Page 12 of Sweet Revenge

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The room was quiet after Luca left, and I lay there, my thoughts swirling. The soft bedding beneath me felt like a stark contrast to the turmoil inside. Trusting Luca went against every instinct I had, but my hunger and exhaustion left me with little choice. I had agreed to spend the night with him, not knowing what it truly meant or what would come next.

I heard the faint sounds of the mansion around me—the distant hum of activity, the occasional murmur of voices. The opulence of this place was suffocating in its luxury, a constant reminder of the world Luca and his family controlled. But now, lying on the bed, I felt a strange sense of calm. I closed my eyes, allowing myself to drift into a light sleep.

A while later, the sound of the door opening roused me. Luca entered, his presence filling the room. He moved with a purposeful grace, his eyes softening when they met mine.

"You should rest more," he said quietly, as he approached the bed.

"I can't sleep," I admitted. "Too much on my mind."

Luca sat down beside me, his hand reaching out to brush a strand of hair from my face. "I understand," he said. "But you need to conserve your strength."

I nodded, feeling a mixture of emotions swirling within me. "Why are you doing this, Luca?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Because I see something in you," he replied. "Something strong and beautiful. You've been through so much, yet you still have fire in your eyes. I can't help but admire that."

His hand lingered on my cheek for a moment before he stood up. "I'll have Alfonso bring up some clothes for you later for this evening," he said.

I watched him leave, my heart pounding. The sincerity in his voice, the gentleness of his touch—it was all so confusing. I didn't know what to make of it, but I knew I had to be cautious. Trust was not something I could give easily. Especially not to him. But his words touched something deep inside me, stirred a chord that had previously been silent. Was there still hope for me? For him? Maybe, just maybe, I could trust him after all.

Chapter Six

Luca

The sun began its descent, casting a warm golden glow over the treetops. Tonight, I wanted everything to be perfect, to make this a night Adriana would never forget. As the sky shifted from bright blue to deep hues of orange and pink, I supervised the final preparations for our dinner on the terrace. The terrace, with its breathtaking view overlooking the river, was the ideal setting for the evening I had envisioned when I held the spirited woman in my arms this morning.

"Alfonso," I called, and my loyal butler appeared almost instantly. "I need you to shop for an array of ballgowns. Something elegant and beautiful for Miss Grimaldi to choose from."

"Of course, sir," Alfonso replied with a bow. "I will have them delivered to her suite."

The terrace was set with a table for two, adorned with pristine white linens, gleaming silverware, and flickering candles. The crystal goblets at our place settings caught the candlelight and refracted it into a thousand tiny flames. The centerpiece of the table held a beautiful arrangement of roses, their petals a deep, passionate red. I removed a single stem and held the vibrant bloom to my nose, pausing to take in its sweet scent while I listened to the soft strains of the violinists playing in the short distance. The sound of their instruments filled the air, their music blending seamlessly with the natural sounds of the evening. A cool breeze carried over the water, and the atmosphere hinted of magic.

As the finishing touches were made, I found myself staring at the moon and the stars reflecting in the water of the river. The scene felt almost surreal, as if this were the most important night of my life, even though I’d entertained here in a like manner before. But none of those women were Adriana. I twirled the rose in my hand, unprepared for the thorn that suddenly pricked my finger. I watched as a bright crimson drop of blood appeared and then stuck my fingertip in my mouth reflexively, tasting the coppery substance. Leaves rustled gently in the wind, and I began to pace over the stone tiles, waiting impatiently for my guest to arrive.

The sound of soft footsteps behind me drew my attention, and I turned to see her. Adriana stood at the entrance of the patio, wearing a beautiful silk blue dress that flowed around her like water. The dress hugged her curves perfectly, accentuating her natural grace and beauty. Her hair was swept up elegantly, and her eyes sparkled in the candlelight. She took my breath away; she was the most beautiful woman I had ever laid eyes on.

"My god," I said softly, stepping forward and presenting her with the rose. "You look stunning."

She smiled, a blush coloring her cheeks as she accepted the rose. "Thank you, Luca. Everything looks beautiful."

I took her hand and led her to the table, pulling out a chair for her. "Please, have a seat."

As she settled into the chair, I handed her a small, wrapped present tied with a delicate bow. "I have something for you," I said, my voice filled with anticipation.

She looked at the box with curiosity, then carefully untied the bow and lifted the lid. Inside was a diamond necklace, the stones catching the light and sparkling brilliantly. Adriana's eyes filled with tears, and she covered her mouth with a satin-gloved hand.

"Luca," she whispered. "This is…this is too much. I don’t deserve this.”

“Yes, you do,” I said firmly, rising. “Will you allow me to put it on for you?”

She nodded, making my heart swell with emotion as I took the necklace from the box. I moved behind her, gently brushing her hair aside and fastening the necklace around her neck. The diamonds glimmered against her skin, making her look even more radiant.

"Perfect," I murmured, my fingers lingering on her shoulders for a moment before I returned to my seat.

A waiter appeared, pouring us glasses from the bottle of red wine I’d selected from the wine cellar. The deep red liquid glistened in the candlelight, and I raised my glass to Adriana.

"To tonight," I said, my eyes locking onto hers.

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