109
Lia's POV
I woke up feeling as though a weight had settled on my chest. The conversation with Luca from the night before replayed in my mind like a haunting melody, filling me with an ache I couldn’t shake. He’d asked me to call off the wedding and pleaded with me to see the future we could have together. And yet, I hadn’t been able to agree, the idea of humiliating Finn and unraveling everything I’d promised myself pushing back against everything Luca had said.
I sighed, pushing away the lingering sadness as I dressed. My heart felt heavy, but I couldn’t let it show. Not today. Finn and his family expected me to play my role, to be the poised fiancée, and I couldn’t afford to slip. After fixing my hair and straightening my clothes, I took one last look in the mirror, steeling myself, and headed downstairs.
When I entered the dining room, I saw that everyone else was already seated. Bianca sat to Finn’s left, her dark eyes narrowing as they landed on me. Next to her, Finn’s sister, Alina, held an equally icy expression. I swallowed, forcing myself to look past the silent hostility in their glares. Whatever issues they had with me, I couldn’t let it unsettle me now.
As I approached, Finn stood up, smiling warmly. “Lia,” he greeted, pulling out a chair beside him. I sat down, offering him a polite smile as he leaned in and pressed a light kiss to my cheek. The gesture, though gentle, felt hollow, as if he were reminding the others of our bond more than sharing a real moment between us. I could almost feel Bianca’s glare intensify from across the table.
The maid appeared, laying plates in front of us. The scent of fresh herbs and roasted vegetables filled the room, but I had no appetite. I glanced at Bianca and caught the sneer still lingering on her face, a silent reminder of the invisible wall that had grown between us.
Turning to Finn, I cleared my throat and spoke with a calmness I barely felt. “Finn, I’ve arranged to meet with an event planner today to discuss some ideas for the wedding. Since Bianca isn’t very occupied around the house, I thought it would be nice for her to join me. She could help me pick out a design and theme for the ceremony.”
Finn’s face lit up with approval. “That’s a great idea, Lia. I’m sure Bianca would be happy to lend a hand.”
For a fleeting moment, I felt a sliver of satisfaction as I looked at Bianca. Her eyes widened in shock, her mouth opening as if she wanted to protest, but she quickly closed it, casting a look of veiled resentment my way instead. She nodded, though it was clear she didn’t want to agree.
“Of course,” she said coolly, barely hiding the displeasure in her tone. “I’d be honored.”
The table fell into silence as the maids served our plates, and I focused on the food in front of me, picking at it more than actually eating. Finn reached over, his hand resting gently on mine, his smile kind but slightly oblivious to the tension that crackled in the room. It felt surreal, pretending as though things were perfect when, deep down, I knew nothing could be further from the truth.
Just then, the door creaked open, and one of the sentinels stepped in, his gaze moving respectfully between us. He held something in his hand, his expression cautious as he approached the table.
“Sir,” he addressed Finn, holding out a small object. “We found this phone just outside the main gate, lying on the ground.”
Immediately, my heart skipped a beat as I recognized the scuffed casing and faint crack on the screen. Luca’s phone.
I held my breath, trying to keep my face neutral, but a flicker of panic gripped me. Finn noticed my reaction, his brow furrowing slightly as he looked down at the phone in the sentinel’s hand.
“Did you see who left it?” Finn asked his tone a blend of curiosity and concern.
The sentinel shook his head. “No, sir. We found it on our morning patrol. It didn’t belong to anyone on our team.”
Finn’s expression grew thoughtful, and he nodded, accepting the phone from the sentinel. “Check the CCTV footage from last night,” he instructed, holding the phone carefully. “And look through the contacts or any identifying information. Let’s find out who this belongs to.”
The sentinel gave a quick nod. “Right away, sir,” he said, taking the phone back and excusing himself from the room.
I forced myself to look away, breathing carefully as I felt Finn’s gaze shift to me. He looked as though he was about to say something, but his focus was soon diverted by Bianca, who leaned forward, a knowing smirk tugging at the corner of her lips.
“Isn’t it strange, Finn?” she mused. “We never have unexpected visitors here. I wonder what sort of person would come all this way just to leave their phone at the gate.”
I clenched my fists under the table, keeping my expression calm as I glanced at Finn. He was frowning now, looking down at his plate, clearly considering her words. I knew Bianca had her suspicions, and now, with Luca’s phone in the guards’ possession, she was all too eager to stir trouble.
But I couldn’t let her. Not now.
“Probably just a mistake,” I said lightly, forcing a small smile. “You know how careless people can be with their phones. I’m sure it’ll be easy enough to return once the guards have checked it out.”
Finn looked at me for a moment, his eyes searching my face, and I held his gaze, hoping he wouldn’t see past my calm facade. After a beat, he nodded, his expression relaxing as he squeezed my hand.
“Let’s not worry about it,” he said finally, looking around the table with a reassuring smile. “I’m sure it’s nothing serious.”
Bianca’s smile faded as Finn moved on, his focus returning to the meal and the plans we had for the day. Though the unease in my chest remained, I relaxed slightly, relieved that for now, the topic was behind us.
As the meal continued, Bianca kept her gaze fixed on me, her frustration simmering beneath the surface. I’d have to tread carefully today, not just for myself but to ensure no one discovered what had really happened last night.
For now, all I could do was play my part and hope that Luca’s presence at the gate would remain nothing more than a rumor.
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