The Wounded Bloodline

An unwelcome Visitor

Stelle's POV:

The next morning, I woke up feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. Luca and I had spent the rest of the day before getting to know each other, sharing stories and laughter, and I felt a connection with him that I couldn't ignore.

As I got dressed and ready for the day, I heard a knock at the door. Luca got up to answer it, and I could hear the sound of a woman's voice on the other side.

"Luca, darling! I hope I'm not interrupting anything," she said, her voice dripping with sweetness.

Luca's expression changed from relaxed to tense in an instant. "Mother," he said, his voice cold. "What are you doing here?"

I walked out of the bedroom to see a woman with long, curly hair and a designer dress standing in the living room. She was Luca's stepmother, Victoria.

"Stelle, this is my stepmother, Victoria," Luca said, his voice dripping with disdain. "Victoria, this is Stelle."

Victoria's eyes narrowed as she looked me up and down. "Charmed," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I didn't know Luca had a new... friend."

I felt a surge of discomfort under her gaze, but I stood my ground. "Nice to meet you," I said, my voice firm.

Victoria's eyes lingered on me for a moment before she turned back to Luca. "I need to talk to you about something, Luca. Something important."

Luca sighed, his expression resigned. "What is it, Mother?"

Victoria smiled, her eyes glinting with malice. "It's about your father's business. And your future."

I could sense the tension in the air, the weight of unspoken words. And I knew that this visit was not going to be pleasant.

Victoria's eyes locked onto Luca's, her gaze piercing. "Your father's business is in trouble, Luca. And you're the only one who can save it."

Luca raised an eyebrow, his expression skeptical. "What are you talking about, Mother? Father's business is fine."

Victoria's smile grew wider, her voice dripping with sweetness. "Oh, Luca. You're so naive. Your father's company is on the brink of bankruptcy. And the only way to save it is to marry a woman with the right connections."

My eyes widened in shock as I realized what Victoria was suggesting. She wanted Luca to marry some woman he didn't love, just to save his father's business.

Luca's face darkened, his eyes flashing with anger. "You know I'll never do that, Mother. I'll never marry someone I don't love."

Victoria's expression turned cold, her voice icy. "You don't have a choice, Luca. You owe it to your father to save his business. And you owe it to me to make me proud."

The tension in the room was palpable, the air thick with unspoken words. I knew that Luca was trapped, caught between his loyalty to his family and his own desires.

And I knew that I had to do something to help him. But what?

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Luca's POV:

I felt a surge of anger and frustration as I looked at my stepmother. How could she even suggest such a thing? Did she really think I would sacrifice my own happiness to save my father's business?

"Mother, I'm not going to do it," I said, my voice firm. "I'm not going to marry some woman I don't love just to save the company."

Victoria's face turned red with anger, her eyes flashing with fury. "You ungrateful child," she spat. "You're just like your father, always thinking of yourself and no one else."