Ii2
Lia’s POV
After Luca’s reassurances about the phone, I felt a weight lift, but my mind still buzzed with the uncertainty of everything unfolding around me. As Benedicta and I stood by the front door, waiting for my cab to arrive, I could see the worry in her eyes.
She placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. “Lia, are you certain you want to go back today?” Her tone was soft but probing. “It seems… complicated there. And with Bianca stirring things up, maybe you could use a little more time away.”
I managed a small smile, appreciating her concern. “I know, Benedicta. But if I leave things hanging, Bianca will only get bolder. And Finn—he needs to hear the truth from me before he hears any more half-truths from her.”
Benedicta sighed, pulling me into a hug. “Just be careful, all right?” She stepped back, her gaze serious. “I know you’re strong, but that doesn’t mean you need to do it all alone. Promise you’ll reach out if things get too difficult.”
“I promise.” I gave her hand a reassuring squeeze just as the cab pulled up in front of the house. “Thank you—for everything.”
She nodded, a sad smile softening her expression as she watched me head down the driveway and into the waiting cab. As the car pulled away, I leaned back into the seat, bracing myself for what awaited me at Finn’s estate.
---
The drive back was uneventful, but as we neared the gates, a growing sense of dread stirred in me. I couldn’t shake the feeling that today was going to bring more challenges. And, as if on cue, the moment I stepped out of the cab and headed toward the entrance, Bianca appeared from the side path, as though she’d been waiting for me.
“Lia,” she greeted, her voice laced with sweetness that dripped with insincerity. Her gaze swept over me, assessing, her lips curving into a smirk. “You’re finally back. I was beginning to think you’d decided to abandon your role here altogether.”
I lifted my chin, refusing to let her bait me. “Nice to see you too, Bianca,” I replied, keeping my tone steady. “Though I’d expect that by now, you’d have grown used to people having other business outside these walls.”
She narrowed her eyes, not even trying to hide her disdain. “Funny you should say that, Lia. I’ve been meaning to talk to you about your… extracurricular activities.”
I arched an eyebrow, feigning surprise. “Oh? I wasn’t aware I needed to account for every moment of my time with you.”
Bianca’s expression hardened. “You may think you can do as you please, but let me remind you, you’re marrying into a family that has standards. And disappearing without a word, leaving Finn to clean up your mess—like that little incident with your car—isn’t exactly becoming of his future wife.”
I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to stay composed. “I trust Finn knows what kind of person I am, Bianca. And he certainly doesn’t need you speaking on his behalf.”
She took a step closer, her voice lowering, as though sharing a secret. “You really think he doesn’t see through you? Believe me, it won’t be long before he realizes that all you’re doing is pretending.” She leaned back, crossing her arms with a satisfied smile. “After all, it’s only a matter of time before you reveal your true colors.”
I met her gaze, refusing to back down. “I’d be careful if I were you, Bianca. You might find that the people you’re so desperate to deceive are already watching you closely.”
Her smirk faltered for just an instant, but she quickly recovered, tossing her hair over her shoulder. “Enjoy playing pretend while it lasts,” she said, brushing past me with one last withering look.
I watched her go, a sense of calm defiance settling over me. If Bianca wanted to play this game, then I would make sure she knew exactly who she was dealing with.
---
Finn’s POV
After the morning’s chaos, I was determined to put the issue of the phone behind us. The guards had reviewed the CCTV footage, meticulously scanning each frame for clues about the phone’s origin, but it had turned up nothing. Whoever had left it there had been careful, or perhaps lucky, leaving us with nothing useful. All we had was a phone with no apparent links to its owner—no photos, contacts, or messages. Just a dead end.
Still, the whole thing left me uneasy, and not just because of Bianca’s constant insinuations about Lia. She had been quick to plant seeds of suspicion, but I couldn’t bring myself to believe them. Lia wasn’t the type to keep secrets, not like this.
I was sitting in my office, the phone lying on my desk as I stared at it, lost in thought. The investigation felt like a loose thread I couldn’t pull, and the more I thought about it, the more it gnawed at me.
The door creaked open, and I looked up to see Alina stepping inside, her expression as smug as ever.
“Still brooding over that phone, Finn?” she asked, clearly enjoying my frustration. “Or maybe it’s Lia’s latest disappearance that has you so on edge?”
I frowned, already weary of her meddling. “Alina, I’m not in the mood for this.”
She shrugged, leaning casually against the doorway. “I’m just trying to help, you know. But if you’re so determined to ignore every red flag, then by all means, keep going.” Her gaze drifted to the phone on my desk. “But don’t say I didn’t warn you when things start falling apart.”
I clenched my teeth, barely restraining my irritation. “Alina, Lia has done nothing to warrant this constant suspicion. That phone could belong to anyone, and without any evidence, there’s no reason to jump to conclusions.”
She rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed. “Suit yourself, Finn. But remember, I know what I’m talking about. I’d hate to see you blindsided because you refused to see the truth.”
Without waiting for a response, she turned and left, leaving me alone with the unsettling reminder of her words.
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