Chapter 39 Chapter 40
Valeria’s POV
After freshening up, I slowly made my way downstairs.All the while, I kept silently praying that I wouldn’t run into Luciano.
After the embarrassing dream I had that morning, I didn’t think I could face him without remembering every ridiculous detail of it. Just the thought alone made my cheeks warm with embarrassment.
Luckily, it seemed the universe had decided to spare me.
I didn’t see Luciano the entire day.Not in the kitchen, Not in the hallway.Not even in the living room.The mansion felt strangely quiet without him around, and I couldn’t decide whether that made me relieved or disappointed.
Most of the day passed slowly. I tried keeping myself busy, but no matter what I did, my mind kept drifting back to the dream.That stupid dream.The memory of his voice whispering “You’re mine” echoed in my head again and again.
Annoyed, I shook my head as if that would somehow erase the thought.“This is ridiculous,” I muttered to myself.I needed a distraction.That was why I eventually headed out to the garden.
The garden behind the mansion was one of the few peaceful places I had grown to enjoy. The tall apple tree in the center provided the perfect shade, and the soft breeze carried the fresh scent of flowers through the air.I settled down beneath the tree with a novel in my hands.
The pages rustled softly as I flipped them open, determined to lose myself in the story.Anything was better than thinking about Luciano.For a while, the quiet atmosphere helped calm my restless thoughts. I focused on the words on the page, trying to let the fictional world swallow me whole.
But just as I was finally beginning to relax, a voice suddenly interrupted the silence.“There you are. I’ve been searching everywhere for you.”The sudden voice startled me.I slowly lifted my gaze from the book.The moment I saw who was standing in front of me, my expression froze in surprise.
Luciano’s fiancée.Leah.For a brief moment, I simply stared at her, trying to understand why she was here.“Are you… looking for me?” I asked cautiously.
I couldn’t hide the astonishment in my voice.Of all the people I expected to see today, she was definitely not one of them.
“Yes,” she replied quickly.Then she straightened slightly as if remembering something.“Oh, forgive my manners,” she added with a small smile. “My name is Leah.”She paused dramatically before continuing.“I’m Luciano’s fiancée.”
The way she said it sounded rehearsed, almost as if she had repeated those words countless times before. It reminded me of someone proudly reciting a national anthem.
Honestly, I had already heard it more than enough.I rolled my eyes slightly before lowering my gaze back to the novel in my hands, pretending to continue reading.
But Leah didn’t seem discouraged by my lack of interest.
Instead, she walked closer, too close. Without asking for permission, she sat down beside me.Her presence suddenly felt overwhelming.Before I could react, she reached out and gently closed the book I was holding with the tip of her fingers.
The gesture forced me to look at her again.
“Listen,” she said calmly. “I came here because I wanted to get to know you better.”Her tone sounded polite, but something about her expression made it clear that this was no friendly visit.
“I came here specifically to see you,” she continued. “Because there’s something important I want you to understand.”
She leaned slightly closer.“Luciano means a lot to me.”Her voice grew firmer.
“And I will not allow anyone to come between us.”She paused.Her gaze lingered on my face for a moment before she continued speaking.
“Not even you.”I raised an eyebrow at her.
“I’m trying very hard to be friendly here,” Leah added. “And trust me, I would much rather avoid becoming your enemy.”She folded her hands neatly on her lap.“So I decided to come and speak with you directly.”Then she asked the question that finally caught my full attention.
“What is your offer?”I stared at her, completely confused.
“My… offer?” I repeated.“Yes,” she said simply.I frowned slightly.“What exactly are you talking about?”She looked at me as if the answer was obvious.
“The offer for you to leave us alone,” she said calmly.Her words hung in the air between us.“I don’t want to share Luciano with anyone,” she continued. “And from what I can see, you’re becoming an unwanted presence in this relationship.”
Her expression hardened slightly.
“I’m back now,” she said firmly. “And I intend to take my rightful place beside him.”Then she leaned closer.“So you will have to step aside.”She paused briefly before adding the final line.
“You can name your price.”For a moment, I simply stared at her.Then a small smile slowly appeared on my lips.I had seen this type of woman many times before. Possessive, Desperate.Fighting for a man who barely seemed to notice them.
And yet somehow believing that throwing money at the problem would solve everything.But the truth was…I wasn’t interested in whatever she had to offer.
Not even slightly.
After all, there were only a few days left until my contract with Luciano ended.
Once those days passed, I would be gone from this place entirely.I wouldn’t have to see him Or her again.
Lost in those thoughts, I continued staring at Leah with mild amusement.
It amazed me how someone could lower themselves so much just to compete for a man who clearly didn’t value them the same way.The situation was almost absurd, And suddenly I couldn’t help it anymore.I burst out laughing.The sound escaped me before I could stop it.
I shook my head as I laughed, turning my gaze away from her.
Out of the corner of my eye, I could see the embarrassment quickly spreading across her face.Her pride had clearly taken a hit.Without saying another word, she stood up abruptly.She adjusted her sunglasses with stiff movements before turning away.Then she walked off without looking back.I watched her disappearing figure in silence until she was completely gone.After she left, I looked down at the novel in my hands again.But no matter how hard I tried to focus on the words, I couldn’t concentrate.Something felt off.
A strange uneasiness slowly crept through my body.
The peaceful atmosphere of the garden no longer felt comforting, Instead, it felt heavy.
Like the calm before a storm.