"Knock! Knock!"
A servant tapped discreetly on the door, breaking the intimate mont and their intense eye contact. Sara was quick to open the door and saw two maids standing there, each holding a tray laden with covered dishes.
"Madam asked us to serve dinner to both of you in the room," one of them said respectfully.
"Please, co in," Sara replied, stepping aside to let them pass. The maids efficiently set the small table with bowls, utensils, and fragrant food. Once they finished, Sara thanked them warmly and watched them leave, securing the door behind them.
"Take a seat," Sara instructed, lowering herself onto the sofa by the table. "Can you use your injured arm easily? If not, then I’ll feed you."
Sara was already settling herself when Luca made his way over and joined her.
Sara gently ignored Luca’s protest. "Don’t push yourself," she stated, already picking up the spoon. She checked the temperature of the warm fish soup, blew air over it lightly, and then picked up the bowl, insisting Luca finish it first. She then ensured he ate a portion of the chickpea and tuna salad, knowing those nutrients would aid his recovery.
"I’m full, Sara," Luca finally said, leaning back as he took slow sips of water. "You should eat now."
Sara humd in acknowledgnt and picked up a tissue to gently wipe his lips. She crumpled the tissue and placed it neatly into an empty bowl before she started eating her own portion. Her usual hunger had returned, but before she could settle into her al, Luca excused himself as his phone began buzzing insistently on the bedside table.
"I’ll be on the balcony," Luca said, picking up his phone. He checked the screen and saw the call was from Remo. He moved quickly to the balcony door and stepped outside. Standing against the balustrade, he answered the call and brought it to his ear.
"Luca, are you alright?" Remo asked from the other side.
"Yes, I am. Did you find out who was behind this attack?" asked Luca, a deep furrow appearing between his brows, instantly focused on the threat.
"The attacker is in police custody," Remo answered.
"And he ntioned that he doesn’t know," Remo continued, reporting on the attacker. "He only worked for money that was deposited into his bank account. But don’t worry, I searched myself further. A burner phone was used to hire this guy, and the money was transferred from an account whose origin is highly questionable. I need ti until tomorrow morning to find out the actual person behind this deadly attack."
"Alright. Take your ti," Luca answered, his gaze distant. "I think it’s Frida. So, just try to find out what she was up to for the past few days," he asserted.
"Why Frida? Why not Diego?" Remo asked from the other side, sounding surprised.
"Diego is brainless," Luca said flatly. "And he wouldn’t ever hire anyone to harm Sara. But Frida... she’s evil and vindictive," he added.
"Hmm. Then, I’ll look into her whereabouts as well," Remo stated, taking note. "Take care, Luca." The call ended, and Luca slowly lowered the phone.
’Sara lived a life I wasn’t aware of either,’ Luca thought darkly, leaning against the balustrade. ’At her own ho, she was surrounded by snakes trying to poison her.’
He felt his phone vibrate again in his palm, and he glanced at the na on the screen. It was from Sara’s grandmother, Katherine. Without delaying, he answered the call and greeted her with a warm, cheerful smile, hoping to sound reassuring.
"Good evening, Grandma. How are you doing?"
"I’m good, Luca. How are you?" Katherine’s voice, though warm, was laced with concern. "I saw the news earlier in the day. You were asleep at that ti, weren’t you?"
"Yes, Grandma. Sara made sleep," Luca said, stepping further onto the balcony. "At the mont, she’s having her dinner. I’ll tell her that you called her."
"I called to talk to you right now," Katherine insisted gently. "Are you truly well? I saw an unsettling video, dear. Why didn’t you take security with you? You’re not any ordinary citizen, Luca," she said, the worry palpable in her voice.
"Grandma, you worry a lot," he said warmly, trying to lighten her mood. "Only my arm got wounded. I’m completely okay. So, please don’t be worried anymore. Did you have your dinner?" he asked, deftly shifting the focus back to her health.
"Yes, earlier," she replied.
"You sound a little low," Luca noted. "Sara has been asking you to shift in with us here. Why don’t you do that? The house is big enough."
"Well, I don’t want to disturb the newlyweds," Katherine remarked with a faint chuckle.
Luca laughed to hear her. "I hope Marcella and her kids aren’t giving you any trouble there," he stated, his voice suddenly losing so of its lightness.
"They won’t dare to do that, Luca," Katherine pronounced firmly, indicating her authority in the house.
"I have sothing important to tell you, Luca," Katherine said, her voice dropping to a serious tone. "If you’re anywhere near Sara, you must make absolutely sure she doesn’t overhear you."
Luca imdiately turned serious. "What is it, Grandma?"
"Sara’s mother has returned," Katherine revealed.
Luca’s eyes grew instantly wide with surprise and shock.
"She was here at the house earlier today," Katherine continued. "Adam wants to et Sara in the morning. So, if it would be possible for you, then please make it happen, let him see her."
"But Sara broke every relationship with her father," Luca said, turning his head slightly to ensure Sara wasn’t standing at the door, keeping his voice extrely low.
"Yes, she did. But Sara’s mother’s intentions didn’t seem good to at all," Katherine admitted. "Besides, Adam is truly regretting everything. For days now, he hasn’t eaten properly."
"Is Sara’s mother looking for her?" Luca asked.
"Yes. She was demanding her contact information, and she knows that you’re her husband," Katherine confird. "So, she may indeed co directly to your house. I don’t know what ’Gloria’, or Paulina, as she calls herself, is trying to do, but whatever it is, she sounded dangerous. Sara always missed her mother desperately, but it turns out Gloria never truly cared for her."
"Don’t worry, Grandma. I will not let any negative force touch Sara, ever," Luca assured her.
"I know. I trust you completely, Luca. Just don’t tell Sara about any of this at the mont," Katherine stated firmly.
"Alright. I’ll tell her in the morning," Luca instructed, referring to his conversation with Adam. "Ask your son to contact directly in the morning."
"Hmm, I will. And thank you, Luca. Also, take care of yourself," Katherine said with an affectionate voice before the call disconnected.
Luca humd softly, a faint smile lingering on his lips. He finally returned to the room and saw Sara sipping water, her eyes still on him.
Seeing him enter, she promptly lowered the glass. "Do you feel any pain in your arm right now?" she asked, her concern imdiate.
"Not at the mont," Luca refused, shaking his head. "I think the dication still has an effect on the pain."
"But you have to take the next dose right after als," Sara said, already standing up to retrieve his dicine.
Before she could move, Luca reached out and pressed a tiny bell that was connected to summon the maids.
"I’m not taking the dicines yet," Luca suggested, moving away from the dical subject. "Since you’ve eaten too, let’s go for a walk."
"You want to walk?" Sara looked at him with intrigue, surprised by his energy given the injury.
"I won’t be able to fall asleep instantly," he explained. "And since we are back here, I must show you the places where I used to sneak around and have fun when I was a kid. But if you are tired—"
"No, I am not tired," Sara reminded him, interrupting with a smile. "Even I took a nap in the day with you." She paused, then instructed, "I’ll brush my teeth first. You should, too."
"Yeah." He nodded and followed her toward the washroom. He tried to use his left hand, but Sara noticed him struggling with the simple task. She imdiately lowered her own toothbrush, took his, and gently helped him first before finally cleaning her own teeth.
They ca out of the washroom together and heard a knock on the door.
"Co in," Luca said.
A maid opened the door and entered to quickly and discreetly clean up the dinner table. While the maid was busy, Luca held Sara’s hand and guided her out of the room.
"Your father wanted to speak with you earlier as well," Sara ntioned softly, recalling the phone call she’d overheard part of.
"I’ll talk to him in the morning," Luca stated, dismissing the obligation for now. "Right now, I want to be with you."
They made their way down the corridors and into the garden, stepping out into the refreshing, open night air.
"I used to play football here sotis since this lawn is huge," Luca told her, gesturing to the sweeping, well-maintained grass. "And Grandpa would—" he stopped abruptly as he seed to rember so bittersweet mories from his childhood.
"And Grandpa would play with you!?" Sara arched her eyebrow in amusent, finishing up for .
"Yeah. He would play with until I would be tired," he whispered. "Why am I missing him suddenly?" Luca murmured, but then it would happen whenever he ca to this place.
Reviews
All reviews (0)