Chapter 36 Chapter 37
Luciano POV
I tried to shake off the strange feeling that had been lingering in my chest ever since she suddenly appeared again. But no matter how hard I tried, the thought kept replaying in my mind like a broken record.
Leah.
Why now?Why would she suddenly return after all this time?I leaned back slightly in my chair, my fingers tapping slowly against the armrest as different possibilities crossed my mind. Could this be some kind of trap? Was someone trying to use her to manipulate me?Or worse… was she actually planning to appear during Valeria’s trial?
The mere thought made my jaw tighten.
My mind was already made up, and nothing was going to change it. I would never accept Leah back into my life, no matter what tricks she tried to play. That chapter of my life had been closed long ago.
The only person I wanted now was Valeria.
And that was something that would never change.No matter how hard Leah tried or how far she was willing to go, she would fail before she even began.
Lost in my thoughts, I didn’t even realize how much time had passed until I suddenly heard the soft sound of footsteps coming from the staircase.I lifted my head immediately.
Valeria.
She was walking down the stairs slowly, her posture straight and calm as always. There was something about the way she carried herself that demanded attention without her even trying.
My eyes followed her movements as she made her way toward the dining room.
Instinctively, I glanced down at my wristwatch and noticed the time. Then I stood up from my seat and walked behind her.
“It seems you finally made it,” I said casually as we entered the dining room. “I was beginning to think you had decided to make a habit of arriving late for dinner.”
She didn’t respond.Not even a single word.
Instead, she simply pulled out a chair and sat down gracefully before picking up the cutlery on the table. She acted as if I hadn’t spoken at all.For a brief moment, a surge of irritation rose inside me.
Her silence was more frustrating than any argument could ever be.But before I could say anything else, I heard footsteps approaching the dining room from behind us.
The sound was unfamiliar.Both Valeria and I turned our heads at the same time to see who it was.And the moment I saw her, my body froze for a second.
Leah.
She stood at the entrance of the dining room with a bright smile on her face as if she had every right to be there.
But I quickly forced my expression to remain calm.
I wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction of seeing how surprised I was.She walked into the room as if she owned the place, her heels clicking lightly against the floor. Her gaze moved from me to Valeria before she lifted her hand and gave a small wave.
“Valeria,” she greeted sweetly.
Then she walked straight toward me.
Before I could even react, she leaned down and placed a kiss on my cheek.
For a moment, I was completely taken aback by her sudden action.What the hell was she doing?
Before I could move away, she pulled out the chair beside me and sat down, wrapping her arms around my arm as if we were still a couple.I immediately tried to pull away from her grip, but she held on tightly.
A deep sigh escaped my lips as frustration began to build inside me.I stood up abruptly.
“Damien,” I called out sharply.
Within seconds, Damien rushed into the dining room.
“Yes, sir?”My eyes moved toward Leah before returning to him.
“How did she get access to my house?” I asked, my voice low but filled with clear irritation.
Damien immediately lowered his head, clearly uncomfortable with the situation.
He opened his mouth as if he wanted to explain, but before he could say a word, Leah suddenly interrupted him.
“Oh, come on, Luciano,” she said with a playful laugh.“Is that really how you welcome your long-lost fiancée?”Her words hung heavily in the air.I could feel the atmosphere in the room instantly becoming tense.
“I thought by now you would have had enough time to think about everything,” she continued casually. “And I assumed you had finally decided to accept me back.”Then she turned her gaze toward Damien.
“So why are you trying to punish the poor man? He did nothing wrong. I simply found my way inside.”She leaned back comfortably in her chair as if she had all the time in the world.
“I’ve always known my way around this place.”Her eyes slowly shifted toward Valeria.The tension between the two women was almost visible.I could feel it.
Without saying a word, I turned toward Damien and pointed directly at Leah.
“I don’t want to see her here by the time I return,” I said coldly.My voice carried a warning that was impossible to misunderstand.
“If she’s still here when I come back…”
I paused for a moment before finishing the sentence.“You’re dead.”Damien swallowed nervously and nodded quickly.
“Yes, sir.”Without saying another word, I turned around and walked out of the dining room.But even as I left, I could still feel Leah’s gaze burning into my back.And somehow, I knew this was only the beginning of the trouble she was about to bring into my life again.