Chapter 75 EVERYTHING CHANGED
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AUTHOR’S POV
Luciano’s grip was like iron—unyielding, relentless. No matter how much Adeline struggled, twisted, or pushed against his chest, he did not falter.
His arms, strong and sure, locked around her as he carried her through the cool night air. The wind whispered against her skin, but the heat of his body, the power in his stride, made her pulse race with frustration. She kicked her legs, tried to shove herself free, but it was useless.
“Let me go!” she hissed, wriggling in his hold.
Luciano didn’t even flinch. His face was carved from stone, his jaw tight with silent determination.
His boots struck the ground with forceful precision, each step taking her farther from whatever chance she had of escape.
The house they approached looked small but sturdy, the kind of place meant for solitude—secluded, tucked away from prying eyes.
The wooden structure was illuminated by the faint glow of the moon, its large windows reflecting the night’s darkness.
It looked like the kind of place one might use for a quiet vacation, a getaway from the rest of the world. But right now, it felt like a trap.
With a sharp, decisive motion, Luciano kicked the door open, the force of it sending a shudder through the wooden frame.
The door slammed against the wall, creaking on its hinges, before he stepped inside without hesitation.
Adeline’s struggles intensified, but they were no match for him.
The door shut behind them with a firm thud as Luciano’s boot swung it closed. And then, in one fluid motion, he lowered Adeline onto the couch—more like tossed her.
Not enough to hurt, but enough to make her bounce slightly against the cushions, her breath catching in surprise.
She gasped, whipping her head toward him with fire in her gaze.
Her fingers dug into the couch as she glared. “What the hell was that for?”
Luciano ignored her question. His expression remained unreadable as he reached up, rolling his shoulders before shrugging off his blazer.
He didn’t look at her as he tossed the garment aside, the fabric landing somewhere on the floor in a careless heap.
The movement was slow, deliberate, as though shedding more than just clothing—shedding restraint.
He lowered himself onto the couch across from her, his elbows resting on his knees, hands clasped loosely together.
His dark eyes burned into hers, unwavering, unreadable.
“Let’s talk,” he said finally, his voice low, firm.
Adeline scoffed, rolling her eyes so hard she swore she could see the ceiling.
“Seriously?” she muttered under her breath, shifting her weight on the couch.
“You do all this, drag me here, and now you want to talk? You could’ve just talked in the car”
Luciano’s gaze didn’t waver.
“You can leave when we clear things up.”
She exhaled sharply through her nose, arms folding tightly over her chest. “Fine,” she bit out. “What do you want?”
For the first time, something flickered in Luciano’s expression—something dark, something dangerous. His eyes hardened, his fingers tightening around each other.
“Why is Charles with you?”
Adeline blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the question. Then she let out a sharp laugh, shaking her head in disbelief.
“Are you serious?” she scoffed.
“Why do you care?”
Luciano’s jaw clenched, the muscle ticking as something sharp flashed in his eyes.
“Because I know what kind of person he is.”
Adeline exhaled heavily, clearly unimpressed.
“Right. And how exactly do you know?”
Luciano leaned forward slightly, his fingers pressing against each other, his posture tense.
“Because I’ve known him since childhood.”
Something in his voice sent a chill down her spine. She straightened slightly, watching him carefully.
“What?”
Luciano inhaled deeply, exhaling through his nose, as if steadying himself.
“He loved the same girl I was dating.”
For a moment, silence settled between them. Then, realization struck Adeline like lightning. Her eyes widened slightly as the pieces fell into place.
“Elena,” she whispered.
Luciano gave a slow, almost imperceptible nod.
“He was obsessed with her.” His voice was lower now, rougher.
“He never let it go. And now you—” His eyes flickered with something unreadable, something dangerous.
“Why Charles, Adeline?” His voice sharpened. “What does he want?”
Adeline let out a hollow laugh, shaking her head.
“You really think everything is about you, don’t you?” she scoffed, voice dripping with bitterness. But then, her expression shifted, something colder creeping in.
“You have no idea what’s really going on.”
Luciano’s eyes narrowed. “Then enlighten me.”
Adeline’s lips pressed together before she inhaled sharply, as if gathering herself. When she finally spoke, her voice carried the weight of something deep—something painful.
“Leonardo confined Vladimir,” she said, her tone clipped, controlled.
“The scar on his fucking face? That’s because of Leonardo.”
Her breath hitched slightly, but she pushed on.
“And that jerk is screwing Bianca. They killed my father for power. For what belonged to him.”
Luciano froze. His entire body stiffened as the words slammed into him, as if they had a physical force.
His breath caught in his throat, and for a brief second, he looked… lost.
His mind raced, trying to process. Trying to make sense of what he’d just heard. His pulse pounded against his ribs, his hands tightening into fists against his knees.
“Leonardo and Bianca?” he echoed, his voice barely a whisper, as if saying it out loud would make it more real.
Adeline scoffed, but it was hollow, empty. Her lips trembled slightly, her shoulders rising and falling with uneven breaths.
The fire in her eyes dimmed, replaced by something raw.
Tears burned at the edges of her vision, but she refused to let them fall.
Not here. Not in front of him. But the pain pressed down on her chest like a weight too heavy to bear.
Luciano watched her, his own emotions warring within him.
He had known betrayal.
He had known loss.
But this… this was something different.
This changed everything.