Luca’s POVI couldn’t remember the last time I felt this... unsure. This vulnerable. Every part of me, every bone in my body, was trained to be a predator. To control. To take. To never show weakness, never let anyone see the cracks beneath the polished surface of the man I had built. But Emma, god, she was changing everything.When I pulled her into my arms just now, I felt something shift between us. Something deeper than the lust I had once thought was all I needed. Something that made me want to believe in the idea of us. Of her.Her confession lingered in my mind like the aftertaste of a fine wine, a sweetness that burned and stung. “I think I’m starting to fall for you,” she’d said.Those words, though soft, were a knife to my chest. Because I knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that I was already far past the point of no return. I had been falling for her for longer than I cared to admit, but I wasn’t ready to admit it—not even to myself. But hearing it from her mouth, hearing t
Emma’s POVI woke up the next morning with a weight on my chest. Not the suffocating kind, but the kind that was unfamiliar and new. It was a feeling I couldn’t quite name, but it was there, tugging at me, pulling me in a direction I wasn’t ready to go. But last night... Last night had changed everything.Luca had kissed me. And it wasn’t just any kiss. It was slow, gentle, as though he was trying to savor the moment, unsure but willing to take that chance. And I had kissed him back. Not out of obligation, not out of need, but because I wanted to. It was the first time in a long time that I didn’t feel like I was losing control of the situation. I was in the moment with him, feeling him, letting myself be vulnerable in a way I hadn’t done before.I sat up in bed, pulling the sheets around me as I stared out the window. The light was just beginning to filter through the curtains, soft and golden, casting a warm glow over the room. It was peaceful. Almost too peaceful, considering the s
Luca’s POVThe moment I had kissed her on the forehead, I knew things would never be the same. It wasn’t just the feeling of her soft skin against my lips, or the way her breath hitched when I pulled away. It was the weight of it—the promise that had silently formed between us. I didn’t need to speak it out loud; I knew Emma felt it, too. We were standing on the precipice of something neither of us could predict, but both of us could feel it drawing us closer, like two magnets, unable to break free from the pull.I watched her as she sat on the edge of the bed, her hands clasped together in her lap, her eyes focused on the floor. The uncertainty in her gaze was palpable, but I also saw something else—something I hadn’t seen before. Hope. There was a flicker of it, buried beneath the layers of fear and doubt, and it was all I needed to hold on to.I had expected resistance from her, and I wasn’t disappointed. Emma had every reason not to trust me. I had been a bastard to her, the very
Emma's POVI couldn’t breathe. My heart raced in my chest, and my head spun with everything that had just happened. I wanted to pull away, wanted to retreat into the safety of my own thoughts, but I couldn’t. Not when his hands were still on me, not when his breath was warm against my skin.Luca.His name echoed in my mind, but I couldn’t make sense of the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside me. His lips, soft and tentative, had pressed against mine, a kiss that hadn’t been demanding or forceful, but still left me breathless.I had always feared that I would fall for him, despite everything. And now, with him so close, holding me as if I were the most important thing in the world, I could feel the walls I had spent years building around myself slowly crumbling.I had told myself I would never let him in. That I would always keep him at arm’s length. After all, he had broken my trust, used me, betrayed me in ways that I didn’t even fully understand yet. But then why did my pulse quic
Luca’s POVI stood there, in the quiet aftermath of everything that had just unfolded between Emma and me. Her words still echoed in my head, the soft tremor of her voice, the hesitation that had been so present but also the glimmer of something else—something I hadn’t dared to hope for. Trust.I never thought I’d see the day when Emma would even think about trusting me again. After everything I had put her through—after everything I had done to make her feel small, to control her, to take away her freedom—this fragile step forward felt like both a victory and a reminder of how far I still had to go. She wanted to believe in me, I could tell, but I could also see the weight of her caution. She was afraid. And I couldn’t blame her. I had broken her heart too many times.But now, as I stood in the silence of the room, with only the sound of our breathing filling the space, something shifted within me. Something deeper than just the attraction I had always felt for her. It was more than
Emma’s POVThe silence between us felt heavy, yet it was different this time. The words Luca had spoken, the promises he had made, hovered in the air, and I found myself struggling to understand them, to accept them. But something inside me—something deep down—wanted to believe him. He was offering me something I never thought I would have again: a chance at rebuilding what we had, or maybe even something better. But could I trust him? Could I trust myself?I could still feel the weight of his words, the sincerity that had laced his tone when he promised he would wait for me, that he would give me the time I needed. His willingness to respect my space—it was both a relief and a reminder of how much had changed, how much I had changed. I had spent so long resenting him, hating him, but now, in this moment, I wasn’t sure what I felt. Was it hope? Was I really willing to let go of everything I had built up—every wall, every barrier I had placed between us—for the possibility of something
Luca’s POVThe silence that hung in the air felt different now, charged with something new. Something fragile, yet powerful. Emma had agreed to take time, to think, and in that moment, a small part of me felt a sense of relief. But there was also an underlying frustration, one I couldn’t quite shake. I had been patient, I had given her space, but the truth was, I wanted more. I wanted her to see me, to see the man I had become, not just the man I once was.I stood at the window, looking out into the darkness. The night was thick with clouds, but the faint glow of the city below reminded me of the life I had built. The empire I had created. Yet, despite all the power and influence I had, despite everything I had achieved, none of it mattered. None of it felt real if Emma wasn’t a part of it.I was starting to realize how much she meant to me. Not just as my wife, but as a person. The way her presence affected me, the way her thoughts and feelings had started to shape my own. It was lik
Emma’s POVI stood there, looking at Luca, my heart pounding in my chest. The space between us had closed in a way I hadn’t anticipated, and now it felt as though the room was too small, too close for comfort. I could still feel the heat of his touch from when he had brushed his hand against my arm. His fingers, so gentle, so careful, like he was afraid to touch me too hard, afraid I would break under his touch.But it was his eyes that held me. The depth of them, the vulnerability I hadn’t seen before, pulled me in, making me question everything I thought I knew about him. Was this the same man who had forced me into this marriage? The same man who had taken away my freedom, my choices? The same man who had, on more than one occasion, made me feel like I was nothing more than a pawn in his game?And yet, here he was, standing in front of me, his gaze soft, filled with something… something I couldn’t name. Was it regret? Desire? Or something deeper, something I couldn’t even begin to
Emma’s & Luca’s POV (Combined POV, Epilogue)Emma’s POVI had always wondered if love was something that could truly save you. I used to think it was just a fleeting feeling, something that passed, something that couldn’t bear the weight of life’s complexities. But standing here, with Luca beside me, I realized that love wasn’t just a feeling—it was a force. A force that had pulled us through the worst of times and brought us to this moment.I watched Luca from across the room. He was sitting at the desk in the study, looking out over the sprawling estate that had once felt like a prison, but now felt like a home. The weight of the past was still there, but it wasn’t a burden anymore. It was just a part of us, woven into the fabric of who we had become.Luca’s hand moved over the documents in front of him, but his focus was elsewhere. He was thinking, just like I was. About everything we had overcome. About everything we had fought for.I stood up and walked over to him slowly, the ba
Emma’s POVThe morning light filtered softly through the curtains, casting a warm, golden glow over the room. I could feel the weight of Luca’s body beside me, his steady breathing a comforting sound. It had been a long time since I had woken up to this peace—this quiet certainty that, no matter what happened, everything would be okay.I shifted slightly in the bed, not wanting to disturb him, but craving the closeness that we shared. I rested my hand gently over my stomach, feeling the slight movement of the baby inside me. Our child. The child that had brought us closer, and in a way, had healed so many wounds between us.The events of the past few days seemed so far away now. The tension, the fear, the uncertainties—they all felt distant, replaced by something else. Something tangible. Something real.I glanced at Luca, his face relaxed in sleep, the hard lines of his jaw softened in a moment of vulnerability. It was a side of him I didn’t often get to see. The Luca I knew was the
Emma’s POVThe morning light filtered softly through the curtains, casting a warm, golden glow over the room. I could feel the weight of Luca’s body beside me, his steady breathing a comforting sound. It had been a long time since I had woken up to this peace—this quiet certainty that, no matter what happened, everything would be okay.I shifted slightly in the bed, not wanting to disturb him, but craving the closeness that we shared. I rested my hand gently over my stomach, feeling the slight movement of the baby inside me. Our child. The child that had brought us closer, and in a way, had healed so many wounds between us.The events of the past few days seemed so far away now. The tension, the fear, the uncertainties—they all felt distant, replaced by something else. Something tangible. Something real.I glanced at Luca, his face relaxed in sleep, the hard lines of his jaw softened in a moment of vulnerability. It was a side of him I didn’t often get to see. The Luca I knew was the
Luca’s POVI stood in the doorway, watching Emma as she moved around the kitchen, her presence consuming every inch of the space. It was almost too much to take in. How many times had I found myself in this position, silently observing her, unsure of what the future held but knowing that she was the one constant I could rely on?Her pregnancy had shifted something between us. I could feel the change in the air. Not just because of the child we were expecting, but because of the subtle, quiet intimacy that had begun to envelop our relationship. It wasn’t the fiery passion we’d once known—though that still flickered beneath the surface—but something deeper, something that tethered us together. It was the unspoken promise of loyalty, of building something lasting. Together.I’d never been the type to wear my heart on my sleeve. I didn’t show vulnerability, not the way other men might. But with Emma, it was different.The silence between us was comfortable now. No longer thick with uncert
Emma’s POVI leaned against the counter, staring at the small, almost insignificant pregnancy test that lay there, staring back at me. It felt like the weight of the world was in that little plastic stick, its truth just hanging there, waiting for me to fully comprehend it. The reality of it was still so fresh, so surreal, that I couldn’t quite process it. I was pregnant. And Luca—my husband, my partner, my betrayer turned savior—was going to be a father. A father to the child we’d conceived out of love and conflict, joy and pain. The thought should have filled me with more fear, but it didn’t.Instead, it stirred something deeper. Something undeniably tender. It was as if this little person growing inside of me was a symbol of all that had happened and all that was yet to come.The door to the kitchen opened, and I didn’t need to turn to know it was Luca. I could feel him, his presence as palpable as ever. He had this way of walking into a room that made everything feel like it was h
Luca's POVThe tension in the air felt heavier than it had in days, suffocating me with each passing minute. Emma had asked for time, and for once, I was going to give it to her. The selfish part of me—the one that still longed to close the gap between us and erase the pain of the past—wanted to push, to demand things move forward. But I had learned my lesson the hard way. No more rushing, no more pressing her for answers or action. She was right. She needed space, and I was going to respect that. But that didn’t make the waiting any easier.I leaned against the doorframe, watching her from across the room. She was standing by the window, her back to me, as the soft glow of the evening light bathed her in warmth. Even from this distance, I could feel the pull between us, an invisible thread that tethered me to her, no matter how much I tried to resist it.It had been days since that conversation, the one where she told me she wasn’t sure about us. Days that had felt like weeks. I hadn
Emma's POVThe weight of the silence in the house was unbearable. Every step I took felt heavy, like my body was still trying to recover from the conversation with Luca. I couldn’t shake the image of him standing at the door, his hand frozen on the handle, his expression a mix of frustration and guilt. I knew he was struggling, but I wasn’t sure how much longer I could let him wear that expression on his face.I had given him the space he needed, the time he asked for, but it didn’t feel like enough. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the vulnerability in his gaze, the raw emotion he had tried so desperately to hide. He wasn’t the same man who had hurt me before; that much was clear. But was that enough for me to let him in again?My mind kept replaying everything that had happened between us. There had been so many promises, so many moments of tenderness, but I couldn’t erase the past. I couldn’t pretend that what had happened before didn’t matter. Luca had hurt me in ways I couldn’t
Luca's POVI could still feel her presence in the room, lingering like smoke long after she had gone. Emma had walked away, but the weight of her words had settled in my chest, a heavy reminder that things could never be as simple as I wanted them to be. There was a part of me that believed we could move forward together, but she wasn’t ready. She wasn’t ready to trust me. She wasn’t ready to forget all the things I had done to her.I stood at the door for a moment, my hand still hovering over the handle, but I couldn’t bring myself to turn back. The silence between us had become a wall, thicker than ever, and I wasn’t sure how to break it down. I wasn’t used to this kind of rejection, especially from someone who had once been my everything.I didn’t know what I expected when I had told her the truth, when I had tried to show her a side of me that I thought she could trust. But I had underestimated the depth of her pain. She wasn’t just angry at me; she was scared. Scared that I would
Emma's POVThe silence between us hung heavy, thicker than it ever had been. I had no idea what to say, no idea how to process the weight of what Luca had just told me. He wasn’t asking for forgiveness, he wasn’t asking for my love, but there was a quiet strength in his words. It was something I hadn’t expected. Maybe that was the problem: I didn’t know what to expect from him anymore. His actions, his words, had always been unpredictable—except when it came to the one thing that always stayed the same: his need to control.And now, he was asking me to let go of that control. To trust him, to give him the space to show me that he had changed. But the truth was, I didn’t know if I could. I didn’t know if I could ever stop seeing him as the man who had taken everything from me.My fingers tightened around the edge of the table, the sensation of the wood grounding me in a reality I wasn’t sure I wanted to face. Every part of me was screaming to pull away, to protect myself. To walk out o