Chapter 17 Chapter 17.

Chapter 17 Chapter 17.
Without breaking eye contact with Aria, Lucien issued a calm but authoritative order to the guards. “Clean this mess up,” he said, his voice steady and unyielding.

He stretched his hand sideways, and a guard swiftly dropped a towel into his grasp. As he methodically wiped the blood from his hands, every deliberate movement seemed to intensify the tension hanging in the air. He took measured steps toward Aria, and as he closed the distance, she instinctively stepped backward.

With each stride Lucien took forward, Aria mirrored him, creating an invisible chasm that widened between them. 

"Are you afraid of me?" he inquired, his voice laced with a mix of curiosity and something darker.

Aria remained silent, her eyes locked onto his, swirling with a mix of dread and uncertainty.

"Is this how you're going to take Marius's life?" Lucien pressed, an edge creeping into his tone.

"That is Marius," she retorted, her voice steadier than she felt. "He wronged me."

“And that man wronged me,” Lucien defended, his jaw set, eyes narrowing slightly.

Aria's brow furrowed, her voice rising with conviction. "So what if he did? That was too painful of a death."

"That was painful?" Lucien let out a sharp laugh, incredulous. "How do you plan to kill Marius?"

“Let that be my headache,” Aria replied, her tone firm, even as her heart raced. 

Lucien's eyes gleamed with amusement as he watched Aria's determination. "I'm curious," he said, his voice low and husky. "Tell me, what's your plan for Marius?"

Aria's gaze never wavered, her eyes locked on Lucien's. "I've told you, that's my headache," she repeated, her voice firm.

Lucien chuckled, the sound sending shivers down Aria's spine. "I think it's mine too," he said, his eyes glinting with possession. "After all, you're mine."

The way the words moved out of his mouth sent chills through her. 

She tore her gaze from him. "I don't belong to you, I never have and I'll never be," she stated.

"Oh thank goodness there's a contract," he breathed dramatically in relief.

"Oh there you are, sir," Francesca said, approaching them. 

Lucien turned to her. "Good, you're here. Let's get going, our job here is done."

"Yes, sir," Francesca responded.

Francesca gave Aria a glance, that one single glance, shooting a dagger at Aria.

Lucien offered his arm to Aria again, but just as before, she ignored him and propelled forward, making her way to the car. 

As they walked to the car, Lucien fell into step beside Aria, his eyes fixed on her profile. Francesca trailed behind them, her gaze lingering between Aria and Lucien.

The drive back to the mansion was silent, the only sound the soft hum of the engine and the occasional rustle of clothes as they shifted in their seats. Aria stared out the window, her mind racing with thoughts of Marius and how she would take him down. 

Her hand grazed the ring on her finger and her already broken heart shattered over and over. She forced back the tears that were threatening to flow out. Their voices, they kept playing in her head. Their faces, they were imprinted in her mind. And her love for them, it was embedded in her heart.

But amidst the storm in her heart, Lucien's words echoed in her mind - "You're mine." She shuddered at the thought, but then tossed it aside. Her grief in her heart too heavy for her to ponder on anything unimportant.

She gazed out the window, lost in thoughts until she got swept away by the wave of sleep. Her head beginning to wobble back and forth. 

Lucien who had been busy on his phone finally noticed her situation as her unsteady movements caused a shadow in the car.

Chuckling softly, he shook his head. He moved from his seat, closing the distance between them. Gently, he rested her head on his shoulder. 

As Lucien's shoulder cradled Aria's head, she didn't stir, her breathing steady despite the turmoil that had been brewing inside her. The gentle motion of the car and the warmth of Lucien's body seemed to lull her into a deeper sleep. Lucien's eyes softened as he gazed down at her, his expression a mixture of curiosity and tenderness.

He wrapped a gentle arm around her, holding her close as the car glided smoothly through the night. Francesca, seated across from them, watched the scene unfold from the mirror with a mixture of surprise, unease, and jealousy. She had never seen Lucien display such gentleness towards anyone, let alone a captive—or so she thought.

As the mansion came into view, Lucien's grip on Aria tightened slightly, as if reluctant to let her go. The car pulled up to the entrance, and the driver turned off the engine. Lucien gently shook Aria awake, his voice low and soothing.

"Aria, we're here," he whispered, his breath whispering against her ear.

Aria stirred, her eyes fluttering open as she slowly sat up, her gaze disoriented. Lucien's arm remained around her, his hand resting on her shoulder. For a moment, they just looked at each other, as Aria struggled to get her eyes opened completely.

As Aria's gaze cleared, she seemed to remember where she was and who she was with. She pushed Lucien's arm away, her face flushing slightly. "I'm fine," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Lucien's eyes never left hers, his expression unreadable. "Let's get you inside," he said, his voice low and husky. "You need rest."

Aria nodded, her eyes dropping. Lucien offered to help her out of the car, but she stubbornly turned him down, stepping out of the car herself. As they walked into the mansion, Aria who was still slightly sleepy, staggered, stumbling on her feet. 

Lucien was quick to hold her, before she could get to the ground. Again she stubbornly pushed him away, wanting to go on her own again. But this time, this time he wasn't listening to her. 

With practiced ease, he scooped her into his arms. She struggled against him but he ignored her, his grip around her tightening. 

Aria's struggles grew more futile as Lucien's hold on her only tightened, his arms wrapping securely around her. She glared up at him, her eyes flashing with annoyance, but Lucien's expression remained calm and unreadable.

"Put me down," Aria demanded, her voice low and urgent, but Lucien just smiled slightly and continued walking, carrying her effortlessly.

As they moved through the mansion, Francesca trailed behind them, her eyes fixed on the scene with a spark of annoyance lighting in her heart. 

Lucien reached Aria's bedroom door and pushed it open, striding inside with her still in his arms. He deposited her gently onto the bed, his eyes never leaving hers.

Aria sat up, her hair disheveled, and her eyes blazing with irritation. "I could walk," she said, her voice tight with annoyance.

Lucien's smile grew wider, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Yeah, I could see that," he said, his voice low and husky, tight with an edge of sarcasm. "You walked so perfectly that I was so moved, I had to honor you."

Aria's face flushed, and she looked away, "get lost," she breathed, and he chuckled.

Lucien watched her for a moment, his expression softening. "Get some rest, Aria," he said, his voice gentle. "We'll talk in the morning."

Aria nodded in agreement, still not looking at him, "Yeah, we have to talk in the morning. There's lots of explaining for you to do."

Chuckling, Lucien turned to leave. As he reached the door, he turned back to her, his eyes locking onto hers. "Sleep tight," he said, his voice low and husky.

Lucien made his way to his bedroom, the dimly lit hallway cast in shadows that danced along the walls. As he approached his door, he encountered Francesca, who stood with an anxious expression.

“Sir, may I speak with you?” she asked, her voice low and urgent, a blend of concern and caution.

Lucien paused, turning to her with a questioning look. “What is it, Francesca?”

“It’s about Aria,” Francesca said, her tone barely above a whisper as if speaking her name aloud might conjure unwanted attention. “I don’t think you should trust her, sir. She’s not what she seems."

“Why do you think so?” Lucien asked, curiosity mingled with skepticism.

“What if this is all part of her plan?” Francesca responded, the gravity of her words hanging in the air between them.

“A broken and grieving widow?” Lucien laughed, a dry sound devoid of real humor. “I don’t think so.”

“What if that isn’t the case? What if this is all just a façade?” Francesca pressed, her determination unwavering.

“You taught me something, sir,” she continued, her voice steady. “You said trust isn’t something you get on a platter of gold; you earn trust.”

“Has she earned your trust, sir? If yes, then how?” She scanned his face for answers.

“You said to never underestimate anyone. I hope you’re not underestimating this one, sir... a total stranger,” she added, a hint of unease threading through her words.  

“Goodnight, sir,” she concluded, turning away to continue down the hallway.

Lucien’s mind spiraled with conflicting thoughts. After ten years apart, Aria should indeed feel like a stranger to him. But he couldn't shake the sense of familiarity that clung to her presence. 

“Francesca,” he called, bringing her to a halt.

She turned back, eyes wide with curiosity. “Yes, sir?”

“Did you look into her life like I asked you to?” he inquired, an edge creeping into his voice.

Francesca’s expression said it all—she hadn’t.

“Look into it,” Lucien urged, an intensity in his gaze. “You’ll finally understand everything.”

“And you’re right,” he added, his voice softer now. “She is a stranger, but she’s not a total stranger.”

Francesca’s eyes lingered on Lucien's retreating figure, a whirlwind of thoughts swirling in her mind. What did he mean by "not a total stranger"? What hidden facets of Aria’s life did Lucien seem to know that eluded her? As the uncertainty settled in deeper, she felt a surge of resolve. Lucien's words fueled a fire within her. She would dig deeper into Aria's past, peeling back the layers of secrets that Lucien hinted at.

As she turned to head to her quarters, a small smile played on her lips. She would get to the bottom of this, and she would make sure Lucien knew everything there was to know about Aria. The game of cat and mouse had just gotten more interesting—at least to her though.

Meanwhile, Lucien entered his bedroom, the door closing behind him with a soft thud. His thoughts remained ensnared by Aria, her presence heavy in the air like a haunting melody. He walked to the window, allowing the cool night breeze to wash over him as he gazed out, lost in memories that felt both distant and immediate. 

The way Aria had looked at him, the tremor in her voice as she recounted her sorrows... He let out a long, weary sigh. "Why can't I hate you? I should despise you for the way you shattered my heart, yet...yet I still yearn for you." The internal conflict churned within him, tugging at long-buried emotions.

Just then, a firm knock on the door broke through his reverie. “Come in,” Lucien called, bracing himself for whatever business lay ahead.

The door swung open, and a burly man stepped inside—intimidating yet efficient. “Boss, I have a report on the number you asked me to track down.”

“Go on,” Lucien replied, leaning against the window's frame, his interest piqued.

“I checked, but I couldn’t find anything substantial. A burner phone was used,” the man explained, his brow furrowed in frustration.

“And the SIM card?” Lucien asked, his impatience creeping into his voice.

“It was a burner too. I believe it’s been destroyed,” the man said, guilt evident in his tone.

Fury bubbled within Lucien, and he slammed his fist against the window's frame, his breath hitching with anger. His eyes narrowed, his mind racing with possibilities. A burner phone and SIM card, both discarded - this person was taking extreme measures to remain anonymous. The mystery deepened, and Lucien's determination to uncover the truth intensified.

He turned to the burly man, his voice low and even. "Find out everything you can about the number, no matter how small the lead. I want to know who this person is and what their connection is to Aria."

The man nodded, his face set in a determined expression. "I'll get to it, boss. I'll leave no stone unturned."

As the man turned to leave, Lucien's gaze drifted back to the window. He closed his eyes, taking in a sharp breath. "Whoever you are, pray I don't find you."