Chapter 23: Unraveling Threads

The days blurred together after that night. Anna's mind raced with questions she couldn't quite answer, her thoughts constantly circling around Luca's cryptic words and his ever-watchful gaze. She tried to distract herself with the mundane tasks of daily life in the mansion, but it was impossible to ignore the ever-present tension between them.

Each time Luca appeared, it felt like the air thickened, charged with unspoken words, with promises of something dangerous, something inevitable. Anna couldn't help but wonder what his secret was. What could be so important, so life-altering, that he would go to such lengths to hide it?

Her nights were restless, haunted by dreams of Luca's gaze, his words, and the lingering touch that burned her skin. It was like he had already claimed her, even though she fought it every step of the way.

But she wasn't the only one changing. As much as she resisted him, as much as she told herself she wanted to walk away, she found herself pulled deeper into his world, unable to escape the gravity of his presence. And now, there was something new—the lingering sense that Luca was keeping her close for reasons that went beyond mere control.

One evening, after another silent dinner with Luca across from her, his gaze never wavering, Anna couldn't take it any longer. She stood abruptly, the chair scraping harshly against the floor.

"I'm going for a walk," she said, the words almost coming out in a whisper.

Luca didn't even flinch. He didn't need to. His eyes followed her, cold and calculating, and for a brief moment, she wondered if he knew everything she was thinking.

"Don't go far," he said, his voice low but firm.

Anna ignored the command, the words echoing in her mind as she turned and left the dining room. She didn't care anymore. She needed space—distance from him, from the suffocating pull of his presence. She needed to clear her head.

The mansion grounds were expansive, a sprawling maze of hedges, gardens, and towering trees that shielded her from the prying eyes inside. She walked aimlessly, her thoughts like a storm, swirling faster than she could control.

As she rounded a corner, she nearly bumped into Isabelle, who was leaning against the stone wall of the garden, her arms crossed, a bemused smile playing on her lips.

"Lost in thought?" Isabelle asked, her voice light.

Anna didn't bother with a response. Isabelle could read her better than anyone else in the mansion, and Anna didn't want to admit that she was unraveling.

"Don't worry," Isabelle continued, her smile widening. "You're not the only one dealing with him."

Anna's gaze snapped to her. "What do you mean?"

Isabelle shrugged. "I've seen the way Luca looks at you, Anna. It's the same way he looked at me once."

Anna's heart skipped. She knew Isabelle had a history with Luca, but hearing it like this made something sharp twist inside her. "What do you mean, 'looked at you'?"

Isabelle's smile turned bittersweet, her eyes shadowed. "Before he… well, before everything changed. We had something. It was never as complicated as what you two have, but it was real. He used to want me, the way he wants you now."

The words hung in the air like a weight. Anna didn't know what to say. She could feel the sting of jealousy clawing at her chest, but she pushed it down, her voice cold. "And now?"

Isabelle paused, her expression unreadable. "Now I'm just a reminder. A ghost of the past."

Anna took a step back, her mind reeling. Isabelle's admission didn't make sense. Was Luca playing with her like he had with Isabelle? Or was there something more to this? Was there something he wasn't telling her about their past?

She opened her mouth to ask, but Isabelle stopped her with a raised hand. "Don't waste your time asking. I'm not the one you should be focusing on. You need to figure out what you want, Anna. Before it's too late."

Before she could respond, Isabelle walked away, leaving Anna standing in the garden, her thoughts swirling.

The following days were a blur of unease and uncertainty. Anna kept her distance from Luca, but every glance, every touch, made it harder to resist the pull between them. The more she tried to understand him, the more she realized how little she truly knew.

Luca seemed to be hiding more than just a secret. There were layers to him—dark, tangled threads of his past that she wasn't sure she was ready to uncover. But she couldn't stop herself. She needed to know.

One night, unable to sleep, Anna found herself wandering the mansion again. She made her way down the hallway to Luca's study. The door was slightly ajar, and through the crack, she could see the dim glow of a desk lamp. She hesitated for a moment, then pushed the door open just a fraction.

Luca was sitting at his desk, his back to her. He was alone, as usual, but there was something different tonight. The tension that had always hung in the air felt heavier, more oppressive.

Her heart pounded as she stepped closer, her feet silent on the hardwood floor. She didn't know what she was hoping to find, but something told her she needed to keep going. She couldn't stay in the dark any longer.

Luca's voice broke the silence, and Anna froze. "I know you're there, Anna."

She swallowed, her breath catching in her throat. She had no choice now but to face him.

"I need answers," she said, her voice stronger than she felt. "I'm done waiting. What are you hiding?"

Luca's chair creaked as he slowly turned to face her, his gaze unreadable. For a moment, neither of them spoke. The tension between them was palpable, thick enough to suffocate.

"I told you," Luca said finally, his voice low. "You're not ready for the truth."

Anna took a step closer, her eyes never leaving his. "I'm ready now."

Luca stood abruptly, closing the space between them in an instant. His presence enveloped her, his eyes dark and intense, a storm brewing just beneath the surface.

"Then brace yourself," he murmured, his voice barely a whisper against her skin.

Anna's breath caught in her throat, her heart racing as she realized that whatever truth Luca was about to reveal, it would change everything.

And she wasn't sure if she was ready for it.