008

Caterina.

"You're full of surprises, aren't you?"

The hum of the estate's grand clock echoed through the room, marking the start of a new day.

But for me, the new day felt like nothing more than a cruel reminder of yesterday's mess.

I woke up to the softness of the sheets, the strange emptiness of my surroundings, and the lingering taste of my frustration. The betrayal by Sofia weighed heavily on me, but I couldn't afford to dwell on it.

I had to focus.

But damn it, how could I not feel betrayed?

I had trusted her. Or at least, I had believed she was someone I could trust.

The thought was suffocating. It could ruin me if I let it, so I shoved it to the back of my mind, pretending it didn't exist. There were more pressing matters now... more pressing than feeling sorry for myself. I had to play the part, even if the game felt more like a trap than anything else.

As I sat up in bed, I noticed something new. On the chair beside me was a set of clothes, neatly folded and placed there like some sort of offering.

A simple dress.

Elegant but not extravagant. It felt mocking, like he was daring me to wear it. Like he knew I’d have no choice but to put it on.

"Luca..." I muttered, the name slipping from my lips with bitter finality.

Damn him.

Damn him for this.

For trapping me in this estate to play his twisted games while who he truly wanted was out there.

I hated that I couldn't even escape in peace, that everything about this place... the clothes, the gestures, even his silence... was just another way of asserting control over me.

I cursed under my breath.

I spared a glance at my phone. No new messages. Not a single one. Not from my family, not from Alessandro.

Why hadn't they contacted me yet?

Was this what it felt like to be forgotten? To be lost without anyone even bothering to look for you?

The silence was deafening. And then, as if the universe had decided I’d wallowed long enough, there came a soft knock at the door.

“Miss Caterina,” came the voice of one of the maids. “Mr Luca requires your presence at the dining table.”

Of course, he did.

I sighed and stood, pushing my frustration down, putting on my armour. There was nothing else to do but play along.

“I’ll be down in a moment,” I said, my voice sharper than I intended. Then, as if by command, I asked another question. "Where's Sofia?"

The maid’s voice returned, quieter now, almost hesitant. “Sofia is... unavailable, miss. I’m afraid I can not offer further information.”

Unavailable?

What did that mean?

I wanted to ask more, demand answers, but the maid’s face offered only the blankest of stares, no hint of what was really going on. She wasn't going to tell me anything, and I couldn't afford to waste time pushing her for answers. I wasn't going to let myself get caught in the trap of caring, not when I had already been so easily manipulated before.

I nodded, holding my frustration in check, and dismissed her with a wave. “I’ll go down now.”

I dressed quickly, ignoring the carefully laid-out clothes on the chair. Instead, I chose a simple outfit... casual and comfortable, my own act of rebellion. I wasn't going to play the past of the dutiful captive.

Down the grand hallways I went, my heels clicking sharply against the cold marble floor. The house felt eerily quiet today... like the calm before a storm.

When I reached the dining room, Luca was already there.

Of course he was.

Sitting at the table, sipping coffee as though yesterday hadn’t even happened. As though he hadn’t ordered me around or watched me squirm under his control. His face was calm, unbothered, as he looked over the rim of his cup.

I wanted to ignore him, but his presence was too overpowering. He was still the same‐ indifferent, detached, a man who had no problem making others feel like they didn't matter, not even when he held them captive. So I chose the seat farthest from him when I sat down at the table.

Not that it made any difference, though.

I still felt his eyes on me, sharp, calculating. But I didn't look at him. The last thing I needed to do was give him the satisfaction of seeing me acknowledge his presence.

The silence stretched on for what I could only describe as hours.

We had food on the table, but it felt pointless to eat. Nothing really tasted good anyway.

But like before, that was all me. Luca took his time, slowly finishing his coffee, those eyes never leaving me. I could feel the weight of his gaze on me, cold and unnerving.

I almost let out a relieved sigh when he finally set his cup down. "So, Caterina..."

I stiffened.

I didn’t want to hear it. Whatever he had to say, I didn’t want to listen.

But he continued anyway, in that thick husky voice of his that was almost casual.

“You’ve been quiet this morning,” he said, his lips curling into that familiar, mocking smile. “Is something on your mind?”

I shot him a glare, but he didn’t flinch. He never did.

"I'm fine," I muttered, though the words felt hollow even to me.

I wasn't fine. Not by a long shot. Not that I could tell him that since he technically was the one who kidnapped and forced me to stay here with him.

Couldn't give him the satisfaction of knowing he almost broke me.

Luca didn’t respond right away. Instead, he leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing as he studied me. The room felt suddenly smaller, the air thicker.

Then, with deliberate slowness, he asked, “Are you planning to play coy with me, Caterina?”

I couldn't help it... the question made my heart flutter in a way I hated. My chest tightened, and for a second, I thought, and I hoped I might choke on my own breath.

What was it about his voice that had this power to make my pulse race, to make me feel exposed in ways I didn't want to acknowledge.

Before I could form a response, I heard a sharp, shrill voice interrupt the moment.

"Luca!" The voice rang across the dining room. I didn't need a soothsayer for me to know who it was.

The blond woman... the one who had been clinging to Luca like her life depended in it the night before.

What was she doing here?

She had that look in her eyes, the one that said she was claiming him for herself, and I should back off when our eyes met.

Trust me, sister, I didn't want your horrible man.

Luca immediately shifted all his attention to her, his cocky demeanour changing in an instant. He seemed genuinely excited to see her , and it made my stomach turn.

Was it the hair? Or the eyes? Or the way she moved.

I found myself clenching my jaw, my hand gripping the edge of the table as I tried to steady myself.

This was just another game. Another distraction. But damn it, it felt like a slap to the face.

Kidnap the innocent fiancée and frolick with a woman in front of her.

I had no idea why I did it, but I did, I turned my eyes away, determined not to let him see how his actions affected me. But inside, I was burning with something I couldn't shake.

Something darker.

More possessive.

Whatever moment I had hoped we would share was lost.

It didn't matter anyway. I was invisible again.