110

Finn’s POV

I walked into my office, eager for a moment of solitude to collect my thoughts. The events of the day were already enough to make my head spin—Lia’s suggestion to bring Bianca along to the event planner and the strange phone found by the gate. I needed a moment to sort it all out in my mind.

But I’d barely had time to sit down when the door opened, and Bianca slipped inside, her eyes locked on me with a determined glint.

“Bianca,” I said, exasperated, “I need to concentrate. I don’t have time for interruptions right now. Can you please leave?”

But she didn’t seem the least bit interested in listening. Instead, she walked up to me, her expression softening as she drew closer. She placed one hand on my face, her fingers trailing along my cheek in a way that was both familiar and unsettling. I opened my mouth to protest, but before I could, she leaned in, her lips hovering dangerously close to mine.

“Bianca,” I said, my tone more forceful this time, though I was beginning to feel trapped by her insistence.

Just then, the door swung open, and Lia walked in. She paused, her expression flashing briefly with surprise, but she recovered quickly, her face shifting into calm neutrality. Her gaze darted between Bianca and me, her expression unreadable.

“Oh, Finn,” she said, her tone as composed as ever. “I just wanted to let you know I’ll be going out for a bit. I haven’t finished inviting people for the wedding.”

I nodded, grateful for the interruption and for her ability to mask whatever she’d seen. “All right,” I replied. “Let me know if you need anything.”

Without another word, she gave a brief nod and turned, leaving us alone again. The moment she was gone, Bianca dropped her hand from my face, her expression hardening.

“Don’t you think it’s odd?” she said, her voice low, her gaze narrowing toward the closed door. “I think Lia knows something about that phone found at the gate. We need to find out who it belongs to and why it’s here. She’s hiding something, Finn—I’m sure of it.”

I turned away from her, already tired of her constant insinuations. “Bianca, don’t start with this again,” I said, my tone dismissive as I sank into my chair. “Lia isn’t a suspect, and I trust her completely. She has nothing to hide.”

For a moment, Bianca just stared at me, her eyes flashing with irritation and disbelief. “I can’t believe you’re so blind to what’s happening right in front of you,” she muttered, her voice laced with anger. “You’re going to regret this.”

Without waiting for a response, she spun on her heel and strode out of the office, slamming the door behind her. The echo of her exit lingered in the room, but I pushed it aside, focusing on the calm I desperately needed to maintain.

I took a steadying breath, but I couldn’t shake the unsettling feeling that had crept in. As much as I trusted Lia, the timing of her unexpected visit and the appearance of that phone didn’t sit right with me. Bianca’s accusations were groundless, but I still needed to know if there was any truth lurking beneath her paranoia.

After a moment’s hesitation, I picked up my phone and dialed a number, waiting for the call to connect. When a voice answered on the other end, I kept my tone low and measured.

“I need you to keep an eye on Lia,” I said, my voice quiet but firm. “I want to know where she’s going and who she meets. Report back with everything.”

With that, I ended the call, hoping that whatever I found would confirm what I already knew: that Lia was trustworthy.

____

Lia's POV

A small smile spread across my face as I slipped into my car and started the engine. I hadn’t left Finn’s office door right away. Instead, I’d paused, leaning just close enough to listen to the exchange inside, my ear pressed against the heavy wood. What I heard had been worth it: Bianca’s voice, tense and insistent, accusing me of hiding something about the phone found at the gate. Finn had defended me, dismissing her accusations and saying he trusted me completely.

It was gratifying to hear him stand by me, especially when Bianca’s animosity was so obvious. But her suspicion was unnerving, as was her refusal to let it go. Now, I’d have to watch my steps even more carefully.

As I pulled out of the driveway and started toward Benedicta’s house, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of urgency. I needed to see Luca, to tell him what had happened, and to warn him about Bianca’s suspicions. I picked up my phone and tried to dial his number, but each call only led to an automated message saying the line was unreachable. Frustration simmered as I hung up, gripping the steering wheel tighter.

Then, almost instinctively, my thoughts shifted to the phone found near the gate earlier that morning. A sick feeling crept over me as a realization hit: it had to be Luca’s. The timing, his calls going straight to voicemail—it all fits too perfectly. He must have come to see me last night and lost his phone in the process. I could only imagine how he’d felt, being turned away without a word.

“Damn it!” I muttered, hitting the steering wheel in frustration. The unexpected force of my action made my car veer slightly off the road. I tried to correct it, but it was too late; the tires skidded and with a sudden jolt, my car collided with a pole, the impact sending a shudder through my bones.

“Ugh!” I groaned, bracing myself as the car finally came to a halt. My heart was racing, the shock of the crash vibrating through me. Thankfully, it hadn’t been too severe, and after a moment, I managed to catch my breath.

Opening the door, I stepped out, brushing a stray lock of hair out of my face. Just as I examined the damage to the front bumper, I noticed another car pulling up behind me. The vehicle parked at an odd distance, far enough to seem cautious, yet close enough to keep me in sight. I watched, the hairs on the back of my neck prickling. This was no random passerby.

I’d seen that car parked outside Finn’s estate before.

With a steadying breath, I squared my shoulders and walked toward the car. The driver, a tall, nondescript man in a dark jacket, rolled down his window, his expression blank as he looked at me. I raised an eyebrow, folding my arms as I regarded him coolly.

“You can stop pretending you’re here by accident,” I said, my voice calm but laced with authority. “We both know Finn sent you to follow me.”

The man’s expression didn’t change, but I caught the slight twitch of his mouth, betraying his discomfort. “Ma’am, I’m not sure what you’re talking about. I was just passing by.”

“Right,” I said, rolling my eyes. “Let’s not waste time. If Finn wants updates on where I’m going, you can tell him yourself. And while you’re at it, call him and let him know that his driver should come pick up my car. I don’t have time to wait here.”

The man hesitated, clearly torn between following orders and respecting my request. But I wasn’t about to let him wriggle out of it.

“I’ll make it simple,” I continued, leaning in closer. “You can either make the call and tell Finn’s driver to take care of the car, or you can let him know you lost track of me and deal with his reaction later. Your choice.”

He swallowed, glancing away as if weighing his options. After a moment, he pulled out his phone, dialing a number while glancing at me from the corner of his eye.

I gave him a faint, satisfied smile, then turned on my heel and walked back to the road, leaving him to explain the situation to Finn.