Sylvia and Luke appear to have the perfect life. A thriving fashion startup, a beautiful four-year-old daughter, and a love that began when they met at Harvard Business School. But beneath the surface, Luke hides a dark secret-he's the heir to one o...
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"Who are you? What do you want? We have a daughter." Panic sets within her as she frantically searches for answers, her voice trembling with fear and urgency. My father's lips curl into a sinister smile, his eyes gleaming with malice as he takes a step closer to Sylvia's bedside.
"I am Enzo Biancchi," he says softly, his voice dripping with disdain as he looks at me. "And what I want, my dear, is to have all members of the family to be present at tonight's engagement dinner."
Sylvia's eyes widen in horror as the weight of his words sinks in. "I don't even know you. You can't just do this, we have a daughter!"
But my father merely smiles, a cold, humorless sound that sends a shiver down my spine. "Your daughter is safe, my dear. You will see her at dinner tonight."
His gaze shifts to me, his eyes boring into mine with an intensity that makes my blood run cold. "As for you, Luca, I must say I'm disappointed. I hope you won't embarrass the family tonight."
I grit my teeth against the surge of anger and defiance rising within me. "What are you talking about?"
But my father merely shakes his head, a smug smirk playing on his lips. "Oh, you'll find out soon enough. But for now, I suggest you make yourself comfortable. You and your wife have a long night ahead of you."
With that ominous warning, he turns on his heel and strides out of the room, leaving Sylvia and me alone in the suffocating silence. Panic threatens to overwhelm me as I realize the gravity of our situation. Trapped in my father's mansion, surrounded by enemies and secrets, our lives hang in the balance like a thread on the edge of a knife. And as Sylvia's trembling hand finds mine, I know that the only thing that matters now is finding a way to escape, to protect her and Lyria at all costs.
Sylvia's voice trembles as she reaches out to me, her eyes searching mine for answers amidst the chaos and uncertainty. "Luca," she whispers, her voice barely audible above the weight of our predicament. "Why did he call you Luca? How does he know you?"
I swallow hard, the bitter taste of fear and betrayal lingering on my tongue as I struggle to find the right words. "It's... complicated," I begin, my voice barely above a whisper. "Luca was... my name before. Before I left this place, before I became Luke."
Sylvia's eyes widen in confusion and concern, her fingers tightening around mine in a silent plea for reassurance. "What do you mean, before?" she asks, her voice trembling with emotion.
I take a deep breath, steeling myself to confront the painful memories that have haunted me for so long. "I grew up here,," I explain, each word heavy with the weight of my past. "That man,... he is my father." I sigh, as I finish my sentence. As much as it relieves me to finally tell her the truth. It also scares me to fucking death.
It's been a minute and she hasn't said a thing. I don't know what she's thinking right now. I expect her to scream at me, or even slap the shit out of me. It's like I just killed her with my words. But I guess I would be like that too if I were in her shoes right now.
The silence stretches on, a suffocating weight pressing down on me heavier than the luxurious drapes framing the window. A minute bled into two, then three, each tick of the antique clock on the mantelpiece echoing in the vast emptiness of the room. Sylvia remains a statue, her face a canvas of conflicting emotions. Hurt flickers in her eyes, a flicker quickly replaced by a cold, steely glint of betrayal.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Her voice when it finally came was a mere whisper, laced with an icy edge that sent a fresh wave of fear down my spine. "All these fucking years."
Shame burns in my gut, acrid and bitter. "I... I was scared," I confess, my voice barely above a hoarse croak. "I didn't want to be here, that's why I ran away to the states. And then I met you, and you..., you changed everything for me. I thought he would leave me alone."
Sylvia's voice trembles with a mixture of anger and despair, her words slicing through the air like a sharpened blade. "THEY TOOK US FROM OUR HOME, LUKE! Or Luca, I'm not even sure I know who you are right now!," she barks, her frustration and confusion bubbling to the surface. "They have Lyria, and I don't even want to think about what they have done to her by now!"
I flinch at the mention of Lyria, the thought of not knowing the well-being of our own daughter sending a fresh wave of panic coursing through my veins. "I'm Luke Marino," I insist, my voice pleading for her to understand as I gently squeeze her shoulders. "I'm still the same person you decided to marry five years ago. I'm Lyria's father, and I would do anything to keep you and our daughter safe." Our eyes meet as I search for understanding in her eyes
Suddenly, the heavy silence is broken by the sound of the door creaking open, and in walks Maria, my childhood maid. Her eyes widen in surprise and relief as she rushes towards me, enveloping me in a tight hug. "Luca! Oh, mio caro Luca!" she exclaims, her voice filled with emotion.
