood, warm and familiar.

He’s wearing a loose hoodie, his dark curls slightly tousled, like he just woke up from a nap. Normally, I’d take a second to admire him, but tonight, my mind is a mess.

He takes one look at me and frowns. “Elliot?”

I don’t answer right away. I step inside, running a hand through my hair as I pace the length of his living room. My heart is hammering, and I can’t tell if it’s from frustration or fear. Probably both.

Luca watches me with quiet concern before shutting the door. “Okay. What happened?”

I let out a sharp breath, finally turning to him. “They’re forcing me into an engagement.”

He went numb for a second.

Then he blinked, he blinked again and again, then raised his eyebrows as if waiting for me to say it’s a joke. When I don’t, his expression hardens.

“What?” His voice is dangerously low.

I swallow. “My parents. They’re making me marry some girl… Cecilia Laurent. She’s from one of the old families. They already signed the contract.”

Luca exhales slowly, stepping back like he needs space. His jaw clenches, and I can see the moment the hurt sets in. “So, that’s it?” he says, crossing his arms. “They made a deal, and you just what? Go along with it?”

Anger bubbles under my skin. “Of course not! You think I want this?”

“I don’t know, Elliot!” Luca’s voice rises, something raw slipping through his normally controlled tone. “I don’t know what you want! Because every time we get closer, this happens.” He gestures vaguely. “Your father, your family, your company, there’s always something pulling you back.”

I close my eyes for a second, steadying myself. “I came here to tell you. Because I need you to know, I’m not going through with it.”

Luca scoffs. “You say that, but do you even have a choice?”

My stomach tightens. Do I?

I want to tell him yes. That I’ll fight this, that I won’t let them control my life.

But the truth is, I don’t think I have an answer.

Luca sees it. He sighs, rubbing a hand over his face. “Jesus, Elliot…”

I step closer, voice quieter now. “I don’t care about Cecilia. She doesn’t want this either. She’s pissed about it, we’re already trying to figure out how to sabotage the whole thing.”

That catches his attention. He looks at me, skeptical. “Sabotage?”

I nod. “She had a boyfriend, they made her break up with him. She’s just as stuck as I am, we both want out.”

Luca studies me for a long moment. His eyes are searching, like he’s trying to find the truth beneath everything.

I take a breath, my hands clenching at my sides. “I don’t want to lose you over this.” My voice is barely above a whisper.

His expression softens, just a little. “Then what do you want?”

I exhale, forcing myself to be honest. “I want to be with you.”

Luca shakes his head, looking away. “Then fight for it, Elliot. Because I can’t be the only one doing that.”

His words hit harder than I expect, because he’s right.

Luca has always been the one willing to take the risk. The one who doesn’t care about rules or expectations, he’s been patient, waiting for me to stop hesitating.

And here I am, still trapped between two worlds.

“I am fighting,” I say, my voice uneven. “But it’s not that simple, if I walk away from my family, from the company, I lose everything.”

Luca turns back to me, his gaze sharp. “And what if you lose me?”

The question knocks the air out of my lungs. Because that’s the real fear, isn’t it?

Not just disappointing my family. Not just losing my future at the company.

But losing Luca.

I feel his fingers brushed against mine, hesitant, like he’s giving me one last chance to choose him.

And I do. Without thinking, I grab his hand, holding on like it’s the only thing keeping me steady. “I don’t want to lose you,” I whisper.

His thumb brushes over my knuckles, but his voice is quieter now. “Then don’t.”

We sit in silence for a long moment, just breathing.

Then Luca sighs. “What’s the plan?”

I blink. “What?”

“You said you and Cecilia are going to sabotage this,” he says, tilting his head. “How?”

I let out a weak laugh. “We haven’t figured that part out yet.”

Luca hums. “Well, if you need ideas, I can think of a few ways to make your parents regret this arrangement.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Should I be worried?”

He smirks. “Probably.”

Despite everything, a small smile tugs at my lips.

Luca’s hand tightens around mine. “Just promise me something, Elliot.”

I nod. “Anything.”

His voice is quiet but firm. “Promise me you won’t disappear into their world. That you won’t let them win.”

I meet his gaze and see everything I stand to lose if I don’t fight.

So I squeeze his hand, grounding myself in the only thing that’s ever felt real.

“I promise.”

We went quiet again, just staring at the ceiling but I noticed the way he shifts slightly, his free hand tapping against the floor. It’s subtle, but I know him well enough to recognize when something’s on his mind.

“What is it?” I ask. I thought we were clear on this, come on Luca let this night just be for us…

He hesitates for just a second, then sighs. “I know. It's not about that.

huh? Then it's about what.

Hmmm I… applied for a job.”

That catches me off guard. “A job?”

Luca nods, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah. A filmmaking production company in L.A. They’re small, but they do some indie films that actually get festival recognition. It’s the kind of place where I could actually do something real, you know? Get my foot in the door.”

I stare at him, my heart doing something weird in my chest. “You never mentioned this before.”

He shrugs, avoiding my eyes. “Didn’t think I needed to unless it actually went somewhere. And honestly, I wasn’t sure how you’d take it.”

Something tightens in my stomach. “Because it’s in L.A.?”

He nods. I stood up, and here I was blaming myself for everything going on, I told you everything.

Is not like that Elliott, Luca said standing up.

Then please tell me, how is it like. I was more than pissed.