Chapter 110 110
Chapter 110 110
Luciano entered the master bedroom as he loosened his silk tie with one hand, the fabric whispering as it slid free, while using the other to remove his cufflinks one by one.
Miranda followed him inside, closing the door with a quiet click that sealed them in their private world.
She stood there for a moment, watching him with a mixture of concern and quiet resolve.
“You shouldn’t have yelled at our daughter,” she said, her voice gentle but firm, carrying the weight of a mother’s protective instinct.
Luciano sighed deeply, unbuttoning the top of his crisp white shirt to reveal the edge of his collarbone.
“I didn’t mean to raise my voice like that. But she’s so stubborn, Miranda. I’ll talk to her tomorrow, smooth things over when she’s had time to calm down.”
Miranda walked further into the room, folding her arms across her chest as she leaned against the edge of the dresser.
“Maybe we should have waited a little longer before announcing the engagement. She must hate us right now. The look in her eyes… it broke my heart. She’s barely had time to adjust to any of this.”
Luciano turned to face her fully, his expression softening just a fraction as he took in her worried features. He stepped closer and placed his strong hands on her shoulders, his thumbs brushing lightly over the fabric of her dress.
“This is what she has to do, my love. Sooner or later, she’ll be handling parts of the family business. She needs to toughen up, learn the realities of our world. She’ll come around to it, the blood in her veins will guide her.”
Miranda looked up at him. “I don’t want us to lose our daughter, Luciano. Not after everything we’ve done to get her back. Not when she’s finally here under our roof.”
Luciano pulled her gently into his arms, wrapping them around her in a steady, reassuring embrace. His
“We won’t lose her.” he murmured softly, his voice a low rumble against her ear. “She’ll come to understand in time. The initial shock will fade, and she’ll see the power and protection this life offers.”
He tilted her chin up with careful fingers and kissed her softly, a quiet, lingering kiss filled with years of shared secrets and quiet strength.
Miranda closed her eyes, leaning fully into him, her hands resting on his chest as she melted against the solid warmth of his body.
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Yuki lay curled up on her massive bed in her room, the luxurious silk sheets tangled around her legs like gentle restraints.
Her eyes were swollen and red from the tears she had shed earlier, and a dull, persistent headache throbbed behind her temples, matching the ache in her chest.
Her thumb hovered over Kade’s contact for a long, agonizing moment, her heart pounding with guilt and longing. Finally, she pressed call. The phone rang twice before connecting.
“Hello…” Kade’s voice came through, tired and rough from sleepless nights.
“Kade…” Yuki whispered, her voice already cracking like fragile glass, the single word carrying every ounce of her suppressed pain.
“Yuki… is that really you?” Kade’s tone shifted completely, a rush of relief, excitement, and raw, aching love pouring out all at once. “God, I’ve been losing my mind here. I’ve called you a hundred times, but the call never went through. Are you okay? Are you safe? Tell me everything. Please.”
Yuki forced a small, shaky laugh, trying to sound normal even though her throat felt painfully tight, as if invisible hands were squeezing it. “Yeah… it’s me. I got a new phone. The old one… didn’t make the trip.”
Kade let out a long, shaky breath that crackled through the line.
“I missed your voice so much. I’ve been checking my phone every five minutes like some lovesick idiot. How are you? How are your parents? Is everything okay over there? Be honest with me.”
Yuki closed her eyes tightly, pressing her palm hard against her mouth to stifle the sob threatening to escape. Hot tears slipped silently down her cheeks as she fought to keep her voice steady.
“They’re… they’re nice. The house is huge. Really fancy, like something out of a magazine. They seem genuinely happy I’m here. It’s… a lot to take in, but they’re trying their best to make me feel welcome.”
She hated every lying word that left her lips. It felt like betrayal after betrayal. She couldn’t tell him about the engagement announcement that had shattered her world.
She couldn’t admit she felt like she was slowly drowning in this glittering cage of luxury and danger. So she fed him only the safe fragments, the polished surface, while her heart fractured quietly on the other end of the line.
“I’m so glad to hear that. I was imagining the worst every single night, you being scared, uncomfortable, alone. I miss you so much, Yuki. It feels wrong without you here. The apartment is too quiet, campus feels empty, everything reminds me of you.”
“I miss you too,” she whispered, tears falling faster now, soaking into the pillow beneath her.
She bit her lip hard enough to taste blood to keep her voice from breaking completely. “I miss you every single second of every day.”
“When are you coming back to London?” Kade asked, hope blooming clear and vulnerable in his tone. “I’m going crazy without you. I can’t focus on classes, on anything. I just want you back here with me, where you belong.”
Yuki’s chest tightened painfully, like a vice closing around her ribs. She pressed her palm harder against her mouth, crying silently as she struggled to keep her breathing even.
“I have to do some things here first. Get to know my parents… figure some stuff out with the family. But I’ll come back. I promise.”
Kade was quiet for a heartbeat, then spoke softly, almost pleading.
“Promise you’ll always keep in touch? No matter what happens? Even if it’s just one text a day. I need to know you’re okay, Yuki. I need you.”
“I promise,” she whispered, tears streaming unchecked down her face. “I’ll keep in touch. Every day if I can.”
“I love you,” Kade said, the words full of quiet desperation and unwavering love. “I love you so much, Yuki. Don’t forget that.”
Yuki closed her eyes, fresh tears rolling hot and fast. “I love you more, Kade.”
“Call me anytime. Day or night. I’m here. Always.”
“I will.” she said softly, her voice barely holding together.
The call ended with a soft click that felt like a door slamming shut.
Yuki dropped the phone onto the bed and buried her face deep in the pillow, crying harder than before.
The guilt, the fear, the overwhelming love, and the sharp pain all swirled together until she felt like she was truly drowning in an ocean of silk and secrets.
She missed him so much it hurt, a physical ache that radiated through her entire body.