CHAPTER 18
1082 Words
Chapter 18
Sienna’s Pov
The dinner room suddenly felt colder after Victor’s last words. Nobody touched the food anymore. Even the servants looked nervous standing near the walls. I kept holding Luca’s hand under the table because I could feel the tension inside him growing stronger every second.
Victor poured himself another drink slowly. “You both speak about love so confidently. It almost sounds believable.”
Luca leaned back in his chair. “Maybe because it is true.”
Victor smirked. “Truth is dangerous in this family.”
Clara sighed softly. “Victor, please stop turning every conversation into a war.”
But Victor ignored her again. His eyes stayed on Luca like he was trying to tear him apart with only a stare. “You came back from that crash as a completely different man. You expect me not to question it?”
Luca answered calmly, but I knew him enough to hear the anger hiding underneath. “People change after trauma.”
“Or after stealing another man’s life,” Victor replied.
The room became silent.
I looked at Victor carefully. “Why are you really doing this? If you hate Luca so much, why keep him close?”
Victor smiled slowly. “Because family matters.”
“No,” I said quietly. “Because you are hiding something.”
Clara looked at me fast, almost nervous. Luca squeezed my hand softly under the table, warning me not to push too far.
Victor’s smile disappeared. “You are becoming too curious, Sienna.”
“And you are becoming too desperate,” I replied.
Adriana finally spoke after staying silent most of the dinner. “Sienna, you should remember where you came from before speaking to people above your level.”
I turned toward her. “Money does not make anyone better than me.”
Her face tightened immediately. “Damian, your wife is becoming disrespectful.”
Luca looked at Adriana coldly. “Do not speak to her like that.”
Victor laughed again. “Interesting. You defend her every second now.”
“She is my wife,” Luca answered simply.
My heart warmed hearing those words again, even during all this chaos.
Suddenly, the lights inside the dining room flickered once.
Then twice.
Clara stood up slowly. “That never happens here.”
A loud sound echoed somewhere upstairs.
Everybody froze.
Victor frowned. “What was that?”
One of the guards rushed inside quickly. “Sir, someone entered the mansion.”
Luca immediately stood up. “Where?”
“We lost camera access for a few minutes.”
My stomach tightened with fear.
Victor looked strangely calm instead of worried. “Maybe our missing Damian finally decided to visit.”
Luca’s jaw hardened. “Stop playing games.”
Another loud noise came from upstairs. This time, it sounded closer.
Clara looked pale now. “Someone should call the police.”
Victor shook his head. “No police.”
That answer made me even more suspicious.
Luca pulled me closer beside him. “Stay near me.”
I nodded quickly.
Then, footsteps echoed above us.
Slow.
Heavy.
Like someone wanted us to hear every step.
Adriana gripped Victor’s arm nervously. “Victor…”
The dining room doors suddenly opened again.
But instead of Damian, Ethan walked inside, breathing hard.
Luca instantly moved in front of me protectively. “What are you doing here?”
Ethan looked directly at me. “Sienna, you need to leave this place right now.”
Victor smiled like he was enjoying a show. “Perfect timing.”
I stared at Ethan in shock. “How did you even get inside?”
“The guards outside are distracted,” he answered quickly. “Listen to me. Somebody sent me files about Luca.”
Luca’s eyes turned dangerous. “You should have stayed away.”
Ethan ignored him. “Sienna, this man lied to you from the beginning.”
“I already know he is hiding things,” I replied.
“You do not understand,” Ethan said desperately. “People are dying around this family.”
Luca stepped closer. “Leave before I make you leave.”
“See?” Ethan pointed at him. “This is who he really is.”
I moved between them fast before things became worse. “Stop it. Both of you.”
Ethan looked hurt. “You are defending him?”
“I am asking you to calm down.”
Victor watched quietly like every second entertained him.
Then another voice suddenly spoke from the hallway.
“She should hear the truth.”
Everybody turned immediately.
A tall man stood near the entrance wearing black clothes. His face was partly hidden by shadows, but his smile looked wrong. Dangerous.
My breath caught.
Clara looked completely terrified.
Victor slowly stood up from his chair.
The stranger stepped forward into the light.
He looked almost exactly like Luca.
Only colder.
More unstable.
More frightening.
Luca went completely still beside me.
The man smiled wider. “Miss me, family?”
Nobody spoke.
Finally, Clara whispered shakily, “Damian…”
My heart started beating painfully hard.
The real Damian Vale was alive.
He looked directly at me like I already belonged to him. “So this is the woman wearing my ring.”
Luca moved in front of me again instantly. “Stay away from her.”
Damian laughed softly. “Interesting. The fake husband sounds jealous.”
Victor looked strangely satisfied now. “Well. The family reunion finally happened.”
I stared at Damian carefully. Something about his eyes scared me deeply. There was madness hiding inside them.
Damian walked closer slowly. “You stole my name, my company, and now my wife.”
“I am not your wife,” I said immediately.
His eyes moved toward me slowly. “Not yet.”
Luca’s entire body tensed beside me. “Touch her, and you die.”
Damian smirked. “There he is. The real Luca Moretti.”
The room exploded into silence again.
Ethan looked shocked. Adriana looked terrified. Clara closed her eyes slowly like she feared this moment for years.
Victor finally spoke calmly. “Now all secrets are finally on the table.”
I looked at Luca. His face had lost all emotion now.
He stared only at Damian.
Like two enemies preparing for war.
Then Damian looked back at me and smiled again.
“Sienna,” he said softly. “You married the wrong brother.”
- Writer
