Chapter 7

The silence in their penthouse is unbearable. Gianna sits on the edge of the couch, her fingers clenched into fists, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts. Luca stands a few feet away, his posture rigid, as if every movement is calculated. The tension between them is palpable, thick enough to choke the air from her lungs.

She wants to yell, to scream at him for all the lies, the deceit, the betrayal. But instead, she stays silent, staring at the floor. How could she have been so blind? How could she have missed the signs?

Luca sighs deeply, breaking the stillness. "Gianna…"

Her name on his lips is enough to make her head snap up, her eyes filled with a mixture of hurt and anger.

"Don't," she says softly, shaking her head. "Don't say anything right now. I need to think."

Luca's face falls, but he doesn't push her. He can see the walls she's built between them, the distance widening with every second. He knows he's losing her, but he doesn't know how to make it right. The truth is, there may be no way back.

Later that night, Gianna sits alone in their bedroom, staring out the window at the twinkling lights of the city. The view should have been comforting, but now, it feels cold. A reminder of the life she thought she had—of the love she thought was real.

The truth Antonio revealed still haunts her, and she can't shake the image of Luca as a young man in those photos—eyes hard, full of secrets. She wonders how much of him was truly hers, and how much of it was just part of the game he's always played.

She hears the door creak open behind her and doesn't have to turn around to know it's Luca. He's always there, always watching, always waiting for her to give in. He takes a step into the room, his presence filling the space between them.

"I'm sorry," he says quietly, his voice laced with guilt. "I never wanted to hurt you."

Gianna closes her eyes, her heart aching at the words. But they don't change anything. Nothing can take away the images of betrayal, of him playing her like a pawn in a game she never asked to be a part of.

"I don't know if I can keep doing this, Luca," she says, her voice trembling. "I don't know if I can keep pretending that everything's fine when I feel like I don't even know you anymore."

Luca's jaw tightens, and for the first time, Gianna sees the cracks in his usually unshakable demeanor. "I never wanted to deceive you. Everything I did was to protect you… to keep you safe. But I know now that I've only pulled you further into this world. And for that, I'm sorry."

Gianna stands, her body stiff with tension. "You think you can just apologize and make everything go back to normal? Like you didn't destroy everything we had?"

Luca steps closer, his voice rising with frustration. "I'm not asking for forgiveness, Gianna. I'm asking for a chance. A chance to prove that we can fix this. Together."

She shakes her head, the lump in her throat growing. "I don't know if I can believe in you anymore. How do I know this isn't just another lie?"

Luca reaches for her hand, his touch gentle but insistent. "Because I love you, Gianna. I love you more than I've ever loved anyone, and I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make this right. I'll get out of the business if I have to. I'll walk away from everything if it means keeping you by my side."

Gianna meets his gaze, torn between the man she thought she knew and the man he's become. "You can't just walk away from everything, Luca. You've built an empire. This is who you are."

His expression darkens, and for a moment, she sees the conflict in his eyes. "I'd give it all up for you. But you have to believe me when I say I never wanted to drag you into this. You're my everything, Gianna."

The days that follow are filled with silence and unspoken words. Gianna avoids Luca as much as possible, retreating into herself, trying to process everything she's learned. But the weight of the truth is too heavy to carry alone. She can't shake the feeling that no matter what she chooses, she'll lose something precious.

Luca, on the other hand, is relentless. He's constantly at her side, trying to show her that he's willing to change, to give up his life of crime for the woman he loves. But the more he tries, the more Gianna feels like a prisoner in her own life.

As much as she loves him, Gianna knows she can't live in his world of lies and violence. She needs to make a choice, and soon. But the choice isn't as simple as walking away. It's a battle between her love for Luca and her need for freedom.

One evening, after another long day of tension, Luca finally confronts her. His face is hard, but there's a flicker of desperation in his eyes.

"Gianna," he says quietly, his voice full of emotion. "I'm not going to stop fighting for us. I won't give up on you. But I need to know… are you still willing to fight for us too?"

Gianna's heart wavers. She's never felt so torn in her life. The love she feels for Luca is real, but so is the fear of the life he's tied to. The life she didn't choose but is now a part of.

"I don't know," she admits, her voice thick with emotion. "I don't know if I can keep doing this, Luca. I don't know if I can trust you again."

Luca's eyes darken with frustration, but there's also a deep sadness in them. "If you walk away, Gianna, I won't be able to follow. This is who I am now. I can't change that. But I'd do anything to make you stay. Anything."

Just as Gianna is beginning to process her feelings, the phone rings, shattering the fragile moment. Luca picks up, his eyes scanning her face as he listens. His expression shifts to one of grim determination.

"Ricci," he mutters, his jaw clenching. "I should have known."

Gianna feels the shift in the air, the tension escalating once more. She's seen this look in Luca's eyes before—the calm before the storm.

"What's happening?" she asks, her voice sharp with concern.

Luca looks at her, his face set in stone. "We're being targeted. The Moretti family is moving against us. It's starting."

Gianna's stomach drops as she realizes the gravity of the situation. Luca's world is about to explode, and she's caught right in the middle of it.

Luca grabs her hand, his grip firm, pulling her toward the door. "We need to go. Now."

Gianna's heart races. Everything they've been avoiding, everything they've been pretending wasn't real, is about to come crashing down. And she's not sure if she's ready to face the consequences of the choices they both have to make.

As they rush out into the night, Gianna knows that the future is uncertain. She doesn't know if she'll ever be able to forgive Luca for the man he's been, but she also knows that she can't leave him now. Not when everything is about to change.