CAPTURED MY STEP-UNCLE'S HEART

CHAPTER FIVE: HE SAVED HER AGAIN

Roberto got to Luana's door and knocked, but was surprised to see Cecilia coming out from it.

“Where is your sister?" he asked, trying to look into the room, but Cecilia was fast enough to block him, shutting the door behind her.

"Uncle, why are you asking as if you haven't understood who Luana is? You shouldn't be worried about her whereabouts. We know for sure she wouldn't get hurt. This is what she does every day, so why are you worried?“

For a second, his thoughts shifted. What if all he had heard was true? But there was this strong resistance he had about her, from the first day he set his eyes on her—the moment he spelt out her name from the school ID she pinned to her shirt.

And that positive thought he had of her could never change… not until he says otherwise.

“Go back to your room," he ordered. Cecilia angrily stormed off with a notebook she had come to take from Luana's school bag.

Roberto went downstairs and sat on the couch, but his mind was unsettled as he watched the wall clock tick towards midnight.

Then he decided to find out the truth. He wanted to be sure his perception about Luana was right before he took any action.

The only way to do that was through the maid. She had been working in that apartment since the day he gave it out to his sister. He was the one who employed her and still paid her salary—so she wouldn’t dare lie to him. She knew him, she knew what he could do if a single lie escaped her lips.

“Sir, I’m here," the maid, called by his PA, answered behind him.

He crossed his legs like a king, arms resting on the couch, and asked,

“Why is Luana always coming back late? Where is she?”

“She…” The maid tried to bluff, just like she was always told to do whenever someone asked about Luana.

“You know what it means to lie to me,” he cut her short.

Her feet started trembling, beads of sweat ran down her neck, and her mouth shook as she spoke.

“Sir, honestly… Luana is working a part-time job. She has a lot to—”

“Part-time job?” he snapped. “Is the Marino not wealthy enough to take care of her?”

He slowly twisted his neck, his eyebrows furrowed slightly before he rushed out.

His PA grabbed the car keys and ran after him.

---

Luana walked quietly down the lonely road, her breath shaky. She was terribly afraid of the dark, but she had to muster enough courage to get home that night.

Her boss had refused to pay her, but she insisted on getting her salary before leaving. She needed the money to take care of her brother, no matter what.

She walked faster, taking three steps at a time. She felt someone behind her. Her heart rate increased and her pace quickened.

As she walked, she kept glancing back… until she finally saw two guys following her.

Obviously, they were after her. So she took to her heels.

But the moment she ran, they ran too—right after her—until she tripped and fell.

“Hello, little beauty. Why were you running?" one of them asked, reaching to touch her, but she brushed him off.

“Don’t touch me!” she shouted, crawling backward on the floor.

“Shhh… no need to shout. We’re going to take it easy with you. Just comply,” the first guy said while the second stood nearby, licking his lips.

“Don’t touch me!!” she screamed again as he reached for her face.

He slapped her across the cheek. “Shut up!”

He snatched her purse and handed it to the second guy, who immediately searched through it and nodded in satisfaction.

“No! No! Please don’t take my money. I beg you… My brother is sick, I need to take care of him,” she cried, holding onto the guy’s trouser. But he kicked her off and slapped her again.

Suddenly, a bright light from an approaching car blinded their eyes.

It was so fast and intense, they couldn’t even understand how it got so close in just a blink.

The two robbers took to their heels the moment the car door opened and two masculine silhouettes dashed out.

One of them chased after the robbers, while the other ran straight to where Luana sat on the floor and squatted before her.

“Hey,” he said softly. She looked up—

And behold—it was her savior. Mr. Roberto.

He had appeared again. The second time… to save her.

She immediately embraced him, trembling with fear.

She hadn’t had a comfort zone in a long time, but the way Roberto gently patted her back—without pushing her away like others—made her feel safe.

She cried in his arms, her cheeks red and a bit swollen.

He gently carried her into the car, but she wouldn’t stop crying.

“They took my money…” she sobbed.

He looked at her face. The impressions of the thief’s fingers were burning red on her cheeks. His eyes darkened with fury.

He picked up his phone and called his PA. “Break their arms.”

“Yes, Sir,” his PA replied over the phone. He had already caught up with the thieves.

Roberto gently wiped her tears with his right thumb. She paused. Her gaze shifted to him.

She didn’t know what was going on in her mind, but one thing was clear—she was looking at an angel.

Then the PA entered the car. “I’m sorry,” he apologized. He was surprised to see his boss acting so tender, and he instantly regretted interrupting.

“Miss, your bag,” he said, handing her the purse he had reclaimed from the thieves.

“Thank you,” she smiled softly as she unzipped the purse—and her money was still intact.

“Why are you coming back late?”

“I was waiting for my boss to pay me, but…”

He peeked into her purse. “And this is the little money you get for overworking and putting yourself in danger?”

“Little? No… at least it can take care of me and my brother.”

“You have a brother?” he asked. She nodded.

“So why the part-time job?”

His question made her lower her head. She started staring at her fingers like she was counting them.

She wasn’t able to answer. Where would she even start?

“Quit.”

“What!” she looked up, startled.

“Quit your job.”

She responded sharply, “No, I can’t, Sir. It’s hard to find another job.”

“Then work for me.”

She paused and looked at him.

“Wh… What, Sir?”

He looked into her innocent eyes and said,

“Be my…”