"You look happy," Katherine remarked, gesturing for the maid to take away her empty teacup. She picked up the folded newspaper from the table and smiled faintly. "Your husband handled everything beautifully. The public announcent about your marriage went perfectly. So, tell , how’s the honeymoon? Did you like the surprise I planned for you?"
Sara blinked, her brows knitting together in confusion. "Grandma... you planned the honeymoon?"
"Of course, I did," Katherine said, setting the paper aside with a small, amused smile. "Didn’t Luca tell you?"
Sara shook her head. "No, he didn’t ntion a thing."
Katherine’s eyes softened, her tone shifting. "Tell sothing, dear. If it had been any man other than Luca... would you still have agreed to the marriage?"
"Grandma," Sara said, lowering her gaze, "no one else would’ve asked to marry them. They might have asked for the company’s shares, though." Her voice dropped even lower. "How’s Dad?"
"He’s not doing well, of course," Katherine replied with a sigh. "I tried talking to him, but he’s still hurt and even resentful toward . It’s difficult for him to accept that his role has beco mostly ceremonial now. But, Sara, I still believe you made the right decision. Adam would have pushed you out of the company sooner or later, and Diego would have taken over that position without hesitation."
Sara lowered her gaze. "Either way, I would’ve ended up disappointing Father. But... this decision—" she paused, her voice thinning, "—it’s been haunting . I keep thinking about our last argunt. He didn’t throw out of the house, even after Mom left and I repaid him badly."
Katherine’s expression softened. "You’re his daughter, Sara. No matter how angry he gets, he’d never cast you out. Don’t let guilt or fear cloud your mind." She understood from where such thoughts ca into Sara’s head.
Ever since her mother had left, Sara’s father had grown distant. For two long years, he barely looked her way. That was when she began pushing herself, excelling in her academics, winning competitions, doing everything she could just to earn a glance of pride from him. And eventually, Adam began to see her worth, recognizing her as his rightful heir.
"Grandma," Sara said softly, breaking the silence, "why don’t you co live with ? Marcella and the kids... They aren’t kind. I worry about you."
Before she could say more, Katherine gently interrupted. "Dear, we’ve talked about this before. I can’t leave this house. Don’t trouble your heart over ."
"Grandma—"
"Enough, my dear," Katherine said. "Now, I’ll hang up. Luca must be wanting to take you out."
And the next second, the call ended.
Sara sighed and set her phone down on the table, her thoughts still circling around the conversation with her grandmother. The soft rhythm of approaching footsteps drew her attention, and when she looked up, she found Luca standing there, dressed casually in a white shirt and matching trousers, his hair tousled just enough to look effortlessly perfect.
"Why didn’t you tell this trip was planned by my grandmother?" she asked in amusent.
Luca chuckled and lowered himself into the sofa chair beside her. "Because, technically, it was supposed to be a surprise," he said.
Sara narrowed her eyes slightly. "I rember asking why you chose this place. You said it was romantic."
He leaned back, amusent glinting in his eyes. "And I wasn’t wrong. It is romantic. Don’t you think?" He gestured toward the wide glass doors where the sea shimred under the afternoon light. "We’ll ride bicycles to the old town later. But first, let’s have so snacks. What do you say?"
"Sure," she said with a faint smile. Her gaze shifted to his outfit, then to her own, their matching whites catching her attention. "You matched with ," she noted. "Why?"
"I thought it would look better. We will be the hot couple in the town," he said, a teasing warmth in his tone. She chuckled at his statent when found him shifted moving to her side, his hand brushing hers before curling gently around it.
Sara instinctively moved back a little, though not far enough to break the touch.
Luca smirked and shifted closer again, slipping his arm around her shoulders and drawing her toward him.
His face was hovering right above hers, causing her heart to thunder in ways she wouldn’t speak about yet.
Then, leaning down, Luca pressed a soft kiss right in the middle of her collarbone. He leaned back and peered into her eyes with a teasing grin, "Tomorrow, we’re going to the couple’s spa. You and , side by side in the sa pool. Let’s see how long you’ll manage to keep your composure."
Sara blinked rapidly, trying to ignore the way her pulse was hamring. "I’m not going to any spa with you," she protested. "You can go alone."
Her voice wavered slightly, and she quickly added, "Don’t you want to eat snacks?"
She started to rise, but Luca gently caught her wrist, guiding her back down, not roughly, but with gentle insistence that left her breathless.
"Sara," he said softly, his expression changing. The teasing faded from his eyes, replaced by sothing warr. "Why do you keep running away from ?"
Her lips parted, but no words ca.
"The mont you signed those contract marriage papers with ," Luca said, "you must’ve known I’d ask for more. You knew I’m not the kind of man who settles for less. I’ve always been cunning in my demands, Sara. And yet..." his lips curved faintly, "you still chose to fall right into my arms. Now you expect to act like a saint? Pretend I don’t want anything? Don’t you think that’s a little odd?"
Sara bit her lower lip, her pulse quickening under his gaze. "Just... Give ti," she whispered. "I had a terrible breakup, Luca. Just because I don’t wear the sorrow on my face doesn’t an I’ve moved on."
Luca’s face contorted with fury. He stood up and turned to the door.
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