Chapter 5: The Second Chance She Never Asked For
"I take it back."
Maya's voice cut through the silence of Luca's penthouse.
Luca turned, his expression unreadable as he leaned against the sleek marble counter, a tumbler of whiskey in his hand.
She didn't wait for permission.
She stormed toward him, her pulse hammering, her hands trembling. "I never wanted to reject you, Luca."
Maya's voice trembled, but she didn't let herself back down.
Not now. Not when she was finally standing in front of the only man she had ever loved—the man she had betrayed.
Luca stared at her as if she were a stranger. As if the years they had spent together, the nights wrapped in each other's arms, meant nothing.
The realization stung more than it should have.
Her throat tightened.
"I never stopped loving you."
His laughter was sharp, bitter.
"Love?"
He took a slow sip of his whiskey, his gaze never leaving hers.
"That's rich, coming from the woman who threw me away like fucking garbage."
Her chest ached.
"I was protecting you."
Luca scoffed, stepping closer.
"No, Maya. You were protecting yourself."
His fingers brushed the side of her jaw, deceptively gentle before he gripped it, forcing her to hold his gaze.
"Tell me. When you signed that contract, when you walked away, did you cry for me?"
Tears burned behind her eyes.
"Every single night."
His grip tightened for a second before he released her, shaking his head.
"Too bad, princess. I was too busy drowning in rage to hear your sobs."
His grip on the glass tightened.
"Do you think I'm a fool?"
Her breath hitched. "No—"
"Then don't insult me." His voice was cold, his eyes darker than she'd ever seen them.
"You walk in here after everything, expecting me to just—what? Forgive you?"
He let out a bitter laugh. "You must be out of your fucking mind."
She flinched. "I'm telling you the truth. My family…Brielle—"
His jaw clenched at the mention of her sister. "Oh, so now it's their fault?"
"It was never real, Luca," she whispered.
"The rejection. The contract. It was all forged. They made me do it."
For a fleeting second, something flashed in his expression. Doubt? Hope?
Then, just as quickly, it was gone.
"So you're telling me I destroyed myself over a lie?" His voice was low, lethal.
Maya's stomach twisted.
"I didn't know until now. You have to believe me—"
He slammed his palm against the marble counter, making her jump.
"Believe you?" His laugh was sharp.
"You expect me to believe that after all these years, after all the damage, you suddenly want to make things right?"
Her voice was barely a whisper. "Yes."
His gaze swept over her, unreadable, before he stepped even closer.
"You have no idea what I've become, Maya."
She swallowed hard.
"Then show me. But first I need you to believe me Luca, please…"
"You're lying."
"I'm not!"
He slammed his glass down, shattering the tension between them. "Then prove it."
She blinked. "What?"
"You want me to believe you?" Luca stepped forward, crowding her, his heat overwhelming.
"Then destroy them. Every single one of them. The Carter name. The empire. Everything your family built."
Maya's knees nearly buckled. "You can't be serious."
Luca smiled, slow and cruel.
"I've never been more serious in my life."
She shook her head.
"Luca, they're my family."
"And what was I?" His voice was deceptively soft, but the pain underneath it was razor-sharp.
"Because family doesn't rip out your heart and serve it on a silver fucking platter."
Her vision blurred. "I don't know how to do this."
Luca leaned in, his breath warm against her ear. "Figure it out."
Maya's stomach twisted.
He wasn't asking her to walk away from them.
He was asking for revenge.
Her lips parted, but no words came out.
Luca smirked, seeing her hesitation.
"Exactly what I thought." He turned away, pouring another drink.
"You don't want me back, Maya. You want shelter. A safety net. Well, I'm not your fucking lifeline."
"You think this is easy for me?"
He scoffed.
"I think you've never had to make a real choice in your life."
Maya's fingers curled into fists. "Fine."
He raised a brow.
"I'll do it." Her voice was steady, but inside, she was breaking.
Luca studied her, searching for cracks.
"Then you better not fucking hesitate when the time comes."
She swallowed hard.
Meanwhile…
Brielle smashed her champagne glass against the fireplace, shards raining onto the expensive rug.
"She was supposed to be gone!" Her voice was sharp, slicing through the air as she paced in her suite.
Her mother sighed, adjusting her pearl necklace. "Relax, darling. Luca will never take her back."
Brielle's nails dug into her palms. "That's not the point! He's supposed to hate her! Not—" She stopped, her chest heaving.
Not look at her like that.
Not chase her with his eyes when he thought no one noticed.
Her mother took a sip of wine. "Then make sure she never gets the chance."
Brielle reached for her phone. No. she wouldn't let this happen. She had spent too long building her perfect life, securing her place by Luca's side.
She wouldn't lose him to Maya.
She dialed a number, her lips pressing into a small line.
The call connected. A deep voice answered.
"Fix this. I don't care what it takes."
A pause.
"And if she doesn't back off?"
Brielle's smile was sharp. "Then she won't live to regret it."
Brielle stilled.
Slowly, a cruel smile curled her lips.
*************************
As Maya stood in front of Luca, her heart in her throat.
He stepped closer, his scent intoxicating, his presence suffocating.
"You want a second chance?"
She nodded.
His lips ghosted over her ear, his voice like silk.
"Kneel and beg me."