Chapter 49 OPEN THREAT
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LUCIANO
I clenched my phone tightly, staring at Elena’s name glowing on the screen. Her tone earlier had been sweet yet suffocating as she insisted we meet. She had been wanting to see me and now that I had a reason to meet her too, I knew I should not delay anymore.
I knew declining wasn’t an option; Elena never let go of things easily, especially not me. The choice of a dinner meeting, at a restaurant of her choosing, only heightened my unease.
She would not have listened unless I said it to her face to face. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes to ease my mind.
Stepping into the softly lit restaurant, I felt a pit form in my stomach. I did not know what was gonna be Elena’s reaction. I knew very well, she would not handle it well but I had to get it done before anything happened again.
The place was elegant, intimate, with low-hanging chandeliers casting a golden hue over the polished tables. The faint hum of conversation surrounded me as I chose a table near the corner, away from prying eyes.
I patiently waited for Elena while staring at the entrance. I did not had much time nor I could wait any longer.
Soon Elena finally arrived, she glided in as though she owned the place, her sharp green eyes immediately locking onto me. She was a devil disguise in beauty. Only I knew how crazy and unmerciful she was.
Dressed in a crimson dress that seemed deliberately striking, she approached me with a radiant sweet smile. Leaning in, she kissed my cheek, the scent of her floral perfume lingering in the air but had no effect on me.
“Luciano,”
she purred, sliding into the chair across from me. Her gaze was unwavering, as though studying me for any cracks. My eyes scanned her and she had that evil victorious smirk on her face that made my heart uneasy.
Before I could say a word, she raised her hand.
“Let’s order first,” she said smoothly, motioning to the waiter who promptly appeared. She ordered confidently for both of us, her tone leaving no room for input.
Once the waiter retreated, I exhaled, finally finding the courage to speak. I was not fearful of anyone nor Elena but knowing what she could do and what harm she could cause to Adeline made me think twice before speaking to her.
“Elena, we need to talk,” I began, my voice steady but firm.
She leaned back, her smirk faint but ever-present. “Talk? About what?”
“I think it’s time we make the news public. That we’re… parting ways.”
Her smirk didn’t falter, but her eyes darkened. “Any specific reason?” she asked, her voice honeyed yet laced with steel.
I leaned back on the chair and shook my head, my gaze fixed on her.
“I can’t keep lying, Elena. Not to myself, not to anyone else and I am done playing this game”
Her expression shifted as she leaned forward, her fingers tracing the edge of her glass.
“Is there someone coming between us?” she asked, her tone light but with an edge that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
“No,”
I replied firmly, my voice hardening. But her chuckle—soft, cold, and unsettling—made my stomach twist.
Her smile stretched wider, but it didn’t reach her eyes.
“You know,” she said, her voice almost a whisper,
“if I found out there was someone, I’d take care of it so quickly you wouldn’t even know it happened.”
My jaw tightened.
“Elena,”
I said, sighing deeply.
“You were my past. But I don’t love you anymore. I don’t want this… any of it.”
Her eyes flashed with something wild as she leaned closer, her smile turning sharper.
“You think I care what you want?” she said softly.
“Luciano, I’ve spent my whole life waiting for you. You think you can just walk away now?”
“Elena—”
“No.” She cut me off, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper.
“If you leave me, I’ll burn this entire world to the ground. Including you.”
Her words hung in the air like a storm cloud, heavy and suffocating. I stared at her, my composure unraveling.
For the first time in a long while, I felt a flicker of fear—not for myself, but for Adeline.
I swallowed hard, glancing away as the waiter returned with the drinks.
Elena, ever composed, thanked the man with a gracious smile, the mask of charm slipping back into place. But I couldn’t shake the darkness that lurked beneath.
I exhaled slowly, knowing I had to face it.
“Elena,” I began, my voice low but firm,
“ I don’t want you in my life ”
Her brow arched slightly, though her expression remained unreadable. “What, exactly?” she asked, her voice calm, almost sweet.
“ because I don’t love you ” I made it clear, each word carefully chosen and sharp to cut her deep.
Elena leaned back in her chair, her lips curling into a small, dismissive smile. “You can’t be serious.”
“I am,”
I replied.
Her smile faded, and she tilted her head, studying me as if I were a puzzle she couldn’t quite solve.
“You think you can just end this? Just like that?” she asked, her voice softer now but with an edge.
“It’s not ‘just like that,’”
I said, leaning forward.
“I’ve tried to handle this privately. I’ve tried to be fair, but I can’t keep lying to myself—or to the world. This is over, Elena. I don’t love you anymore.”
Elena shook her head, her eyes narrowing. “No,” she said simply.
“You’re not thinking clearly, Luciano. You’re just… confused. This will pass.”
I sighed, my patience thinning.
“It won’t pass. This is final, Elena. I’m making it public. I’m walking away.”
Her lips parted slightly, her jaw tightening as a flicker of something dangerous flashed in her eyes. But she remained silent, her hands resting calmly on the table.
I pushed back my chair and stood, determined not to let her drag me into another endless argument.
“I’m sorry, Elena. But this is goodbye.”
I turned and walked toward the exit, each step feeling heavier than the last. I was nearly at the door when the sharp sound of glass shattering froze me in my tracks.
I whipped around, my eyes scanning the room in confusion until they landed on Elena.
She stood by their table, her hand clenched around an empty wine glass that had been hurled against the wall, shards glittering on the floor like pieces of a broken star. Her other hand was gripping the edge of the table, her knuckles white as she trembled with barely contained rage.
The restaurant fell silent. All eyes turned toward her, but she didn’t seem to notice or care. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, and her expression was wild—her composed mask completely shattered along with the glass.
“Elena,”
She ignored me. Her hand reached for another glass on the table, and with a quick, violent motion, she sent it crashing to the floor. The sharp crack echoed through the room, followed by the faint tinkling of broken shards scattering.
“Elena, stop,” I said, my voice raising now as he took a step toward her.
Her eyes snapped to me, blazing with fury.
“You think you can just walk away?” she hissed, her voice low but laced with venom. “You think it’s that easy?”
“You’re not leaving me, Luciano,” she continued, her voice trembling but resolute. “I won’t let you. Do you hear me? I won’t let you.”
“Elena, enough,” he said, his tone hardening. “This isn’t going to change anything.”
Her lips curled into a bitter smile as she slowly straightened, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
“ there is someone between us right? Someone has already come between us?” she whispered. “If you walk out that door, I’ll destroy everything. Everything you care about specially that new toy of yours! ”
My fists clenched at my sides as I held her gaze.
“ I am not scared of you Elena. I was being calm because we had a past but now you’re getting on my fucking nerves. Create a scene or die, I do not fucking care.”
“ its over “
she chuckled as a tear slipped out of her eye making it hard for me to hold my anger.
“ its not over Luciano. Not yet “
“ its the start of my revenge “