Chapter 136 Ruciano came back

Chapter 136 Ruciano came back
Carlino’s POV

Making that decision hadn’t been easy, but for once, I wanted to believe she could fight for herself. Lina had never been weak. Letting Ruciano return to her life could ruin the fragile peace she had built over the years, but I was willing to take that risk. I wanted to trust her strength instead of constantly stepping in to save her.

I remained inside the house directly opposite hers, watching silently from behind drawn curtains. I had bought the place the moment I moved to California. The decision had been impulsive, driven by one thing alone—I needed to stay close to her without her ever knowing.

All this time, no one in that house had ever seen me leave or enter mine. I existed like a ghost on the other side of the street, blending so perfectly into the shadows that my presence became invisible.

I had watched her the entire day. Everything had been normal. The same routine she followed every other day unfolded exactly the same today, and for a while, I allowed myself to believe nothing would go wrong.

Until I saw him.

A man approached the house slowly. He wasn’t familiar. Not someone who came often. His back faced me, hood pulled over his head beneath a black leather jacket and faded jeans. Then he turned slightly, scanning the street.

And I saw his face.

Ruciano.

The recognition hit instantly. I could never mistake those features.

He reached the porch far too quickly. Rage erupted inside me like molten lava clawing its way to the surface, violent and suffocating. Every instinct screamed at me to move, to drag him away from her before he even touched that door, but I forced myself to stay still.

I couldn’t interfere. Not yet.

He adjusted his jacket before pressing the doorbell. A few seconds later, Lina opened the door.

I couldn’t see her expression clearly from where I stood, but I noticed the way she froze. No movement. No greeting. No sound. Just silence stretching tightly between them.

I knew I wouldn’t hear anything from this distance.

So I moved.

Pulling my hood over my head and lowering my face cap, I slipped outside and got into my car. I drove around quietly before parking near her fence on the opposite side. From there, I walked toward the large tree overlooking her front porch.

The moment I stopped beneath it, their voices became clear.

“Don’t you dare say my name with that disgusting mouth of yours.”

Her voice was calm, but the fury in her eyes was impossible to miss. Even from where I stood, I could feel the tremble beneath her restraint. The anger. The hurt.

Ruciano didn’t answer. Instead, his hand brushed against the doorframe as though he intended to walk inside.

Lina shoved him hard in the chest before stepping out completely and slamming the door shut behind her.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, her voice low and shaking with restrained rage.

The urge to step forward tightened inside me.

“You’ve really got some nerve showing up here,” she muttered, releasing a slow breath. “My girls are inside, and I don’t want them laying eyes on a filthy human being like you. Leave.”

Her words came out sharp and fearless as she held his gaze without flinching.

“Lina, just listen to—”

“If you say my name again,” she snapped, lifting a finger toward him, “I swear to God, Ruciano, you’ll see a side of me you’ve never seen before.”

A faint smile touched my lips.

That was the Lina I knew.

“Jesus,” she scoffed bitterly, shaking her head. “I can’t believe I actually loved someone like you. You’re disgusting.”

The words landed hard. I saw it in the way his jaw tightened slightly.

She stared at him for a long moment before speaking again, quieter this time.

“The man standing in front of me…” Her voice trembled. “He’s nothing like the man I used to know.”

“Lina, let me explain,” he said quickly, stepping closer. “It’s not what you think—”

“Don’t.”

Her hand rose again, stopping him immediately.

“I won’t warn you twice.”

The tension thickened around them until even the air felt heavy.

“You do not have the right,” she continued, her voice rising little by little, “to show up at my house after all these years asking for forgiveness. You beat me, Ruciano. You broke me apart piece by piece. You made me question my own sanity.”

His expression darkened.

“And when that wasn’t enough…” Tears gathered in her eyes. “You sold me.”

The words came out softer now, but somehow more devastating.

“You sold me because Malder and Kailen offered you money.”

“It wasn’t like that—”

“Shut up!”

Her voice cracked as tears spilled down her cheeks.

Something inside me snapped at the sight.

“God, you’re sick,” she whispered. “Do you even hear yourself? You’re a sick bastard who should be locked somewhere no one ever has to see your face again.”

The hatred in her eyes was absolute. Every second of this conversation dragged her back into memories she had fought desperately to bury.

“Leave before I call the police.”

She turned toward the door, clearly done with him.

But then he grabbed her wrist.

“I’m not finished talking to you,” he said coldly. “Don’t walk away from me.”

My entire body tensed.

No one had the right to touch what belonged to me.

I was already preparing to step out from behind the tree when the sound split through the street.

Smack.

The slap echoed sharply in the silence.

His head snapped to the side as his grip loosened immediately. Shock flashed openly across his face.

“Touch me again,” Lina said quietly, dangerously, “and I’ll cut your hands into pieces.”

The threat rolled off her tongue with terrifying ease.

Then the front door opened again.

“Lina, what’s going on?” her mother’s voice broke through the tension.

Her father stepped out behind her, confusion written across both their faces. But the moment they saw Ruciano, everything changed instantly.

“What are you doing here, you bastard?” her mother snapped.

Ruciano straightened but said nothing.

“The audacity you have showing up after everything you did…” she continued angrily. “Lina, this man has lost his mind.”

“Mom—”

“No.” Her mother cut her off while pulling out her phone. “I’m calling the police right now.”

A flicker of panic crossed Lina’s face.

“Mom, wait—”

Why was she stopping her?

Ruciano’s expression darkened immediately. In one swift movement, he snatched the phone from her mother’s hand.

“Hey!” her father barked, stepping forward. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

“Give that back!” her mother shouted, reaching for it.

Everything spiraled at once.

Voices rose over each other. Tempers snapped. The tension finally broke apart completely.

And then—

“Mama?”

Erla’s small voice drifted from inside the house.

My chest tightened instantly.

No. This was exactly what Lina had wanted to protect the children from.

I had to do something.

Fast.

Pulling my phone from my pocket, I dialed the only person who could fix this situation before it got worse.

“Get to Lina’s house now, Victor.”

For the first time since this started, that felt like the only move left.