Chapter 4

The next few days are marked by an uneasy truce between Gianna and Luca. Despite the tension that lingers in the air like smoke, they go about their lives as if everything is normal. Luca is consumed with his empire—meetings, deals, and power moves that keep him busy. Gianna, on the other hand, finds herself wandering the halls of their penthouse, her mind restless and filled with questions.

She tries to find solace in the art that once brought her peace, but it's hard to focus when her every thought keeps returning to Luca's secrets. Every glance from him feels like a challenge, every silence between them an unspoken confession of something unsaid.

One evening, she's in the studio—her sanctuary—when the door opens, and Luca steps inside.

"Gianna," he begins, his voice low. "I need to speak with you."

Gianna doesn't even look up from the canvas she's been working on. "I'm listening."

Luca takes a step forward, his eyes dark, unreadable. "We need to have a real conversation. About what happened last night."

She finally looks at him, her eyes narrowing. "What happened last night, Luca? I'm not the one hiding things from my wife."

His jaw tightens, but he remains composed. "This isn't what you think."

Gianna's heart races as Luca explains, in as much detail as he's willing to give, the truth behind his relationship with the woman from the night before. Her name is Isabella Moretti, a former associate of Luca's from a time before his rise in power. Isabella had been a trusted confidante, but their relationship had long since ended, as Luca had decided to sever ties with anyone who might be a liability to his plans.

Gianna listens to him speak, her mind racing, piecing together the puzzle of his world. "You think this is over?" she asks, her voice steady but filled with venom. "You think I'll just accept this… this… lie?"

Luca's expression hardens. "I'm not lying to you, Gianna. Everything I've done has been to protect you—to protect us."

Gianna laughs bitterly. "Protect me? You think I'm some fragile little thing who needs your protection? You've already trapped me in this marriage, in this life. What more do you need from me?"

Luca takes a step closer, his voice low and intense. "I need you to trust me. Trust that everything I've done has been for you, even if it doesn't seem like it."

Gianna looks away, her heart torn between the need for truth and the fear of what she might find if she digs deeper. "I don't know if I can trust you anymore, Luca."

There's a long pause before he speaks again, his voice softer. "I'm not asking you to forgive me. I'm asking for time. Time to make things right."

Later that night, Gianna finds herself alone in their penthouse again. Luca has gone out on business—something about a deal with a rival family, something she doesn't understand and doesn't care to know. She can't help but feel the weight of his words.

She's not a fool. She knows the world she's entered is dangerous, twisted, and full of secrets. But she also knows that she can't live in ignorance forever.

Gianna grabs her phone, staring at the unknown number that called her days ago. She hesitates for a moment, then dials the number.

The call connects almost immediately.

"Gianna," the same low voice greets her, sending a chill down her spine. "I see you're ready to learn the truth."

The man on the other end of the line introduces himself as Antonio Ricci, a rival of Luca's in the criminal world. He tells Gianna that Luca is not the man he claims to be—that the marriage, the empire, everything about him is built on betrayal, lies, and bloodshed.

"He's been using you, Gianna," Antonio's voice drips with malicious satisfaction. "He's playing a game, and you're just another pawn."

Gianna's heart pounds in her chest. "Why should I believe you?" she demands, her voice trembling despite her best efforts to remain calm. "What do you want from me?"

"I don't want anything from you," Antonio responds, a sly smile in his voice. "I'm just offering you the truth. Luca Romano isn't your knight in shining armor. He's a monster."

The call ends abruptly, leaving Gianna staring at her phone in disbelief. She feels a cold sweat break out along her spine. Can she trust this man? Or is this just another manipulation?

As Gianna grapples with the weight of Antonio's words, Luca returns home late that night. His usual calm exterior is replaced with a rare hint of frustration. He enters the penthouse, tossing his keys on the table before turning to face her.

"Where were you?" he asks, his voice tight. "I went to check on you, and you weren't here."

"I went for a walk," she lies, her eyes not meeting his. "I needed some air."

Luca's gaze narrows, as if sensing that something is off. "I don't like when you disappear without telling me where you're going."

Gianna stands her ground. "I don't owe you an explanation, Luca."

He doesn't respond immediately, but his eyes harden. "What's going on, Gianna?"

She hesitates, then decides to confront him head-on. "I spoke to Antonio Ricci."

Luca's entire demeanor changes in an instant. His jaw clenches, and for a moment, his icy façade cracks. "What did he tell you?"

"He told me everything," she says, her voice steady but filled with emotion. "He told me you're lying. That this marriage is built on secrets and betrayal. That you've been using me."

Luca steps forward, his gaze intense, but there's a flicker of something—regret? Guilt? "You have to understand, Gianna. I didn't want you to be involved in this world. I didn't want you to know the truth. But this is who I am. This is who I've always been."

Gianna's heart pounds as the weight of his words sinks in. "So it's true, then? Everything he said?"

Luca closes his eyes briefly, as if trying to gather his thoughts. When he opens them again, they're filled with something she's not sure she can trust. "Yes, Gianna. It's all true. But I didn't want you to be a part of it. I never wanted to hurt you."

Gianna stares at Luca, her mind spinning. Her life has been turned upside down in the span of a few short days, and the truth—no matter how ugly it is—seems to be the only thing that's real in a world built on lies.

"You've hurt me more than you know, Luca," she whispers, the words cutting through the air.

Luca's eyes flash with a mixture of guilt and determination. "I'll do whatever it takes to make things right, Gianna. I swear to you."

But she doesn't know if she can believe him anymore.