Chapter 6: Luca’s POV
The charity event was coming to an end, with the monotone murmur of obligatory chats and fake smiles gradually receding. I lingered at the bar, sipping a glass of whiskey, lost in thought amidst the dazzling scene. These occurrences were identical: superficial, expected, and extremely dull. The individuals in this place have come to observe and get noticed, to associate themselves with my reputation, my influence. However, the significance of everything hardly entered my thoughts.
I was not present at the party. My existence served as a warning of the authority governing this city. But this evening, a different disturbance was troubling my thoughts. Emma is a name.
My wife walked into the hall with a calm and composed demeanor, her expression giving nothing away, moving gracefully as if nothing had happened the night before. The black dress clung to her body beautifully, highlighting her shape and drawing the eyes of all the men in the room.
I was aware of the impact she had on individuals. From a distance, I had been observing her with a cold gaze, noting how she presented herself while pretending to be okay.
She believed in her strength and ability to maintain this mask. However, I was aware of the truth. I had noticed how her body reacted to me, how she shivered under my touch while her lips were full of hate. She could feign as much as she liked, yet the reality was evident in how her skin warmed and how her breath caught when I possessed her.
I couldn't help but acknowledge the satisfaction that flooded me when I considered it. Not only was it about being dominant, but also about the necessity to establish authority, which played a role in the situation.
No, it was deeper. I liked watching her break, watching her struggle against her emotions and ultimately lose. Emma could hate me all she wanted. It wouldn’t change the fact that she was mine.
I glanced over at her, standing in a corner of the room, speaking to some politician’s wife. The woman was talking incessantly, her hands gesturing wildly, while Emma simply nodded, her polite smile never faltering. Her eyes, though, were distant. She was lost in her thoughts, possibly reliving the events of the night before on a never-ending loop. Great.
I finished my drink and placed the glass down with a loud clinking sound. Since taking Emma, I had established my dominance, yet I found her stubbornness intriguing. She was resolute, rebellious indeed, but deep down, there was a woman who reacted to the type of authority I possessed.
She couldn't hide her undeniable reactions behind her anger. The way she leaned towards me, the gentle sounds that slipped out of her mouth even when she tried to despise me, it awakened a feeling within me. Not love, not even lust in the conventional way, but a craving for additional. Increased submission from her, increased silent surrender.
I had zero tolerance for love, no room in my life for any hint of gentleness. My existence was shaped by authority, domination, and anxiety. Emma was merely a pawn to be manipulated in the chess game. Tonight, as I observed her standing on the other side of the room, I sensed a strong attraction. An urge to once more assert his ownership over her. She believed she could conceal her feelings of loathing with her icy blue eyes, but I understood her more than she thought.
With a deliberate, gradual movement, I moved away from the bar and navigated through the crowd, paying no attention to the inquisitive looks and efforts to engage in conversation. As I walked, individuals moved away from me, as the unseen force field of authority surrounding me prevented anyone from approaching too closely.
When I reached her, Emma stiffened, but she didn’t turn to acknowledge me.
"Emma," I said, my voice low and commanding.
She turned slowly, her expression controlled, but I saw the flicker of something in her eyes. Fear? No, something else.I couldn't identify it exactly, but it evoked a primal feeling inside me.
"Luca," she replied, maintaining her usual icy tone. "Are you having a good time at the party?"
I could detect the contempt in her words. She attempted to irritate me, but it was unsuccessful. Tonight is not possible.
I moved nearer, my hand enveloping her waist possessively. I whispered, leaning in close so only she could hear, don't act like you care about the party. “We are both aware that you are simply anticipating my offer to bring you back to your place.”
She became tense and I could sense her becoming defensive in response to my words. She clenched her jaw, yet remained silent, her lack of words speaking volumes more than any argument she could present.
"I belong to no one’s orders," she whispered at last, her voice filled with barely contained fury.
I smirked, leaning in closer until my lips were near her ear. "Aren’t you?" I asked, my voice dangerously soft. "You may try to resist, but we both know the truth."
I noticed a small shiver pass through her body as she took a sharp breath. She despised it, despised how I could provoke her, yet she couldn't refuse it. Not completely.
I moved back a bit, just enough to glimpse the redness of anger— or perhaps another emotion?—on her face. Despite the defiance in her eyes, her body language suggested a different narrative as her lips parted and she leaned towards me slightly.
Suddenly, I seized her chin and turned her face towards me. Surprised, her eyes grew wider, yet she stayed in place. I lowered my lips to hers, kissing her with the identical powerful passion as earlier. It wasn't soft; it was controlling, a memory of her significance to me. She pressed her hands against my chest, not to push me away, but as if in a struggle with herself, as though her body and mind were in conflict.
When I eventually let go, she was breathing heavily, her chest moving quickly up and down. I observed the unrest in her gaze, the disorientation and rage. She desired to dislike me, yet I was aware of the reality. "We’re leaving," I said, my voice firm.
Emma didn’t argue. She simply nodded, her expression carefully neutral as I led her toward the exit.The ride back was quiet, the tension between us was tangible. I felt her frustration and desire for control in her life, but I understood she was also confined by her body's response and her current circumstances.
Upon reaching the mansion, I did not allow her the opportunity to back away. Immediately after shutting the car door, I took hold of her arm and led her inside, my grasp strong yet gentle. She didn't fight back, yet the rebellion in her gaze remained, like a flame that wouldn't be put out.
Upon entering, I pushed her against the wall, my body closely against hers. I wasn't concerned even though she took a sudden breath. I desired to witness her collapse, to observe as the resistance faded from her and she accepted the fact that I dominated her.
I kissed her once more with force and authority, and this time she did not fight back. She held onto my jacket tightly, her nails piercing into my shoulders as if she was attempting to maintain a sense of power. However, I sensed her body becoming more pliable, sensing her resistance fading as time went on.
When I stepped away, I saw that her eyes were half-closed and her lips were swollen from the kiss. Her gaze was fixed on me, her face showing a blend of rage and another emotion she refused to acknowledge. I grinned smugly.
I reminded Emma quietly not to forget her place as I brushed a strand of hair from her face. “You're free to dislike me as much as you please, but that doesn't alter your significance to me.”
She remained silent despite the fiery expression in her eyes. I released my hold on her and took a step back, allowing her room, but I anticipated it wouldn't be for a long time. The game we engaged in was still ongoing. Not even close.
While I walked away, I sensed her eyes on me, her thoughts in a chaotic state. She could attempt to resist it, but fundamentally, she understood the reality. She was mine. And nothing would change that.
Chapter 7: Emma’s POVThe house was quiet. Too quiet, if I was being honest.Each second of the clock's ticking on the wall became more audible, each creak in the floorboards beneath me more distinct. However, what unsettled me was not the quietness. It was the turbulent storm of feelings within me, a whirlwind of emotions I couldn't even comprehend. Luca had abandoned me in the hallway, his words echoing in my ears, while his footsteps faded away in the corridor. “Remember where you belong, Emma.”His voice's reverberation caused a chill down my spine. Those words carried a heavy burden, serving as a grim reflection of my role in our complicated relationship. The husband of mine. The one who causes me pain. The one who has captured me. He didn't simply possess me legally - he possessed my physical form, dictated my behaviour, and, even more disturbingly, he was starting to influence my thoughts in ways that were beyond my comprehension. I remained in place, leaning against the chill
Chapter 8: Luca’s POVWhile heading back to the estate, the only sound in the car was the soft rumble of the engine. The soft glow of the streetlights brightened the calm city streets. But my mind was anything but still. It was a storm of conflicting thoughts, a tangle of emotions I couldn’t afford to entertain.The memory of Emma’s bare skin flashed in my mind, uninvited. Her body, the way it responded to me, the way she had melted against me despite the fire of resistance in her eyes—it all haunted me like a stubborn ghost. I had taken her, claimed her in a way that left no room for misunderstanding. She was mine. She knew it. I knew it.But there was something about her reaction that gnawed at me.I had anticipated that she would put up more of a struggle, to oppose me with the passion she frequently displayed in her gaze. However, there had been a hint of something different lurking below the surface, something I couldn't quite identify. Submission? No, Emma wasn’t the type to sim
Chapter 9: Emma’s POVThe silence in the room after Luca left was suffocating, wrapping around me like a heavy fog that refused to lift. I was still shaking from his touch, my lips tingling from the intensity of his kiss that made me dizzy. I despised the way he caused me to feel, how my body disobeyed all attempts at maintaining control. I despised him. However, what I despised the most was myself. I perched on the side of the bed, my robe still sticking damply to my skin from my earlier bath. My heart pounded in my chest, feeling raw and exposed after our encounter. I still sensed his hands touching me, the strength of his hold, the warmth of his breath near my neck. He had once again taken what he desired, and I had allowed him to do so. Even more troubling, I had reacted to him, blending with him as if I couldn't control myself. How can I be lacking in strength like this? I brushed my wet hair with my hand, feeling frustration and another unnamed emotion causing my fingers to
Chapter 10: Luca’s POVI forcefully closed the door to my office, the noise echoing down the hallway, yet it failed to alleviate the anger building up within me. Each step that took me further from her room felt like a battle raging in my mind, one in which I was uncertain of the outcome. I still felt a tingling sensation on my skin from her touch, with the flavor of her kiss still present in my mouth. However, it proved insufficient. It would never happen. Emma…. She was pushing me beyond my limits, triggering buttons I didn't even know existed. I could still perceive the fiery determination in her gaze, hidden underneath layers of confusion and anger. She believed she could despise me, she could repel me, but she was mistaken. She was unaware of the extent of my control or how completely she belonged to me. Sitting at my desk, the leather chair creaked under me as I reclined, looking up at the ceiling in an effort to restore a feeling of control. Despite that, I couldn't erase th
Chapter 11: Emma’s POVThe room was silent, eerily so, after Luca stormed out. I stood by the door, still shaken, my chest rising and falling as I tried to steady my breath. My body was at war with itself, my mind battling the overwhelming pull Luca had on me. My skin still tingled where his hands had been, the roughness of his touch lingering like a brand.I hated him.I despised him for his control over me, his taking without permission, and his treating me as nothing but his belonging. However, within me lurked a deceitful side that couldn't ignore the powerful bond between us and how my body reacted to him despite my internal anger. I hugged myself tightly, attempting to rid myself of his presence, but it proved futile. What is the most dreadful aspect? I had given permission for it. Each time, I promised myself I would resist and push him away, but in the end, I allowed him to overpower me. And, with God's help, I desired it. "Fucking pull yourself together , Emma," I murmured a
Chapter 12: Luca’s POVUpon exiting Emma's room, I sensed a tumultuous storm brewing within me. Her fragrance lingered on my skin, intensifying the irresistible attraction she had over me. I tightened my fists while walking through the corridor, attempting to concentrate on anything other than the sensation of her gentle body under me. Having her, possessing her should have made me content, yet it only intensified the burning desire. Emma was comparable to a drug - one that makes you crave more despite knowing it's harming you. What exacerbated the situation was my intense dislike for how strong my desire for her was. She was meant to be just a convenient marriage, a tool to secure alliances and strengthen my hold on power. However, she was evolving into something greater. She was really starting to bother me, and I couldn't allow that to continue. I entered my office with purpose and forcefully closed the door. The gloom in the room was a pleasant break from the chaos in my mind.
Chapter 13: Emma’s POVI opened my eyes feeling a weight in my stomach, the memories from the night before hitting me like a never-ending wave. My body was in pain, a result of Luca's harsh touch and the increasing unspoken tension between us during each meeting. I pulled the sheets tighter around me, trying to push the memory away, but it was useless. Every inch of my skin still remembered the way he’d taken me, claimed me without asking.Anger flared up inside me as I thought about it. Why did he behave towards me in that manner? As if I were just a thing to be utilized and abandoned as he pleases. I couldn't stand him. Or, at the very least, that was my desire. However, the issue was that my body had let me down. Despite my strong dislike for his actions and his controlled behavior towards me, I still had a part of me that desired him and his actions. It was nonsensical. I need to resist more, struggle against this suffocating marriage, but whenever Luca touched me or gazed at me
Chapter 14: Luca’s POVI barely made it down the hall before I felt the weight of Emma’s anger seeping into my own skin. The door to my office slammed shut behind me, but it did nothing to keep her out of my mind. The look in her eyes back at the charity event, the tension simmering between her and Stephanie—it gnawed at me, stirring something dark inside. She was angry, that much was obvious. But more than that, she was jealous.Jealousy. It amused me, to an extent. Emma had no reason to care about who I entertained, yet there she was, bristling like a caged animal over someone as irrelevant as Stephanie. A part of me liked it, seeing her so affected by the idea of another woman in my life. It meant I was getting under her skin in a way she couldn’t deny, no matter how much she tried to fight it.But another part of me—one I didn’t like to acknowledge—was irritated. The last thing I needed was Emma picking fights or trying to claim some false sense of power. I’d let her walk away wit
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