Chapter 184 184

Chapter 184 184
I immediately moved to pull Vanna from behind Luca and cover her eyes. I was so thankful that I was quick enough that the child didn't see it. Luca quickly pushed the woman away and wiped his lips.

"What the hell are you doing, Miriana?!" Luca snapped, his face almost red with anger.

Luca immediately looked at Vanna; I saw how he sighed in relief when he saw that I had covered her eyes.

The woman named Miriana looked at us. Her eyes slightly widened and she covered her mouth when she saw Vanna. "Oh my God... there's a kid."

"She's my kid, Miri! How dare you do that to me in front of my daughter?!" Luca said furiously, seemingly trying to hold back his voice because Vanna was right beside him.

"Y-You have a daughter? For real?" the woman asked, sounding like she couldn't believe it. She seemed genuinely surprised.

Vanna removed my hands from her eyes and looked at the woman. Vanna scrunched her nose and pouted. "Who are you?"

The woman's eyes widened. "OMG! She's really your daughter, Vincenzo. Oh my... she's so cute, I wanna take her with me," the woman whispered the last part, then bit her nail. She looked at Luca again. "Sorry, love. I didn't notice her earlier, I promise." She even raised her right hand.

Luca sighed and carried Vanna. "Just leave, Miri. We're going to church," Luca just said, then took his car keys from his pocket.

The woman looked at me. "Is he your boyfriend? I mean, since you have a child together?" she asked and pointed to Luca.

Luca looked at me. I just smiled faintly at the woman and shook my head. "W-We don't have a relationship. We just have a formal and civil relationship for our daughter," I explained.

"Oh... I'm sorry about what I did earlier. I thought Vincenzo had another girl. I'm really sorry," she said and held my hand.

I just awkwardly smiled at her and nodded. "I-It's fine."

"Will you please stop saying things like that in front of my daughter?" Luca said, seemingly holding back his anger. "Let's go, Crescent," he just said, then went ahead, carrying Vanna.

The woman stomped her feet on the ground. "I'll be back here later! You'll see!"

Luca just ignored her. We got into the car silently while Vanna kept chattering to her Daddy.

"Mommy, why did you cover my eyes earlier?" Vanna asked. She was in the back seat.

I bit my lower lip and looked at Luca. He just looked away from me and started the car.

"Ahm... it was nothing, I was just playing with you earlier," I just made an excuse.

Vanna just nodded and pouted, then looked at Luca. "Daddy, do you have a girlfriend now? Is that woman going to be my step-mom?" Vanna asked with a pout.

Luca looked at Vanna through the rearview mirror. "She's not my girlfriend."

I just stayed silent and looked out the window... You shouldn't care, Crescent. Whatever Luca's relationship with that woman is, I shouldn't bother or think about it.

"That's good! What about me and Mommy if you get a girlfriend? Will you leave me?" Vanna asked again.

"I will never do that, Vanna. I won't have another girlfriend because you and your Mommy are the only ones I want to be with." 

I was stunned by what Luca said. I looked at him, but he remained looking ahead. I bit the inside of my cheek when I felt it heating up intensely... Why is he saying that in front of our daughter? Vanna might get her hopes up that he'll never have another girlfriend.

"Y-You can't say that. You'll surely like another woman and have a girlfriend in the future. You don't have to lie to the child," I whispered.

"What I said is true. I won't have another girlfriend unless it's you."

My eyes widened. I looked at Vanna in the back seat. I sighed in relief when I saw her playing on her iPad, and it looked like she didn't hear what Luca said.

"W-What the hell are you saying, Luca? Didn't we already talk about this?" I whispered.

"I didn't agree with that, though. You were the only one who decided... I'll decide for myself. I'll court you... I'm just giving you some time because I know you still have trauma because of Aiden. I'll patiently wait, so take your time... You'll be my girlfriend... maybe even my wife." The corner of his lips lifted.

I gasped at what he said. "I-I thought we already had an agreement? I-I won't give you a chance and--"

"Shh... everything you're saying right now isn't genuine.

I'm not rushing you. I'm not even pursuing you right now, even if I want to... I'll give you time to be okay, to heal from your trauma. I won't rush you. Take your time... I'll respect your time, but I can't unlove you just like you wanted... I'll love you always," he whispered, still staring at the road, but I could see his ears were red.

I was too stunned by his words. I thought he already gave up. I didn't know he was just letting me be and giving me time... What did I even do to deserve this from him? Why does he love me this much?

"Stop staring at me, Crescent... I've been controlling myself. I might lose control and forget that I'm waiting for you," he whispered.

All the blood in my face immediately rushed up because of what he said. I immediately looked away and held my sling bag tightly... Why is he doing this to me? Why is he making me suffer like this?

I was just silent until we got home. Vanna was super hyper, while Luca was just being playful with our daughter. I still couldn't get his words out of my mind... He'll wait for me to heal from my trauma... just being with him makes me forget about Aiden and his existence. His presence is enough to heal and comfort me... but I don't want to use and love him this way. He doesn't deserve to be loved like that.

Luca deserves a genuine love.

"Vincenzo, love!"

Luca and I froze when we saw the woman from earlier sitting on the roof of her car, seemingly waiting for us.

She jumped from the car's roof and came closer to us. I just blinked, wondering how she could jump and run in her high heels.

"Why are you still here?" Luca's forehead creased.

"Just chill, love. I'm just here because I missed you so much!" she smiled at Luca and winked.

Luca sighed and just carried Vanna. He immediately went inside the gate; I just stayed silent and followed him. The woman was about to follow, but Luca immediately closed the gate on her. I just blinked at what he did.

"Vincenzo, come on! I missed you so much, don't you miss me at all? I was in France for almost two years, and you won't even talk to me?!"

I just looked at the gate, then at Luca, who was about to enter the house while holding Vanna. I approached Luca and gestured for him to put Vanna down, which he did. "Vanna, you can go inside first," he just said.

"Okay!" Vanna immediately went inside the house.

Luca looked at me and sighed. "I know what you're thinking right now, Crescent... You want me to let her in." His forehead creased.

"E-Even if you don't let her in, just talk to her. S-She seems to have really missed you," I just whispered, even though I didn't want to.

"You don't know that woman. She loves playing around. I know her; she's just bored, that's why she's here. She's just a spoiled brat," he said, his forehead still creased.

I bit my lower lip. "Then just talk to her for a bit so she'll leave... She's been waiting here for a while. Don't you feel sorry for her?"

"I don't feel sorry for her," he replied as fast as lightning.

I just shook my head and went to the gate, then opened it. The woman looked at me and smiled.

"Y-You can talk to Luca but please--"

The woman immediately went inside, not waiting for me to finish. "Hi, girl! You're so kind. What's your name? I'm Miriana... Miriana DeLuca, but you can just call me Miri. How about you, pretty?" she asked and smiled sweetly at me.

I heard Luca sigh. He shook his head and came closer to us; he held my arm, but I subtly removed it.

"I-I'm Crescent," I just whispered.

"Wow, hi, Crescent. I hope we'll get along. Thank you for letting me in and--"

Luca lost his patience and grabbed my hand, pulling me into the house. I was surprised by what happened and just let him. I saw Miri follow us and enter the house in a hurry.

"Luca, what's wrong? You're so cranky!"

I just scratched my nape and sat on the couch beside Vanna when Luca finally let go of my hand. Vanna didn't seem to care what was happening and continued playing her Barbie game on her iPad.