Chapter 39: She’ll only hate me
"How long do you plan to stand out here?" Luca’s voice came from behind her. He slipped his hands into the pockets of his trousers as he stopped beside her.
Sara didn’t respond. Her silence stretched, cool and deliberate.
"Are you upset?" he asked, tilting his head slightly to study her face. When he reached for her hand, she smacked the back of his palm with a sharp slap.
"Ouch." A faint, rueful smile tugged at his lips. "Don’t be like that."
"Don’t touch me," Sara warned, shooting him a glare before turning on her heel and heading inside.
In the bedroom, she grabbed her phone from the nightstand and opened the food delivery app, scrolling briskly through the options. Just as she tapped on a menu, a sudden movement behind her made her flinch.
"Ah!" she gasped, startled by Luca’s quiet presence so close.
"Are you still upset... about what I did seven years ago?" he asked softly.
"Yes," she snapped. "Now move. I’m trying to order dinner for us."
Luca exhaled slowly, his voice dropping to a murmur. "We could’ve cooked, you know."
"Do you even know how to cook?" Sara rolled her eyes.
"You would’ve taught me. I pick things up fast," Luca replied. "Remember the pottery class? You had to show me how to center the clay. I was hopeless without you."
"No, I don’t remember," Sara said. "And I have no interest in cooking with you." She tried to brush past him, but Luca caught her wrist and pulled her back. Before she could pull away he slipped his arm around her and hugged her from behind.
"Don’t be mad," he murmured into her hair. "What happened seven years ago was a foolish mistake of mine. I never imagined you would turn out this... irresistible and sexy."
"Seriously, Luca?" Sara’s fingers curled into tight fists. "Let me go or I’ll punch you." She warned him right after that.
"Fine, punch me if it’ll make you feel better," he said, releasing her. He didn’t truly expect her to. So when her fist connected with his face he staggered, nearly collapsing onto the bed.
"You hit me," Luca said, turning to look at her, stunned and more hurt than angry.
"I won’t worship you," Sara said, voice small and hard at once. She walked out of the room, leaving him in a shock.
Luca chuckled softly, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "That’s the Sara I know," he murmured to himself. "Some things about her never change."
Out in the living room, Sara sat on the sofa and finished placing the food order. With a sigh, she closed the delivery app and switched to her messaging app. Her eyes scanned the screen, still no reply from her secretary after all these days. Just as she was about to lock her phone, a new message appeared.
[Sara, I’ve resigned from my position. I’m sorry I couldn’t get in touch sooner.]
Her expression hardened. She closed the chat and scrolled through her other messages. She’d forgotten to block Asher and Frida. Just as she was about to block Frida, her message appeared on the screen along with several pictures. They were the photos of Asher’s face, swollen and bruised.
[Your husband did this to Asher.]
[You think blocking me will keep me quiet?]
Sara’s brows furrowed as she read the messages. Without a word, she rose from the sofa and hurried to the bedroom.
Luca was lying on the bed, a faint smile playing on his lips as if lost in a pleasant thought.
"What did you do to Asher?" she demanded.
The question caught him off guard. His smile faded, confusion clouding his face as he pushed himself upright.
"What?" he asked, frowning.
Sara stepped closer and thrust her phone toward him. "Frida sent me these," she said, her voice tight. "Pictures of Asher, beaten and bruised. What’s going on, Luca? Earlier, she even called you a gangster. Do you... Hire people to hurt others?"
Luca’s expression hardened, but before he could answer, Sara pulled her phone back and quickly blocked Frida’s number.
"Say something," Sara urged. "You didn’t have to do anything cruel. Whatever Asher did to me... it’s in the past now. I know Frida’s lying, you would never do something like that."
Luca stared at her for a moment. A faint realization settled over him. Sara had built an image of him that wasn’t entirely true.
"What if I did?" he asked.
Sara shook her head without hesitation. "No, you wouldn’t. You follow the law, Luca. You might be capable of many things, but not this." Her tone carried a stubborn conviction, the kind that came from trust, or perhaps denial.
Luca’s expression softened. ’If I tell her now, she’ll only hate me,’ he thought, glancing away. ’Better to wait... She’ll learn the truth when the time comes.’
"Does it hurt?" Sara asked softly as she sat down beside him on the bed. Her fingers brushed against his cheek, and Luca flinched at the touch.
"Don’t," he whispered. "It hurts," wincing in pain.
"You shouldn’t have provoked me," she murmured, a hint of guilt laced in her voice.
"I thought you were joking," Luca said, meeting her gaze with a faint smile.
Sara sighed and picked up her phone. "I’ll order some ointment."
"It’s fine," he said quickly. "You don’t need to trouble yourself over it."
But Sara had already placed the order. Setting her phone down on the mattress, she looked up, and her eyes met Luca’s once more.
"I don’t know what Frida’s trying to prove by sending me those pictures," she said.
"I think Asher deserved to get beaten up," Luca replied, watching her closely, testing her reaction.
Sara exhaled, her voice steady but edged with bitterness. "You’re right... but under the law, it’s not justifiable." Her gaze drifted away for a moment. "Do you think I never wanted to hit him? He showed me a side I never thought I’d see in a man. I was foolish back then. And the day he tried to pin the blame on me... Saying I slept with you."
"He should feel blessed he’s still alive," Luca murmured under his breath.
Sara’s brows knit together. "What did you just say?"
"Nothing," Luca replied quickly.
She studied him for a moment, suspicion flickering in her eyes. "Your parents aren’t happy about this marriage," she said finally, her voice firm. "Do you really think you can hold it together for long?"
"My parents hate everything I do," Luca said simply. "Have you ever seen them happy for me? I stopped trying a long time ago. Now, I just do whatever makes me happy."
Sara raised an eyebrow. "So marrying me makes you happy?"
Luca gave a small, teasing hum. "Hmm... at least I’m not living alone. Sharing a place with you is entertaining." A faint smirk tugged at his lips.
"You never take anything seriously, do you?" Sara said, shaking her head in exasperation.
"I’m serious," Luca said, frowning. "Why do you always think I’m lying? I’m not as heartless as you believe, Sara. I wanted to help a miserable woman, someone who had no one else to turn to."
Sara let out a wry laugh. "You aren’t good at heart, Luca. Have you already forgotten what you said when you made that deal with me? Don’t rewrite it now just to make yourself feel better."
Her tone softened slightly as she changed the subject. "I wonder what’s happening at the company now. You even replaced the entire structure."
"It was necessary," Luca replied firmly.
Just then, her phone buzzed. "Ah, the order’s here," she said, quickly answering the call. She stepped outside and walked a short distance to meet the delivery man.
When she returned, Luca was already seated in the living room, looking up at her.
"Let’s eat!" Sara said with a bright smile, heading to the dining table to arrange the dishes.
Luca watched her and asked with a teasing tone, "You ordered a lot. Are we really going to finish all of this?"
"I’m hungry," Sara replied with a grin, setting the last dish down. "Don’t worry, I won’t leave a single bite."
Sara went to the kitchen and returned with cutlery, then settled into her chair. As they began eating, Luca couldn’t help but watch her, finding her quietly adorable.
"This chicken is so soft... it just melts in your mouth," Sara murmured, her eyes briefly closing in enjoyment.
"Hmm... chicken curry, huh?" Luca said, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"Yeah," Sara replied, glancing at him. "I thought we should try an Indian dish tonight."
Luca chuckled softly, shaking his head.
Sara heard her phone ringing from the living room. "I think the ointment came," she replied.
"I’ll bring it," Luca left his seat already. He washed his hand and went out. Within a few minutes, he was back with a small package in his hand.
"I’ll apply it after finishing eating," Sara replied, bringing the water glass close to her mouth.
"Sure." He saw her loose hair keep falling to the front. He went to the bedroom and brought a hairband. Returning to the dining table, he stood behind Sara and tenderly grabbed her hair to tie them.
She stiffened with his touch and lowered the spoon.