Chapter 8
I stirred awake slowly as the morning light filtered through the curtains, stretching slightly before freezing.
The other side of the bed was crumpled.
My brows pulled together as I stared at the creased sheets, the faint imprint on the pillow.
The other side of the bed was untouched when I fell asleep. I was sure of it. And I wasn't the kind of sleeper who tossed and turned in sleep, let alone roll over to there and then made my way back here.
A strange feeling crept in my stomach.
Did Luca sleep here? No.
I knew for a fact he hadn't came home last night. At least not before I fell asleep.
I sat up slowly, running a hand through my hair. I pushed the thought aside and slid out of bed, padding toward the bathroom. After freshening up, I stepped out into the hallway heading toward the kitchen.
I hadn't expected to see him.
But there he was.
Luca stood by the counter, casually sipping from a mug of coffee, looking effortlessly put together despite the early hour. His crisp white shirt was unbuttoned at the top, sleeves rolled up to his elbows revealing strong forearms. He looked up as I walked in.
"Morning" I murmured, hesitating near the kitchen island.
He didn't respond. Not at first. He just took another sip of his coffee, his expression giving nothing away.
Then setting the mug down, he simply said "Get ready. We have to leave."
I blinked. "Leave? Where?"
He just glanced at his watch before leveling me with a look. "The estate."
I frowned, confusion knitting my brows. "Why?"
Luca's gaze flicked back to me like he didn't have the patience to deal with me. "Go. Get. Ready."
I swallowed, my lips parting as if to ask again but one look at his expression told me I wouldn't get an answer. So, instead I turned and walked back toward the bedroom.
By the time I stepped out dressed and ready, Luca was already waiting by the elevator, his keys dangling from his fingers. He barely spared me a glance before stepping in.
The drive to the estate was quiet. Luca kept his eyes on the road, one hand resting casually on the wheel, the other tapping lightly against the gear shift.
I sat stiffly beside him, hands clasped in my lap, staring out at the passing streets.
At some point, he broke the silence. "My family lives there."
I glanced at him but his focus remained ahead.
I already knew that. I had met them briefly on our wedding day. They had all been nice to me. Or at least as nice as a family like theirs could be.
When we arrived, Luca didn't say anything. He simply stepped out of the car. The guards at the entrance straightened as he passed but he didn't acknowledge them.
He didn't glance back at me, didn't say a word as I followed him inside the grand Moretti estate.
The moment we crossed the threshold, I felt the weight of this place. It was vast, luxurious but not empty like Luca's penthouse.
Luca had stopped just before he reached the hallway leading deeper into the estate. I stopped walking too.
Maria Moretti, his mom was already there, standing at the archway leading to the main hall. She must have been waiting. Her lips curved into a small smile.
Luca met her gaze. Then in that same detached, unbothered tone he always use, he said "I will be leaving now."
He didn't say another word before turning and disappearing down the hallway, leaving me standing there in the vast, elegant home of his family.
Maria regarded me with a careful expression.
"Well" she said, a small smile forming "It looks like it's just us for now."
I nodded "It seems so."
There was an awkward beat of silence before she turned, gesturing for me to follow. "Come, dear. You must be hungry. Have you had breakfast?"
I hesitated. "Not yet."
"Then let's fix that."
I trailed behind her through the estate, the space grand but not cold. Unlike Luca's penthouse, which felt like an expensive hotel suite with no signs of being lived in, the Moretti home felt... real.
It was elegant, yes, but there were personal touches everywhere. Family portraits along the walls, warm colors, hand picked furniture.
The kitchen was already busy, staff moving around. The smell of freshly baked bread and coffee filled the air, making my stomach twist with hunger I hadn't even realized I had.
Maria motioned for me to sit at the breakfast nook where a plate had already been set.
She poured herself a cup of coffee before taking a seat across from me. Her gaze was on me like she was studying me. "How has the marriage been so far?"
I hesitated, unsure how to answer. What was I supposed to say? That his son barely spoke to me? That he treated me like an obligation at best, a stranger at worst?
"It's... good." I lied.
Maria exhaled softly, setting down her cup with a quiet clink. Then she smiled but it wasn't an expression of amusement. It was the kind of smile that said she had already seen through me before I even opened my mouth.
"You don't have to lie, dear" she said gently. "I know Luca didn't want this marriage."
I stiffened slightly, my fingers curling around the edge of my napkin. I wasn't sure why I had bothered pretending in the first place. Maybe it was instinct, maybe it was the weight of expectation.
"I know" I admitted after a beat.
Maria exhaled, nodding slightly. "I thought as much." She took another sip of her coffee before adding, almost as an afterthought "But that doesn't mean you deserved to be treated as if you aren't wanted."
Something in my chest tightened at that and I focused on my plate, unsure how to respond. Maria didn't press. She simply picked up a piece of bread, breaking it apart carefully.
Then, just as the silence started to settle, a burst of laughter rang through the hallway.
A child's laughter.
I turned just as small, hurried footsteps echoed closer. A moment later, Leo appeared clutching Sara's hand. He stopped in the way when he saw me, his wide blue eyes filled with curiosity.
His little fingers tugged at Sara's sleeve. "Mama, who is she?"
Sara crouched down, brushing his curls back as she met his gaze.
"She is your zia, Leo," Sara said before looking up at me with a soft smile. "Alessa, you met her just a few days ago, remember?"
Leo blinked, processing. His small brows furrowed. "Zia?" he repeated, tilting his head like the word was unfamiliar.
Sara nodded. "Yes."
Leo nodded tugging her mother to the living room while giving me curious glances.
The day passed in a way I hadn't expected.
At first, I felt like an outsider like I was intruding on something I didn't quite belong to. But Maria and Sara made sure I wasn't left to the silence.
Sara was easy to be around. She had a way of pulling me into conversations without making it feel forced, chatting effortlessly about everything from Leo's antics to little details about the estate. Maria too was warm though her gaze remained observant as if she was silently piecing me together.
And then there was Leo.
He had been hesitant at first, watching me with wary curiosity. He stayed close to his mother, clutching at her dress every time I looked at him.
But slowly, he started creeping closer. It began with small things like a toy car rolled across the floor toward me that he pretended was an accident. A glance in my direction when he thought I wasn't looking at him.
Seeing him trying to come close to me, I offered to play with him and gladly we became friends soon.
By the time evening rolled in, the sky had darkened, heavy clouds gathering above the estate. The air smelled of rain and thunder rumbled faintly in the distance.
It started as a soft patter, then quickly escalated into a downpour. The sound of heavy raindrops filled the room.
Luca had just arrived, ready to take me back to the penthouse. We were just about to leave when Maria stopped us.
Maria turned to Luca, raising a brow. "You are not driving back in that."
Luca scoffed. "I can handle a little rain."
"That's not a little rain, Luca" She said motioning toward the windows. "You will stay the night."
Luca's jaw ticked. "We will be fine."
"You have nothing urgent tomorrow" Maria countered, her tone firm in a way that only mothers could manage. "It's dangerous to drive in this weather. Just stay."
I expected Luca to argue further but another loud crack of thunder seemed to punctuate Maria's words. He glanced outside watching as the rain came down in thick, fat drops and exhaled sharply.
"Fine, we will stay."