CHAPTER 66.Her heels clicked against the floors, her heart pounding with every determined step she took inside the office. The rage bubbling inside her threatened to consume her, but she held it in—barely.She knew where to find him.And just as she expected, Alessandro was seated in his office, relaxing in his chair with a file in his hand. The moment she entered, his eyes shifted toward her, calm and unreadable.But she wasn’t calm. "What did you do, Alessandro? You had Luca locked up?"Her voice came out sharp, accusing.Alessandro took a slow sip of his drink before setting it down on the table beside him. Then, as if her words carried no weight at all, he leaned back in his chair, watching her. "Hmm." He answered. Something about his tone—casual, unapologetic—made her blood boil. "You—" She clenched her fists, stepping closer. "You had him arrested. You kept him locked away for weeks, and you didn’t think to tell me?"Alessandro exhaled, standing up. He was tall, b
CHAPTER 67 The moment they stepped into the house, Amelia could no longer hold back. The question burned inside her, clawing its way to the surface, and she didn't want to waste any more time as she feared that Alessandro might change his mind. "Now that we are at home. Can you please go ahead and tell me why you have Luca locked up?" she demanded, her voice firm but controlled.Alessandro didn't look surprised. If anything, he seemed to have been expecting the question. He pulled off his blazer, tossing it onto the couch, before walking toward the bar and pouring himself a drink. "Didn't Luca tell you why?" he asked casually, lifting the glass to his lips as he watched her carefully. Amelia crossed her arms. "Not really. He only said you were the one who had him locked up and that he was sure of that. So tell me, is it true?"Alessandro took a slow sip before placing the glass down. He exhaled, then turned to look at her, his expression unreadable. "You must trust him so mu
CHAPTER 68AMELIA'S POV The call came early in the morning.I was still in bed, barely awake, when my phone buzzed. Fumbling for it, I answered groggily. "Am I onto Miss Amelia?" The deep voice on the other end was unfamiliar. "Uhm, yes. Who is this please?" I asked him. "I am calling from the station and I will like to inform you based on the request of Mr. Luca that he had been released." The words jolted me fully awake. Throwing the covers off, I sat up straight. "He has?" "Yes, ma'am. He’s at the station now. So you might want to come before he leaves."I didn't hesitate. After getting dressed quickly, I grabbed my purse and rushed out. Alessandro was nowhere to be seen, which was a relief. I wasn't ready to deal with him yet.The drive to the police station felt like it took forever. My heart pounded the whole way, my mind racing with thoughts of what Luca had endured over the past few weeks. More so, I was still yet to believe what Alessandro had told me about
CHAPTER 69AMELIA'S POVDays had passed since Luca got released. I was avoiding him because I thought Alessandro might be right. Luca was texting me almost every day, and he was seeking an opportunity for us to meet. I wasn't ready to change the nature of our friendship. The house was quiet when we returned from the company. It was a bit hectic but I managed to pull through. I tried to push the thoughts away as I changed into something more comfortable—an oversized T-shirt and a pair of soft shorts. Sleep seemed impossible, so I stepped out onto the balcony for some fresh air.The night breeze brushed against my skin, cooling my heated thoughts. Below, the city lights stretched endlessly, glowing softly in the darkness.I hugged myself and sighed. "You’re still awake," Alessandro’s deep voice rumbled behind me.I turned to find him standing in the doorway. He had removed his jacket, leaving him in a fitted black dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up. The top buttons were undon
CHAPTER 70AMELIA'S POVI pushed my coffee cup back and forth between my hands, my mind swirling with thoughts as I sat across from Mia in our usual café. The atmosphere was warm and comforting but despite the cozy environment, my heart was uneasy.Mia's sigh broke the silence between us, "You’re really going to avoid him?" Mia asked, her brows raised in surprise.I sighed, stirring my drink absentmindedly. "I don’t know what else to do, Mia. Alessandro told me that Luca… might have feelings for me. I think that might be right. When he said that, I had to think more deeply and realized that my ignorance must have made his actions more of a friendly one even though it seems like it isn't. And if that’s true, I don’t want to lead him on or make things awkward."Mia tapped her nails against the table, clearly deep in thought. "Has Luca actually told you he likes you that way?" "No, but… what if Alessandro is right?"She leaned forward, her expression serious. "Then let him be th
CHAPTER 71 ALESSANDRO'S POV The call had come unexpectedly that morning, and to be honest, I had not been prepared for it. My mind was still foggy from sleep when the phone rang. I had always prided myself on being composed, but the sudden news threw me off balance after answering the call in my sleepy state. The old man was coming to visit. I had not expected him, not today, not at this moment. The last time he had come, it had been a matter of business, a casual check-in, and everything had been civil. But this time, there was something different in the air—something I couldn’t quite place. The man didn’t show up unless he had something important on his mind, and it wasn’t often that he paid me a visit without bringing some sort of heavy conversation with him.For me, he just didn't need to visit my space. I groaned softly, pushing myself out of bed and rubbing my eyes. The day had already started off wrong, and I needed to gather myself quickly. I couldn’t let him see me thin
CHAPTER 72AMELIA'S POV "You can come out now," Mike announced immediately after opening the door for me. I stared at him for a while, but knowing that I was likely to get no explanation from him as to why that was done to me, I let it be and went for someone who could possibly give an explanation for what had happened.The moment I saw Alessandro, frustration bubbled inside me. My feet moved before I could think twice, and I stormed toward him, ignoring the sharp look Mike sent my way. "Why did you have Mike lock me in a room? What happened?" I demanded, arms crossing over my chest as I stood in front of him. "And don't even try to avoid the question. I want the truth, Alessandro."His gaze was steady, unreadable, but I didn't miss the way his jaw clenched slightly. "It was for your safety." "For my safety?" I let out a dry laugh. "I was inside the house, Alessandro, I wasn't even outside! So are you trying to tell me that I am not even safe in your own house?" *That'
CHAPTER 73It was morning already and time for breakfast.Alessandro had insisted they eat together, saying he wanted Amelia to start the day feeling relaxed.His actions made her even more relaxed so Amelia didn’t argue and let him pull her close, his voice low as he told her how beautiful she looked in the early sunlight. "I can't believe that he is pulling this trick on me again," Amelia thought as she tried hard to hide her blush and pretend like she was unaffected by everything that he seemed to be doing to her. His fingers brushed against hers as he poured her coffee, a small smile playing on his lips. For a moment, everything else faded—it was just the two of them, the quiet clinking of dishes, and the steady beat of her heart.But just as she was about to take another bite, her phone vibrated against the table, breaking the peaceful moment between them. She glanced at the screen, her stomach tightening the moment she saw Luca’s name.She hesitated for a while to answer wh
CHAPTER 90 Luca’s gentle insistence had caught Amelia off guard that morning. As they sat in the quiet corner of his sitting room, he leaned forward, earnest eyes fixed on her. “Amelia,” he said softly, “I think you should come to work for me at my company. At least for a while. I can promise you more stability and a place where you’re truly safe.”Amelia looked at him, her mind a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts. “I—I appreciate that Luca,” she stammered, “but… isn’t it too soon to make such a change?”Luca’s expression softened as he reached out and took her hand in his. “I’m not asking you to abandon everything, Amelia. I just want you to have an option—a safe place where you can breathe. I know what Alessandro has done to you… and I can’t stand the thought of you hurting anymore. This will also be a way for you to get your mind off him and be independent." Before she could respond further, the conversation was abruptly interrupted by the sound of heavy knocks on the d
CHAPTER 89Amelia was just beginning to settle into the quiet tension of Luca's house when the doorbell rang unexpectedly. Her heart leaped into her throat, and she hesitated for a brief moment before making her way to the door. Every nerve in her body was on edge—this wasn't part of the plan.When she opened the door, the last person she expected to see stood there with a bright, worried smile plastered across her face."Mia?" Amelia breathed, her voice barely above a whisper."Surprise!" Mia’s voice was cheerful, but her eyes quickly darkened with concern as she took in Amelia’s dishevelled appearance. Without waiting for an invitation, Mia stepped inside and enveloped Amelia in a tight hug. "I heard what happened. I couldn’t just sit around and do nothing."Amelia stiffened in her friend's arms, forcing herself to keep up the charade. "You didn’t have to come all the way here," she said with a shaky laugh. "I’m... managing."Mia pulled back just enough to search Amelia’s face, her
CHAPTER 88Amelia’s heart was still racing from the scene she had just witnessed. The stranger’s sudden visit had clearly rattled Luca, and no amount of his casual charm could hide the tension in his eyes. As he returned from the doorstep, shutting the door a little too quickly, Amelia decided to press gently. "Luca?" Her voice was soft, concerned, almost hesitant.He looked up, wearing that easy smile she had seen so many times before. "Yeah?"She took a careful step closer. "Is everything okay? You look tensed. Who was that person?"His jaw tightened, just for a second, but it was enough for her to notice. "Just some business. Nothing for you to worry about."The way he dismissed her question so casually made her stomach twist. "Business? At this hour? That's strange. Are you sure you're alright, Luca? One thing you can never do is to perfectly hide from me. You seemed… tense." She repeated. Luca chuckled, brushing past her like the conversation didn’t matter. "I am alright. T
CHAPTER 87Amelia's heart slammed against her ribs. No… not already.She froze mid-step, the weight of the accusation dragging her breath short. This couldn’t be happening. Not yet. She hadn’t even made it through a full day with Luca. Had she found her out?Her palms grew slick with sweat, and her eyes darted around for any way to spin this, any lie that could salvage the situation.But then… silence.Her eyes cautiously shifted toward the source of the voice, her pulse thudding against her throat. But lucky her!Luca wasn’t even looking at her. His back was turned, phone pressed against his ear. He was talking to someone else.The breath she didn’t realize she was holding slipped out in a quiet exhale. God, get a grip, Amelia.Her overactive imagination was going to ruin her before the mission even began.Swallowing the lump in her throat, she composed herself and crossed the room, careful not to draw attention to her sudden relief. Luca ended the call and turned to face her with a
CHAPTER 86THIRD PERSON'S POV Amelia stood outside Luca’s penthouse, her suitcase resting heavily beside her. Her shoulders slumped under the weight of exhaustion—physical, emotional, and psychological. The plan was set in motion, but it didn’t make the act of deceiving Luca any easier. "God help me." She muttered and wiped at her cheeks, smudging tears that weren’t entirely fake and took a deep breath before ringing the doorbell.Luca opened the door within seconds, his sharp features softening at the sight of her. His brows furrowed as his gaze scanned her messy hair, the dark circles beneath her eyes, and her trembling lips. "Amelia?” His voice was low, almost disbelieving. “What are you doing here? What happened? Why are you like this?" Without giving him the chance to hesitate, she threw herself into his arms. Her body shook with carefully crafted sobs. “You were right, Luca,” she whispered, her voice cracking. “Everything you said about Alessandro… it’s true.”Luca’s
CHAPTER 85.AMELIA'S POV “No.” I shook my head, my voice firm. “Absolutely not.” “Amelia—” “Are you insane?” I cut him off, standing up. “You want me to go back to him? Are you even listening to yourself right now, Alessandro? You could have just said that you wanted to get engaged to Isabelle instead of telling me to do such a thing.” "Amelia..." He tried to hold my hand but I decided to step back as I continued my words of anger towards him. "What do you even mean by I have to go back to Luca? As what? I wasn't even dating him, so in which manner am I going back to him? Make it make sense! We are nothing but friends, which I have managed to keep that way, so what the hell are you even saying?" "Amelia!" He half yelled and my eyes widened. But then his voice turned soft afterward, "Can you please listen to me without jumping to conclusions? You could have just easily asked me why I said that instead of responding this way."Okay, he was right about that. I clear
CHAPTER 84AMELIA'S POVI smiled as I watched my sister on the screen, her voice filling my quiet room with an energy I had missed. “…and then, Amelia, you won’t believe it! My professor actually said my paper was the best in class. Can you imagine? Me? The best in class?!”I chuckled, shaking my head. “Of course, I can imagine it. You’ve always been smart, Val.”She beamed. “Come on, don't call me that. It makes me feel shy."I shook my head, enjoying the teasing. "I can call you by any name that I want, darling. Momma gave you that name in her journal." "Blessed be the day you came across the name. I even thought you'd forgotten about it." "I have the sharpest memories, darling." "Of course." She rolled her eyes sarcastically while I sighed. "Anyway, it feels so good to hear it from someone else. I worked my ass off for that paper.” She let out a sigh and leaned back on her bed. The background of her dorm room looked slightly messy, with clothes tossed on t
CHAPTER 83Isabelle’s heels clicked against the polished marble floors of her family’s grand estate as she walked in, her fury barely contained. She had stormed out of the restaurant, furious at Alessandro for daring to think he could dictate the terms of their engagement.Although she had expected that he would play this kind of game with her considering the research she had done regarding who this Amelia girl was. However, hearing it from him today only infuriated her the more. She wasn't in love with Alessandro before. When he had come to her father's place to seek help years ago, she had only seen him as a young boy who wouldn't last long in this field. But then, all of a sudden, her father made a condition that he was going to marry her after getting engaged. Isabelle, thinking it was all a joke that wouldn't even come to pass, assured Alessandro that she was going to cut off the engagement later as her father wouldn't be able to go ahead and do anything else to her if she was
CHAPTER 82. Alessandro sat at the reserved table in an exclusive, dimly lit restaurant, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the polished wood. The weight of the situation pressed down on him, but he had already made up his mind. This had to end. Isabelle had to let him go. He would be careful with his words, but he wouldn’t back down.When the restaurant door swung open, Alessandro immediately recognized Isabelle’s presence before even seeing her. She had an aura of control, of dominance. She walked in like she owned the place, her designer heels clicking sharply against the floor. Dressed in a fitted red dress that hugged her body in all the right places, she smirked as she spotted him. “Alessandro,” she greeted, her voice dripping with fake sweetness as she took a seat across from him. “I was almost worried you wouldn’t show.”Alessandro didn’t respond to the teasing in her tone. Instead, he cut straight to the point. “We need to end this engagement, Isabelle.”Her smirk fa