Chapter 62: To be more intimate
"I’ll take the coffee cup," Sara said simply, nodding toward the now-empty mug, using the small domestic chore as an excuse to exit the conversation, and walked away.
Michael watched her go, then his eyes settled on the file Sara had left on the table. A satisfied smile touched his lips just as he heard the voice of his wife, Vinni.
"Well, it turns out you’re getting along quite well with your daughter-in-law," Vinni remarked, her tone skeptical, before she gracefully took a seat on the couch. Her eyes immediately dropped to the file resting on the coffee table. "Don’t tell me you were actually planning to transfer some assets into her name."
"She’s only married to my son for a year," Vinni stated sharply, her surprise giving way to cold disapproval. "There’s no need to give her anything."
"I want them to stay married forever, though," Michael stated, his eyes steady on his wife’s.
"What? Why?" Vinni exclaimed, genuinely shocked. "Honey, I don’t see her as a suitable wife for Luca at all. They aren’t compatible with each other. They’re both just pretending to be together!"
"I know," Michael conceded, "but Luca loves her, and we need to understand Luca this time. I told you last night too, Vinni, our son barely even cares for us."
"I know that," Vinni admitted, her tone troubled. "But Sara’s life is already a mess. And Luca actually resorted to violence because of her! You’ve been monitoring his work for a while, and he hasn’t done anything like that in the past few months."
"Luca operates in secret. The only reason I found out this time is because Asher showed up at the wedding," Michael reasoned. "Besides, Frida came to you, didn’t she? Vinni, let’s stop resisting. Let’s try to score some good points in the eyes of our son by supporting this marriage," Michael suggested, hinting at a strategic reconciliation.
Vinni saw Luca entering the living room. He stopped a servant, and asked about Sara from her.
"Luca, how was the sleep? You slept in your bedroom after such a long time," Vinni stated with her soft tone.
Luca ignored her and went to the kitchen, where Sara was present.
"Did you see how he treats us?" Michael asked her. "For him, we don’t exist."
Vinni knitted her brows together, agreeing with her husband. ’He does listen to Sara. There’s no doubt in that.’
~~~~
"So, you’ve been working here since the time of Luca’s birth?" Sara asked the butler, Erric, holding her empty coffee cup.
"Yes, Madam. It was a wave of joy in the entire family," Erric confirmed, a soft nostalgia in his eyes. "I still remember the day the senior master celebrated the event like it was a grand ceremony."
"Then, why did Luca stop living here?" Sara inquired, her gaze becoming genuinely curious.
"I’m afraid I’m not the best person to answer that question, Madam," Erric replied, his professional demeanor returning and the subtle refusal clearly indicating a boundary he set.
"Why? Has Luca asked you not to answer it?" Sara countered, her tone edging toward insistence. "I’m the daughter-in-law of this house now. I think I have a right to know."
"You are right, Madam," Erric acknowledged respectfully, "however, I am simply not in a position to answer your question."
Sara decided not to press him further when she heard the faint, measured sound of footsteps. Turning, she found Luca standing at the kitchen doorway, now fully ready in his sharp, professional suit.
"Good morning, Young Master," Erric greeted him formally.
"Morning. Is the breakfast ready?" Luca inquired.
"Almost. I’ll inform your parents to join you both at the dining table," Erric replied, and then excused himself. The maids, meanwhile, began moving the breakfast dishes out to the dining room.
Luca’s gaze settled on Sara, one eyebrow arched in question. "What were you asking him?"
"That’s what I was asking him about, why you stopped living here," Sara replied simply. "But Erric is quite professional; he wouldn’t tell me."
"I already told you that my parents’ views didn’t match with mine, so I left this house a long time ago," Luca answered, ready to dismiss the topic.
"I don’t believe you," Sara stated, her eyes sharp with skepticism, and started to move past him toward the dining room.
Luca’s hand shot out, catching her arm above the elbow. He gently but firmly drew her back, positioning her directly in front of him in the doorway. "Why?" he asserted, his voice gaining a hard edge. "I didn’t lie about this part! I’m being honest with you."
"Well, you have lied a few times before this," Sara countered. "It makes it tough to believe you now."
Sara’s eyes flickered past his shoulder to where she saw a maid entering the kitchen. Recognizing the sudden need for discretion, she gently pushed away his hand.
"Sara, what kind of attitude are you giving me?" Luca challenged, tilting his head as he studied her. He noticed her eyes subtly flicking past him and saw the maid standing nearby, her head bowed low, clearly trying to appear invisible.
"Let’s talk later," Sara said curtly, seizing the excuse to escape the tension, and brushed past him, walking out of the kitchen.
Luca let out a low, amused chuckle and dashed after her. Before she could reach the dining room door, he caught up to her, swiftly sweeping her up and hoisting her over his shoulder.
"Ahh! Luca!" she shouted, hitting his back with her fists. "Put me down!"
Her protests fell on deaf ears. He strode across the elegant drawing room, ignoring the fact that his parents watched them, clearly wondering what exactly was going on. He went straight toward their bedroom.
Kicking the door shut and locking it from the inside, Luca lowered Sara onto the mattress. He didn’t bother to be gentle, and the sudden drop made her gasp, her hair disheveled from the rough handling. Before she could even scramble off the bed, Luca was already above her, his body trapping her between the firm mattress and his muscular frame.
"Sara, you are making me crazy with this kind of treatment," he growled. "I told you I don’t want this arrangement to remain business. I want it to be more intimate." His eyes bored into hers, the conviction of his statement burning in his gaze.