"Ahh!" Luca whimpered as Sara’s fingers grazed his cheek, the sa spot where her punch had landed.
"You’re overreacting," Sara said casually.
"No, I’m not. It really hurts," he admitted, wincing.
Leaning closer, Sara blew softly over his cheek. A faint smile tugged at his lips as he exaggerated his reaction each ti her fingers applied the ointnt.
"Ah! Ouch! Be careful!" he groaned.
Sara rolled her eyes. "I haven’t even touched you."
Luca’s eyes snapped open, and he swallowed hard. "You did," he murmured.
With an annoying gaze, she punched his chest lightly. He doubled over on the bed. She set the tube on the mattress and said, "Do it yourself. I’m sleepy."
Luca turned his head, then sat up, noticing Sara arranging the pillows in the middle of the bed.
"Don’t you dare move them," she warned, her tone playful but firm. "Else, I’ll kick you out."
He placed the ointnt on the table and switched off the lights. Sara had already pulled the duvet up, her back turned toward him.
"Hey, are you upset over sothing so small?" he asked softly.
"Of course!" she replied with a hint of annoyance. "You made feel guilty about punching you. And all you do is tease ."
"It’s fun to tease you," Luca murmured, reaching over her head. He propped himself on his elbow, moving closer, his fingers gently brushing through her hair. "And honestly... I’ve been waiting for you to pamper ."
"Yeah, by lying to ," Sara replied with a soft sigh, turning slightly away. "Just sleep, and let sleep too."
"You slept during the day too," he whispered playfully.
Sara went silent. She knew if she answered, he’d keep pushing her buttons until she lost her temper.
Seeing her retreat into quiet, Luca chuckled softly to himself, eased back, and closed his eyes. Soon, the room drifted into silence.
The next morning, Luca woke to an empty bedroom. Rubbing his eyes, he stepped out, only to find Sara bustling in the kitchen, preparing breakfast.
"When did you wake up?" he asked, stretching and rubbing the back of his neck.
"For over two hours. Freshen up quickly, we’ll have breakfast, then go to a place I’ve been wanting to explore," Sara replied, her attention fixed on the sizzling pan.
Luca hurried to the washroom, eager not to miss the al.
In the anti, Sara placed the last olette onto a casserole dish and turned off the stove. She covered it with a lid to keep it warm. Settling onto the couch in the living room, she scrolled through her phone, hoping for a ssage from Julia. But there was nothing.
’I hoped she would at least try to reach out,’ she thought.
She opened the news app she had been intentionally avoiding for days. To her surprise, there was hardly any coverage about her and Luca’s marriage. A sigh of relief escaped her lips, easing the tension in her chest. She had been worried about public opinion, about their judgntal views on her.
Just then, her phone buzzed with an unknown number. She hesitated, fingers hovering over the screen, before finally answering.
"Sara, this is Vinni De Augustino," her mother-in-law’s voice ca softly but firmly from the other side.
"Ah! Good morning," Sara replied warmly.
"How’s your honeymoon going? I hope it’s wonderful since Luca has been off the radar. That’s unusual for him," Vinni said, her voice carrying the faint sound of a teacup being set down. She could almost picture her mother-in-law resting the brewing herbal tea on its saucer.
"Do you want to speak to Luca? He’s in the shower right now," Sara replied.
"I want to talk to you," Vinni said. "Where are you both? And when are you returning?"
"We’re at the Amalfi Coast. We’ll return in three days," Sara answered promptly.
"Return tomorrow. Convince Luca," Vinni ordered.
"Is there sothing urgent that needs his attention?" Sara asked, a trace of concern creeping into her voice.
"You ask too many questions," Vinni replied tersely.
"Sorry," Sara murmured softly.
"Luca has done sothing that has angered his father. That’s all you need to know. I hope you bring him back tomorrow. You’ve chard my son into doing things he never dared before," Vinni pronounced, her voice carrying an unsettling edge.
Before Sara could respond, the line went dead.
She stared at the screen for longer than a second, her mind replaying Vinni’s words.
"His parents didn’t want him to marry . That’s the only reason they want us back ho," she murmured to herself.
"Who wants us back ho?" Luca’s voice ca from behind her, and she turned instantly. He was clad in a bathrobe, his hair still damp, walking toward the dining table.
"Your mother. She called ," Sara replied softly. "We should go back tomorrow."
Luca stopped in his tracks, his expression unreadable. "We aren’t going back," he said firmly.
"No, we are!" Sara declared, rising to her feet. Her voice carried frustration. "Your father is upset with you. They never wanted us to be married. You could have kept it a contract marriage arrangent instead of making such a big show."
"Sara, ignore my parents. They aren’t supposed to co between my decisions," Luca said firmly, his eyes locked on hers.
"But I do feel bad about it," she began softly, her voice tinged with concern. "Your relationship with your parents was never good, and–"
"That doesn’t justify the fact that I can’t marry you," Luca interrupted with an unwavering tone. "You’ll do what I tell you. Now, let’s not ruin our mood and have our breakfast."
Sara stayed silent, choosing not to argue. Deep down, she knew she would convince him later, when the mont was right.
However, as they settled around the dining table, Luca said softly, "My parents have a problem with everything. You don’t have to burden yourself with their words."
Sara cut the olette slowly, taking a small bite before replying. "Your mother said I chard her son into doing things he’s never done before," she remarked.
Luca let out a wry laugh. "I refused to marry the woman of her choice. That’s why she’s spreading such nonsense."
Sara paused, chewing thoughtfully. "Everyone thinks I seduced you," she murmured, the words recalling Asher’s cruel taunts from their wedding day. A faint shadow crossed her face before she looked away.
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