Luca's Plight

Cecelia was taken aback.

"What do you mean?" 

"Don't, what did you mean, me, babe? You know what I'm talking about?" Luca retorted with a glare, which she equally matched.

"I do not. If I do, I wouldn't be asking." 

He drew in a calming breath.

"Who were you on the phone with? What was that all about? You were giving info. about us." 

She let out a scoff in disbelief.

"Are you seriously doubting me?" 

"Stop avoiding the questions and just answer." 

Cecelia gaped at Luca, appalled at his attitude. She couldn't believe it. He was truly doubting her. She was here taking care of his injured butt, and he was doubting her. 

"If you must know, I was on a call with Tina. She asked for updates. Here." She dumped her phone in his hand. "You can go through my call log. Since you need evidence for everything I do now." 

She walked away to the room and began to pack her things. She wasn't going to stay with a man who didn't trust her.

Still adamant about what he heard, Luca unlocked her phone and skimped through her call log and messages. Much to his dismay, Cecelia was right, and there was nothing fishy.

His throat suddenly felt dry, and he gulped, willing himself not to panic. He felt like yelling to the world about how stupid he behaved. 

How was he going to justify his actions? Forget justification; there was no way he was going to live this one down. Cecelia was known to hold grudges for the longest time.

He dashed out as quickly as he could in his injured state. She had already packed a small bag and was waiting in the living room. 

Luca felt like a bucket of ice water had been dumped on him.

Unlike other girls who would've been in tears by now, fury was written all over her.

"If you're done with your investigation, I'd like my phone back now." 

"Cece, I'm..."

"Don't you Cece me. I understand that things are a bit all over the place right now, and you were just trying to be careful. But did you have to be so accusing about it?" 

Luca took a step forward, but she put a hand up to stop him.

"No. Don't come near me. We've spent years together, and you still do not trust me. What's a relationship without trust?" 

"Babe, I do. You know I do." Luca pleaded.

"Don't you babe me. You know what? Hand over my phone. I don't even want to see your face right now." 

Luca pouted.

"Are you going to leave me in this state?" He clutched his abdomen in pretence. "I can barely stand upright." 

"You deserve it." 

He furrowed his brows. "You don't mean that."

"Like you didn't mean to suspect me now, hand over my phone." 

Luca blinked. He didn't know what to do anymore. He groaned at the fact that he allowed Adonis to protect his paranoia on him. 

He didn't want her to go, but he had run out of ideas to convince her to stay. Her anger was justified. Maybe he should just let her leave for now. He'd keep apologizing, and at a point, she'd probably...

Ding dong!

Thank goodness. He sighed as someone rang the bell to the penthouse. A distraction would be really helpful right now. He looked at Cecelia.

"Hold on, let me see who that is." 

Cecelia rolled her eyes in reply, but she waited as Luca went over to check. He'd just turn on the monitor when the smiling face of Cara appeared.

"Cara?"

Cecelia snapped her towards him with the same question on her face and shrugged before letting her in. 

The door-like elevator slid open, and Cara walked into the penthouse.

"Hello everyone!" She glanced around. "You have a lovely home."

Luca threw a sceptical look at her.

"Hey, Cara. No offence or anything, but how did you get here?" 

"Pssht..." She waved him off. "I had one of the guards bring me." Her eyes moved to the bag in Cece's arm. "Did I come at a bad time?"

*******

Cara looked between the two lovers as they sat opposite each other. One with a look of anger and the other with a guilty look.

She had come here with her problems, but she was settling theirs instead.

"So you're telling me," she started with a look at Cecelia. "That he suspected you of giving out information about the family to a stranger." 

Cecelia nodded, and Cara turned to look at Luca.

"And you are saying you only suspected her because the conversation sounded like it?" Luca nodded.

Why does that sound like someone she knew so well? She cleared her throat, telling herself that Cecelia didn't know she also suspected her and might still, in an itsy-bitsy way, but what she doesn't know won't hurt, right?

"Well, from my perspective. Luca's justified a little."

"He's supposed to be the man I'll be spending the rest of my life with. I think I deserve better than this." Cecelia argued.

"I did say a little—

"Hey!" Luca piped up. "What do you mean, 'supposed', I'm the man!" 

"I can't say I'm sure about that," Cecelia mumbled.

"I heard that—

Cara exhaled deeply, sinking into the sofa in hopes that they'd settle it between themselves and she'd be able to get straight to the point about why she was here.

The lover's quarrel went on for at least ten more minutes until they found common ground, thanks to Luca's expert persuading skills. She watched him smile and whisper something into Cecelia's ears, which caused her to turn red in seconds. 

Cara didn't think she needed two guesses to know what it was. One was more than enough.

Quietly watching the two, she could tell that they were so in love with one another, and her heart ached that she might never get to experience what they had. Her mind betrayed her and drifted back to the six-foot-three Capo back home, the main reason she was here. 

Could they be lucky enough to have something like this? Even with their rocky start? 

Suddenly remembering they had company, the two lovebirds quieted down their unnecessary display of affection and brought their attention back to Cara. Luca wet his lips.

"So, to what or whom do I owe this pleasure?" 

Cara sat up with a serious expression on her face.

"It's Adonis. I don't know what to do."