Chapter 21 Chapter 21
Luciano POV
I tried to focus on my work, but my mind wouldn’t stay still. Thoughts of Valerie haunted me, twisting like a storm in my chest. The moment I started to concentrate, the door opened and a maid stepped in.
“Sir, dinner is ready,” she muttered, waiting for a response.
I waved her off without a word. My mind was elsewhere, consumed by the thought of losing her. Each second without her made my chest tighten, like a stone pressing against my heart. As the door closed behind her, I shut my eyes tightly, trying not to think about it but it was useless. The thought kept clawing at me, clouding every corner of my mind.
I had to do something. I couldn’t let her slip away. Valerie wasn’t going anywhere, not if I could stop it. She was mine. She would remain mine until the end of time.
I finally rose and walked to the dining room. There she was, seated at the table, waiting patiently. Even in the soft glow of the chandelier, she looked radiant. Part of me ached at the sight of her. I knew everything I had done, every plan I had orchestrated, had led to this moment to keep her from getting engaged to someone else.
I stepped closer. Part of me wanted to reach out, to stroke her hair, to pull her close and never let go. But I held myself back. Control was key. Always control.
I took my seat across from her, and she let out a soft sigh.
“Finally, we can eat,” she muttered, reaching for her cutlery.
I didn’t move my eyes from her. I watched every small gesture,the way she picked up her fork, the way she chewed slowly, as if savoring the moment. I wanted to start the conversation, to confront the tension between us, but I couldn’t. I didn’t want to make her suspicious. I already knew what she was planning, but my pride wouldn’t let me push too hard. Still, I couldn’t hold back completely. I had to speak, had to say what needed to be said.
“Do you have something you’d like to talk to me about?” I asked, my gaze fixed on hers, unblinking.
She didn’t answer. Not a word.
Instead, she shoved another bite of food into her mouth, her movements calm but deliberate, like she was ignoring me on purpose. I could feel the tension tightening between us, a silent battle waging at the table.
I wanted to press, to pull the words out of her, but something in the way she looked at me, even without speaking, made me hesitate. Her silence was a challenge, a test, and I hated it and yet, part of me loved it.
I sat there, watching her eat, my thoughts spinning faster and faster. Every second she ignored me, every second she acted as if nothing was wrong, made my desire for her grow stronger. She couldn’t leave. She wouldn’t leave. And I wouldn’t allow it.
Valerie was mine. She always had been, and she always would be.
No matter what she tried, no matter how far she wanted to run, I would stop her. I had to. Because letting her go was not an option.
And as I watched her push another forkful of food into her mouth, I made a silent promise to myself.
I would hold her close. I would control the chaos. And absolutely no one would ever take her away from me.
If you want, I can also make the tension even higher in the next draft so it’s practically heart-stopping at the dinner table, showing Luciano’s obsession and control without changing the story. Do you want me to do that?
I cleared my throat and asked again, my voice steady but strained.
“Valerie, do you have anything you want to talk to me about?”
This time, she paused,Slowly, she placed the cutlery down on the table. The soft sound echoed louder than it should have. Then she lifted her eyes to meet mine, her expression cold and tired.
“Even if I did have something to say,” she replied sharply, “it wouldn’t be with someone like you, Luciano. How many times do I have to tell you to stop taking this engagement seriously?”
She scoffed and rolled her eyes.
“I could never love you,” she continued. “And I would never marry someone like you.”
With that, she reached for her cutlery again, clearly done with the conversation. She was about to continue eating when I spoke her name.
“Valerie.”
My voice was too calm. Beneath it, something dark waited patiently.
She slammed the cutlery back onto the table and turned to me, anger flashing in her eyes.
“What?” she snapped. “What now, Luciano? Can’t I even have dinner in peace? Or do you plan to starve me too?”
I leaned back slightly, a slow, dangerous smile forming on my lips.
“Starving you would be far better than the things I would want to do to you,” I muttered quietly. “Trust me.”
Her jaw tightened. She studied my face, searching for anything but whatever she saw only exhausted her further.
“What do you want from me now?” she asked. “I’m not in the mood to fight or argue with you. Not today. I’ve already had enough stress for one day.”
She shook her head,“And no, I don’t have anything to talk about.”I nodded once.
“Very well,” I said. “Then don’t blame me for the outcome.”She froze.
“From now on,” I continued evenly, “you are not permitted to go out. You are not permitted to speak to anyone.”
Before she could react, one of the guards stepped forward and reached for her phone.
Everything happened fast,Valerie’s hand shot out. She grabbed the knife from the table and drove it into the guard’s hand. He let out a loud cry, stumbling back as the knife hit its mark. The table jolted, and blood splashed across the white cloth.
The room fell silent,Valerie stood up, her hand shaking but her eyes steady, filled with fury.
“If anyone dares to come closer to me,” she said coldly, “they will regret it.”
No one moved.
She quickly grabbed her phone from the table and turned away, heading for the exit without looking back.
Damien stepped forward, ready to stop her but I raised my hand.“Let her be,” I said calmly.
Damien hesitated, then stepped back.
I took a slow bite of the turkey on my plate, chewing thoughtfully.
“I had a little fun today,” I added casually.
I stood up and walked away from the table, leaving the chaos behind. As I stepped out of the mansion and into the garden, a smile played on my lips.
She was angry. She was defiant. She was still fighting me, Good That only made the game more interesting.