CHAPTER. 2

Sophie.

My eyelids fluttered open, meeting the harsh glow of the fluorescent light overhead.

I attempted to shift my body, only to feel a tug on my arm. Looking down, I saw the clear tubing of an IV leading to a bag suspended beside the bed, the slow drip of the liquid inside echoing the rhythm of my own breathing.

I jerked up. “I’m in the hospital,” I stated, my voice barely above a whisper.

My mind raced, struggling to recall how I ended up here. Flashes of memory—a screech of tires, the flash of white light, and then darkness—as I remembered, my body shuddered. All the pain I had tried to run from came swimming back. Cupping my face, I burst into tears. When I raised my head, my eyes stretched wide as they fell upon a man in a black suit sitting across from me in a vinyl chair. I was so occupied by thoughts that I didn’t notice his presence.

His dark brown hair, his closed eyes framed by long lashes, and a sharp jawline seemed capable of cutting through anything. I stared hard, trying to recall where I had seen him before.

“Luca,” I blurted out before stifling my mouth. I shook my head. How could the son of hotel tycoon Daniel Brown and a well-known hotel designer be here?

His eyelids opened, revealing his honey-colored pupils, just a few shades lighter than his hair. “You woke up, Sophie Brooke.” Luca called out.

“You know me?” I questioned, my hand flying to my chest.

Luca chuckled, his rich, deep laugh warming the room. “Actually, I have known you for quite a while. I have your business card. And we have met.”

“We have?” I suddenly became still.

A smile formed across his face. “I had been to a remote town for vacation, in search for inspiration and I came across a very interesting interior design. The owner of the hotel had introduced you to me.”

My mind drifted to Pa John, a friend of my father’s. He had been a constant presence in my life ever since I lost my dad at a young age, the first and most loyal fan of my design.

I couldn’t believe I had actually met Luca in person. I had only seen him in pictures or at events where he was miles away from me.

“Your work truly inspired me,” he said.

My eyes widened, and a fluttering sensation filled my stomach. My work had inspired the great Luca.

“You are a very talented woman. I must say, your works are as beautiful as you are.” He added, his gaze fixed on me, filled with admiration.

“Thank you,” I replied, feeling a blush spread across my cheeks. “You are much more talented,” I added, my voice softening. “I’ve been a huge fan of your work.” I looked down, fidgeting with my hands.

Luca drew his chair closer, his striking facial features illuminated by the light. He was even more handsome up close.

His eyes scanned my figure, sizing me. “You shouldn’t be running around on such a busy road. Fortunately, I was able to stop the car in time. Otherwise, I would have killed two people.”

“Two?” I asked, and my curiosity piqued.

Luca narrowed his eyes. “The doctor said you’re three weeks pregnant, but luckily, the baby is fine.”

“Pregnant? Three weeks?” I echoed, my body shuddering at the news.

My face turned pale as if life had drained from me. How could I be pregnant and not know? A sharp ache spread through my chest and radiated through my body, making me feel as if fate had just played a big joke on me. Why now? Why now, when I was about to get a divorce? My prayers had been answered, but in the worst possible way.

Noticing my distress, he asked, “Do you need to contact your husband or boyfriend?”

As Alex’s betrayal flooded my mind, I burst into tears. Could I even call him a husband? No one knew I was married except Romi, my best friend. To everyone else, I was a single woman. Cathy had insisted on keeping it quiet, saying she didn’t want Alex’s reputation to be damaged, given my ordinary background. Although Alex didn’t seem to care, I didn’t want to anger Cathy. We had planned to announce our marriage after I advanced my career, but I had focused so much on pleasing Cathy and maintaining our family that my career never took off.

Seeing me cry and shaking my head, Luca didn’t ask any more questions. He hesitated before gently stroking my back. He lifted my face to meet his. “This place is too noisy. You need a quiet place to rest and recuperate.” A soft smile played on his lips. “It’s best if you go home.”

The thought of returning to the house and facing Cathy and Alex filled me with all the negative feelings known to man. The thought of Mia being pregnant made my skin crawl. Now, I was pregnant with Alex’s child, a reality I hadn’t even begun to process. A part of me refused to accept it. My throat tightened. I needed time to sort out my feelings, but I didn’t know where to go. I couldn’t return to that house—a house that had made a fool out of me.

“Or, you can stay at my villa for a while,” Luca suggested, drawing my attention back to him. “It’s more secluded, and you won’t be disturbed.”

Before I could reply, the doctor came in to check on me, confirming the news I had heard from Luca. He advised that I should come back for regular check-ups and avoid stress, as my blood pressure was high, which posed a risk to my baby. I listened to his advice, still in shock. Luca left with the doctor.

A few minutes later, Luca returned. “Let’s get you out of here,” he said, extending his hand to help me up. He took off his suit jacket and draped it around my shoulders, his masculine scent filling the air around me. We walked out of the hospital, and I couldn’t help but wonder what would happen next.

As weakness traversed my body, I nearly collapsed on the road, but Luca caught me, scooping me into his arms. His body’s warmth provided a moment of solace to my miserable heart as he carried me to his car, gently slipping me inside.