Free Web NovelChapter 153: Who talks to you first
Sara checked the time on her phone and gasped; it was already past two in the afternoon. "Oh my God! How long have I been zoning out here?" she muttered to herself, the hours having slipped away in the fog of her thoughts. As she looked up, her gaze collided with Luca’s. He was sitting nearby, his eyes fixed on her with a quiet, watchful intensity.
It didn’t surprise her that he had tracked her down; he always seemed to know exactly where she was. Her earlier anger had cooled, replaced by the physical reminder that she hadn’t eaten all day and was supposed to have lunch with Luca. She walked over to him. "I’m hungry. Let’s go for lunch."
Luca stood up the moment she approached, and he nodded immediately.
"I have to grab my purse first. I’ll go to—" she started, turning toward the building, but Luca stepped forward, gently interrupting her.
"Don’t worry about that," Luca assured her, his tone leaving no room for argument. "I’ll have someone bring your things to the car. You don’t need to head back inside."
Sara hummed softly. She insisted on paying the bill, a small act of independence in a world where Luca often took control, and then stepped back out into the bright, open air with him at her side.
The bustle of the street felt distant as Luca leaned in. "I’m sorry," he whispered with genuine regret. "I should have told you as soon as I found out about him. I didn’t mean to keep you in the dark."
Sara remained quiet, her gaze fixed on the sprawling road ahead, watching the rhythm of the traffic as she processed his apology. She didn’t pull away when he reached for her hand, and he guided her across the street toward the parked car.
As they reached the vehicle, a driver stood ready, nodding respectfully to them both. "Sir, I have already kept your belongings in the car," he stated, opening the door for them.
Luca didn’t let go of her hand immediately. He waited, searching her face for some sign that he was forgiven, or at least that the wall between them was starting to crumble.
Sara pulled her hand back first before she slid into the backseat. Luca followed, settling into the space beside her from the other side. Soon, the driver steered them out of the company premises.
As they moved through the city toward the restaurant Luca had chosen, Sara kept her head turned toward the window. The passing buildings and blurred lights of the afternoon were far more interesting to her than the man sitting just inches away.
"Are you still going to be upset with me?" Luca asked. He was watching her, trying to catch a glimpse of her reflection in the glass since she wouldn’t look at him directly.
The driver looked through the rearview mirror for a brief moment before focusing his attention on the road ahead. Luca turned quiet and wondered if Sara would stay like this all day.
"Sir, we are here," the driver announced as he stopped the car at the parking spot in front of the restaurant.
They settled into a quiet corner of the restaurant. After the waiter took their order and disappeared, it was Sara who broke the silence.
"Do you know why Joseph came to see me?" she asked. "One reason was, of course, curiosity. The second reason was you."
"Me?" Luca’s brow furrowed.
"Yes. He’s worried that I’m married to a man in the mafia, and that eventually, I’ll be the one who gets hurt. He told me you threatened him. He told me you were the reason my mother was forced to leave so abruptly."
"It was necessary," Luca said in a defensive tone he used when justifying his world.
"Behind my back," Sara countered.
Luca leaned forward, his dark eyes searching hers, desperate for her to see his logic. "You’re misunderstanding my intentions, Sara. I admit I made a mistake in how I handled it, but I didn’t do it to control you; I did it because I couldn’t stand the thought of you being hurt. Your mother has a criminal record; she’s a liability to your safety and your peace of mind. I felt it was better if she stayed away." He paused. "I am sorry for making that choice without you."
Sara looked at him, seeing the conflict in his face.
The arrival of the waiter provided a brief, necessary reprieve. They ate in a companionable silence for a few minutes.
Sara set her fork down, looking at him with a softened expression. "I know you did it for me because you care for me," she said. "However, in some matters, honesty is better, Luca. It’s the only way we work. I’ve seen so many people misunderstand you, and I was one of those people once. But not anymore. I see the man behind the reputation."
Luca paused, his glass halfway to his lips. He looked at her, truly looked at her, and for a moment, the hardened exterior of the man who ran an empire crumbled. "Sara, thanks for believing in me," he said with gratitude.
He was used to being feared, judged, and kept at a distance. Hearing that the person who mattered most saw past the "Mafia" label to the man underneath was the only validation he had ever truly craved.
"I’ll try," he promised. "I’ll try to be the man who talks to you first, rather than the man who acts for you." freēwebnovel.com
"I believe in you," Sara said, her smile finally reaching her eyes. freēwebnovel.com
Once they finished their meal, they stepped out of the restaurant, but instead of heading back to the office, Luca guided her toward the high-end shopping district.
"I almost forgot that there is a party at the house tomorrow," Luca said, holding the car door open for her. He caught her eye, a playful but appreciative glint in his gaze. "And we need to find a new dress for you. Something elegant. Something that shows everyone exactly who the queen of the house is."
Sara smiled at his statement before taking a step out of the car.
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Sorry for not updating the first two days. Happy New Year, everyone! May this year bring joy, peace, and good health to us.
