Chapter 11 — The Secret He Couldn’t See
1696 Words
“Tell him, Aria.”
The words echoed through the abandoned estate.
Aria couldn't move.
Luca turned toward her.
“What are you hiding?”
She opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Adrian watched her carefully from across the room.
He laughed.
He knew exactly what she was carrying.
But he wasn't going to say it.
He wanted Luca to suffer.
He want him to spend months wondering what Aria was hiding, never knowing that the answer was already growing inside her.
“Aria.”
Luca's voice pulled her back.
“What is he talking about?”
She swallowed.
“I don't know.”
Adrian laughed softly.
“That's a terrible lie.”
Luca's eyes moved toward him.
“You said you knew something about her.”
“I do.”
“Then say it.”
Adrian shook his head.
“No.”
Luca took a step forward.
“Why are you doing this?”
“Because watching you figure it out is more entertaining.”
Luca's jaw tightened.
“You're playing with me.”
“Maybe.”
Adrian's gaze returned to Aria.
“But she knows exactly what I'm talking about.”
Aria's fingers curled into her palms.
She couldn't let him expose her.
Not here.
Not like this.
Not before she was ready.
Luca turned back to her.
“Aria, look at me.”
She slowly raised her eyes.
“Tell me the truth.”
Her heart pounded.
She remembered the hospital.
Five days.
Her mother's surgery.
The baby.
Everything was becoming impossible.
“I…”
She stopped.
Adrian smiled.
Luca waited.
Finally, Aria forced the words out.
“He's trying to make you doubt me.”
Adrian's smile faded slightly.
Luca stared at her.
“That's not an answer.”
“I don't know what he wants.”
“You're hiding something.”
“Yes.”
The admission surprised even Adrian.
Luca's expression hardened.
“What?”
Aria took a breath.
“It’s about My mother.”
Luca frowned.
“What about her?”
“She needs surgery in 5 days.”
“That isn't what Adrian was talking about.”
Aria looked away.
“I don't want to discuss it.”
Luca stepped closer.
“You don't get to decide that after someone threatens you.”
“I do.”
Her voice shook, but she didn't back down.
“It's my life.”
Luca stared at her.
For a moment, something passed between them.
Then Adrian laughed.
“You see?”
Luca turned.
“She'll never tell you.”
Adrian walked down the last step.
“And that's exactly what I want.”
Luca's eyes narrowed.
“You want her to hide something from me?”
“I wanted you to trust no one.”
Adrian's voice became colder.
“You've spent your entire life believing you're untouchable.”
He pointed toward Luca.
“You took Father's company.”
“You took his respect.”
“You took everything.”
Luca's expression remained calm.
“You're blaming me for Father's decision?”
“He should have chosen me.”
“He didn't because of you.”
“And I'll never forgive you for it.”
Adrian's voice cracked with anger.
Luca stepped toward him.
“You drugged me for a company.”
“I drugged you because I wanted you ruined.”
“And when that failed?”
Adrian smiled.
“I changed my plan.”
Aria's stomach tightened.
“What plan?”
Adrian looked at her.
“You weren't supposed to be in this either.”
Luca's expression instantly changed.
He moved between them.
“You don't go near her.”
Adrian laughed.
“Why?”
“I'm warning you.”
“You're protecting her. Interesting.”
Adrian tilted his head.
“You barely knew her when this started.”
Luca said nothing.
Adrian continued.
“But now you're willing to stand between her and me.”
His smile returned.
“Maybe I found your weakness after all.”
Luca's eyes darkened.
“You're making a big mistake.”
“Perhaps.”
Adrian stepped backward.
“But I'll enjoy watching you make yours.”
He turned toward the hallway.
Luca's security team immediately moved.
“Stop him.”
Two men blocked Adrian's path.
Adrian didn't look worried.
Instead, he pulled out his phone.
“Before you decide what to do with me…”
He pressed a button.
A video appeared on the nearest screen.
It showed the hotel corridor.
The timestamp read 1:31 AM.
The same man who looked like Luca walked toward Room 801.
Aria stared.
Then the screen changed.
The woman entered minutes later.
Another change.
Aria entered.
Another.
A fourth person appeared.
Luca's eyes narrowed.
“Who is that?”
Adrian smiled.
“You'll have to find out.”
The screen went black.
Luca turned toward him.
“Take him.”
The guards moved.
Adrian didn't resist.
As they passed him, he looked at Aria.
His expression was almost amused.
“You should be careful.”
Aria said nothing.
“Secrets have a way of becoming expensive.”
Then he was gone.
Outside, the cold evening air hit Aria's face.
Luca walked beside her.
Neither spoke.
Daniel approached.
“Sir, Adrian's been arrested.”
“Good.”
“Should they take him to the headquarters?”
“No.”
Luca looked toward the estate.
“Keep him somewhere private.”
Daniel nodded.
He left.
Aria exhaled slowly.
Luca turned toward her.
“Get in the car.”
She hesitated.
“we're going back.”
“where?”
“To my house.”
“I can go home myself.”
“No.”
“Luca—”
“You're not going anywhere alone.”
She stared at him.
“You don't trust me.”
“I don't trust the people around you.”
“That's not the same thing.”
“No.”
He opened the car door.
“But until I know who is behind this, you're staying where I can protect you.”
Aria looked at him.
She wanted to argue.
Instead, she got inside.
The drive was silent.
Aria looked through the window.
Her hand slowly moved toward her stomach.
She barely touched it before pulling it away.
Luca noticed.
But he didn't say anything.
His eyes remained on the road.
After several minutes, he finally spoke.
“What were you going to tell me?”
Aria's heart jumped.
“About what?”
“Back at the estate.”
“I already told you.”
“You said about your mother.”
“Yes.”
“That wasn't the truth.”
Aria stared at him.
“It was part of it.”
Luca's grip tightened on the steering wheel.
“What is the rest?”
She looked down.
“I can't tell you. I'm scared.”
Luca glanced at her.
“Of me?”
She hesitated.
“Yes.”
The answer hurt more than he expected.
He looked back at the road.
“Why?”
“I don't know what you'll do.”
“About what?”
Aria remained silent.
Luca didn't push.
Not because he wasn't curious.
Because he knew pushing her now would make her shut down completely.
After a few minutes, the car stopped outside the mansion.
Aria stepped out.
Luca followed.
Before they reached the entrance, her phone rang.
Hospital.
She answered immediately.
“Hello?”
A nurse spoke.
“Miss Bennett, I'm calling to remind you that your mother's surgery needs to be scheduled.”
“I know.”
“We need the payment confirmation.”
“I'll have it.”
“Please don't wait too long.”
“I won't.”
She ended the call.
Luca stood several feet away.
“You need money.”
Aria looked at him.
“Yes.”
“How much is it?”
She shook her head.
“I'll handle it.”
“You said that before.”
“And I'll say it again.”
Luca walked closer.
“So You're working two jobs because you need money.”
Aria looked away.
“I don't have a choice.”
“You do.”
“What choice?”
“Let me help.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I don't want to owe you.”
“You already work for me.”
“That's different.”
Luca studied her.
Then he said quietly,
“You're carrying something heavy.”
Her heart stopped.
For one terrifying second, she thought he knew.
But Luca continued.
“Your mother's illness. Your job. Whatever happened at that hotel.”
Aria released the breath she'd been holding.
“Yeah.”
He looked at her.
“You don't have to handle everything alone.”
She almost told him.
Almost.
But she remembered the fear.
What if he took the baby?
What if he blamed her?
What if he thought because she stole from him and decided she was unfit to raise his child?
She couldn't risk it.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
Luca nodded.
“Go inside.”
Aria walked toward the house.
Then Luca's phone rang.
He answered.
“What?”
Daniel's voice came through.
“We found something else.”
Luca stopped.
“What?”
“A medical record.”
“Whose?”
There was a pause.
“Aria Bennett's.”
Luca's expression changed.
“What kind of record?”
Luca looked toward the house.
“Send it to me.”
“Sir…”
“What?”
“You might want to see this in person.”
Luca's eyes narrowed.
“Why?”
Daniel's voice dropped.
“Because it was a month ago.”
Luca looked toward the door Aria had just walked through.
One month.
The exact time she had disappeared.
His mind raced.
“What does it say?”
Daniel hesitated.
Luca's expression hardened.
“Find out.”
He ended the call.
Inside the mansion, Aria stood alone in the hallway.
She placed one hand over her stomach.
“I'm sorry,” she whispered.
“I'll protect you.”
She had no idea that Luca was already beginning to pull at the first thread of her secret.
And once he did...
TO BE CONTINUED
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