Chapter 44 THE UNTOLD TRUTH
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AUTHOR’S POV
Luciano moved through the dense woods with careful steps, his arms cradling Adeline against his chest.
Her head rested on his shoulder, her breaths soft and steady as she slept. The moonlight filtered through the canopy of leaves above, casting silvery streaks across their path.
The forest was eerily quiet, save for the occasional rustle of leaves underfoot.
Luciano’s jaw was tight, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts. The weight of Adeline in his arms wasn’t a burden—he carried her as though she weighed nothing.
Yet the sight of her like this, so vulnerable, stirred something fierce and protective within him. She was safe for now, but for how long?
The car came into view through the trees, and Luciano quickened his pace, careful not to jostle her.
Christian was leaning against the hood, his phone in hand, scanning the area as Luciano approached. Without a word, Christian opened the back door, and Luciano gently placed Adeline onto the backseat.
Her head lolled to the side, her lashes fluttering slightly as she stirred, but she didn’t open her eyes.
Luciano tucked her in carefully, pulling a jacket over her to keep her warm. He paused for a moment, his hand brushing against her cheek. She murmured something incoherent but didn’t wake, her exhaustion keeping her tethered to sleep.
“She’s out cold,” Luciano commented as Christian moved to the driver’s side.
“We need to move.”
Luciano nodded and rounded the car, sliding into the passenger seat. As Christian started the engine, Adeline’s eyes flickered open for a brief second, but she quickly shut them again, feigning sleep.
Her body was too tired to fully wake, but her mind was alert enough to catch fragments of their conversation.
“Any updates?” Luciano asked, his voice low, glancing at Christian.
Christian let out a frustrated sigh as the car rolled forward.
“Asher ran. No one was at the house when we arrived. My men are searching, but it’s like he vanished into thin air.”
Luciano’s hand gripped the edge of the seat, his frustration simmering beneath the surface.
“Damn it,” he muttered under his breath.
Christian glanced at him briefly before continuing, his tone grim.
“My doubt is on Elena.”
Luciano froze, his brow furrowing as he turned to his friend.
“No. She wouldn’t—”
Christian cut him off, his tone sharper now.
“You need to stop being blind about her, Luciano. You know she’s capable of this. She’s been in love with you for years. What if this is her revenge?”
Adeline’s chest tightened as she heard those words, her heart aching in a way she hadn’t expected.
Her body remained still, her breathing steady, but her mind raced. Elena? In love with him? The thought made her stomach churn, and a pang of jealousy and pain shot through her.
Luciano shook his head, his voice strained.
“You’re wrong, Christian. Elena—”
“Don’t defend her,”
Christian interrupted, his voice firm.
“You need to clear things up with her before this spirals out of control. For all we know, she could be the one behind this. Think about it, Luciano. She’s had motive for years.”
“Shut up, Christian,” Luciano snapped, his voice dropping to a dangerous tone. He cast a glance back at Adeline, making sure she was still asleep.
“Do you want her to hear this?”
Christian sighed, gripping the wheel tightly. “I’m just saying, don’t dismiss the possibility. You’re too close to this, and it’s clouding your judgment.”
But Adeline had heard, every word sinking into her like a dagger. She kept her eyes closed, her body still, but her heart ached in a way she couldn’t describe.
The idea of Luciano and Elena having a history, of there being even a chance that Elena was involved in whatever chaos they were caught in, made her feel like an outsider in her own story.
Luciano leaned back in his seat, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“Enough, Christian,” he said, his tone clipped.
“Focus on finding Asher. I’ll deal with Elena.”
Christian didn’t argue further, the car falling into a tense silence. Adeline, still pretending to sleep, felt tears sting the corners of her eyes, but she willed them away.
She couldn’t let herself break now, not when everything was already falling apart.
Luciano turned to glance at her again, his expression softening as he watched her sleep. Or so he thought.
The guilt and frustration etched into his features didn’t go unnoticed by Adeline, even as she lay there, feigning peace.
In that moment, as the car sped through the dark roads, the distance between them felt greater than ever, even though she was just a breath away.