Chapter 13
791 Words
The house felt different.
Not visibly. Not to anyone else.
But to Sophia… everything had changed.
Every hallway felt narrower. Every glance felt heavier. Every silence… louder.
And Luca?
He didn’t hide it anymore.
Not completely.
It started subtly.
A hand at the small of her back when they passed each other in the hallway—brief, almost accidental… but not quite.
The stolen kisses in the hallway when no one was looking.
The midnight summons and sleeping in his room then sneaking back to her room before anyone wakes up in the house.
A look held a second too long when no one else was paying attention.
A quiet “Stay close” murmured under his breath as they crossed paths.
Possessive.
Controlled.
But unmistakable.
Sophia felt it everywhere.
And it made her pulse race in a way she couldn’t explain… or stop.
That evening, the entire family gathered again.
The long dining table was filled with warmth, conversation, and the usual Virelli chaos.
Valentina was laughing about something ridiculous Alex had said, while Marco calmly sipped his wine, shaking his head like he was above it all—though the faint smile on his lips betrayed him.
Sophia tried to focus on that.
On the normalcy.
On the safety of it.
But it was impossible.
Because Luca was sitting across from her.
And he wasn’t even pretending.
His gaze found her almost immediately.
And stayed.
Not constantly—but enough.
Enough for her to notice.
Enough for her to feel it.
Every time.
“Why is Sophia so quiet?” Alex suddenly asked, leaning back in his chair with a smirk. “Australia didn’t steal your voice, did it?”
Sophia blinked, caught off guard. “No—I’m just… tired.”
“Mm,” Valentina hummed, raising an eyebrow. “Or distracted.”
Sophia shot her a warning look, but Valentina only smiled wider.
“Oh, leave her alone,” Isabella their mother said lightly. “She just got back. Let her breathe.”
“Or,” Alex added dramatically, “she’s hiding something.”
Marco glanced at him. “You always assume the worst.”
“I assume the interesting,” Alex corrected with a grin.
Sophia laughed softly, shaking her head—grateful for the distraction.
Until—
Luca spoke.
“She’s fine.”
Two words.
Calm.
Simple.
Final.
The table went quiet for half a second.
Not long enough to be obvious.
But long enough to be felt.
Alex raised a brow. “Didn’t realize you were paying that much attention.”
Luca didn’t even look at him. “I pay attention to everything.”
Sophia’s fingers tightened slightly around her fork.
Because she knew…
That wasn’t true.
He paid attention to her.
Valentina noticed.
Of course she did.
Her eyes flicked between them briefly, something curious and passing through her expression—but she said nothing.
Dinner continued, the conversation picking back up, but the tension lingered just beneath the surface.
Sophia tried to act normal.
Tried to laugh at the right moments.
Tried not to think about what had been happening between her and Luca.
But every time she looked up…
He was already looking at her.
Then something happened suddenly.
Without warning.
Vittorio set his glass down, his expression shifting slightly—serious now.
“There’s something important we need to discuss,” he said.
The table quieted instantly.
Even Alex straightened.
Sophia felt a strange unease settle in her chest.
Vittorio’s gaze moved briefly to Luca.
Then back to the rest of the family.
“The ongoing tension between our family and the Marchetti family…” he began, his voice calm but firm, “…has reached a point where it can no longer continue. Men have been dying for years and it's time we put an end to it.”
Sophia’s stomach tightened.
Marchetti.
Her mind flashed instantly to the woman from the boutique.
“A decision has been made,” Vittorio continued.
“A marriage alliance has been arranged.”
The words landed heavily.
But it was what came next that shattered everything.
“Luca will be marrying Bianca Marchetti.”
Silence.
Complete.
Absolute.
Sophia’s heart stopped.
Just for a second.
Then slammed violently against her ribs.
She didn’t move.
Couldn’t move.
Her mind refused to process it.
The words echoed, repeating over and over again—
Luca… Bianca… marriage…
Across the table, Luca didn’t react immediately.
Didn’t speak.
Didn’t look at anyone.
But then—
Slowly—
His gaze lifted.
And landed on Sophia.
Not on his father.
Not on his family.
On her.
Then he simply Just got up and left the dining room.
No reaction.
No outburst.
No denial.
And in that moment…
Everything inside Sophia shattered.
- Writer
