chapter 19: The secret

Anna barely slept that night. Her mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions, her thoughts consumed by everything that had happened with Luca. Every moment—the way his eyes had followed her, how he had stopped her from leaving, the charged silence between them—played in a loop inside her head. She told herself it was all just a game, just another way for him to assert control, to remind her of her place in his world. But deep down, a quiet voice inside her whispered otherwise.

Something was shifting between them. Something she wasn't sure she could stop, even if she wanted to.

By morning, she had convinced herself to create distance. She needed to focus, to remember why she was here, what her purpose was, and who Luca really was. He was dangerous, unpredictable, and controlling. She couldn't afford to lose herself in whatever had sparked between them. Whatever it was—it couldn't be real.

But staying away from him was proving to be more difficult than she had anticipated.

At breakfast, Isabelle found her sitting alone at the table, pouring herself a cup of coffee. She looked over at Anna with a knowing smile. "You look like you haven't slept," she commented, sliding into the seat across from her.

"I didn't," Anna admitted, trying to keep her voice steady.

Isabelle leaned back in her chair, watching her carefully. "Luca?"

Anna nearly choked on her coffee. "What? No!" she exclaimed, her eyes wide. The idea of Isabelle even suggesting it felt foreign to her, but a quick look at Isabelle's face told Anna that she wasn't buying it.

"Uh-huh." Isabelle smirked, clearly amused by Anna's flustered reaction. "You're in denial."

Anna scowled, determined not to show how much the accusation was getting to her. "There's nothing to be in denial about."

Isabelle arched an eyebrow, her gaze sharp. "Then why do you look guilty?"

Anna had no response. Instead, she took another sip of her coffee, trying to steady her racing heart. It seemed like Isabelle could read her thoughts, and that made Anna uneasy.

Isabelle leaned in slightly, lowering her voice. "You know, Luca has a secret."

That caught Anna's attention. She set her cup down, eyes narrowing in curiosity. "What?"

Isabelle's voice dropped further, her expression turning serious. "I overheard Marco and Antonio talking last night. They were talking about Luca keeping something locked away—something important, something none of us are supposed to know."

A chill ran through Anna. She didn't need to ask what that meant. Luca didn't strike her as the type to keep secrets because he feared the consequences. No, he kept them because he wanted control—power. And if he was hiding something, it was because he knew it could destroy him if it ever came to light.

"What kind of secret?" Anna asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I don't know exactly," Isabelle admitted, but there was an edge of frustration in her tone. "But I overheard Antonio getting furious. He said Luca was hiding something from the entire family, and that no one should trust him if it ever got out."

The mention of Antonio only added to Anna's unease. If he was upset enough to confront Luca, it could mean trouble. Real trouble. She needed to know more.

A knot formed in Anna's stomach as she processed Isabelle's words. Luca was hiding something. But what? And why did he choose to keep it from her? The questions gnawed at her, the answers just out of reach. She had to find out.

Later that afternoon, after much contemplation, Anna found herself pacing the halls of the mansion, her eyes scanning every shadow, every corner. She couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Luca than she had initially believed. If there was a secret, it wasn't just something trivial—it had to be important. It had to be tied to everything that was happening between them, to the undeniable pull she felt when she was around him.

She had to find the truth.

After what felt like an eternity of searching, Anna ended up outside Luca's office. The door was locked, of course. But that didn't stop her from trying the handle, testing her luck. The tension in the air was thick, her breath catching as she glanced around, ensuring no one was coming. She shouldn't be doing this. She knew that. If Luca caught her snooping—if he found out she was prying into his life, into his business—there would be consequences. But the need for answers was too strong to ignore.

Just as her fingers brushed the doorknob, a voice broke through her thoughts.

"Looking for something?"

Anna spun around, her heart leaping into her throat. She barely managed to keep her balance, her body stiffening as she faced Luca. His figure loomed in the hallway, arms crossed, his expression unreadable but intense, his eyes piercing into hers.

She opened her mouth to respond, but the words caught in her throat. "I… was just—"

"Lying?" he interrupted, his voice smooth, almost mocking.

She swallowed hard, closing her mouth immediately. Luca stepped forward, each movement purposeful, his presence overpowering. The air between them thickened, charging with tension.

"If you want to know something, Anna," he said slowly, his voice low and dangerous, "all you have to do is ask."

Anna fought to keep her composure. "Would you actually tell me?"

Luca's lips curved into a slow, knowing smirk. "Depends on what you're asking."

Anna hesitated. She could feel the weight of his gaze, the way his eyes watched her, daring her to push further. She could demand answers, could try to pry the truth from him, but everything in his posture told her that wouldn't be easy. That it would come with consequences—consequences she wasn't sure she was prepared for.

Instead, she decided to turn the question back on him.

"What are you hiding, Luca?" The words slipped from her lips before she could think them through.

There was a brief pause, and the silence between them felt suffocating. Luca's expression didn't change, but Anna noticed a flicker of something—something dark—pass over his features. For a split second, he looked like a man whose secrets were far too heavy to bear.

Then, without a word, he leaned in, his breath warm against her skin. His voice dropped to a whisper, barely audible. "You're not ready for that answer."

Anna's heart skipped a beat. The finality of his words sent a shiver down her spine, and she took a step back, trying to compose herself.

Before she could say anything else, Luca straightened up, turning on his heel without another glance at her. "Think about that. You have no idea what you're really asking, Anna."

And just like that, he walked away, leaving Anna standing in the hallway, her chest tight, her mind racing. She had known from the start that Luca was dangerous, unpredictable, but this… this was something different.

Now, more than ever, she was determined to find out what he was hiding.

The pieces of the puzzle were there, scattered around her, but she had no idea how to put them together. One thing was certain though—whatever secret Luca was hiding, it was big. And it was only a matter of time before she uncovered it.