115
Lia’s POV
I sat in the quiet of the room, the hum of the evening around me when the sudden ring of my phone broke the stillness. I glanced at the screen, and my heart skipped a beat—Luca.
I answered immediately. “Luca?”
“Lia,” his voice was low, serious, the usual warmth missing. “You need to be careful around Finn’s house. Things aren’t as they seem, and there’s more going on than you know. I’ll tell you everything when we see each other. But for now, watch yourself, especially around Bianca and Jenny.”
I frowned, my grip tightening on the phone. “What’s going on, Luca? Why should I be worried about them?”
“You’ll understand soon enough,” he said, his voice darkening. “Just… don’t trust anyone too easily.”
Before I could ask more, the line clicked and the call ended abruptly, leaving me with an unsettling feeling. What had he meant? I wasn’t sure, but I trusted Luca, so I knew I needed to be cautious. Still, I couldn’t let his warnings consume me.
I exhaled slowly, trying to shake off the tension. I dialed Benedicta’s number next, hoping for some semblance of calm. It only rang once before she picked up.
“Lia?” Benedicta’s voice was always a comforting balm to my nerves.
“Hi, Benedicta. I just wanted to check-in. How are you?” I asked, settling back against the pillows, feeling the weight of the day pressing down on me.
“We’re doing well,” she said softly. “Merlin’s been keeping busy. He’s grown so much, Lia. I wish you could see him more often.”
I smiled at the mention of her son. “I miss him too. Put him on, will you?”
There was a soft shuffle on the other end before Merlin’s voice came through, a little clearer than before.
“Lia!” he said enthusiastically. “I’m building a castle with my blocks! I bet it’s bigger than yours.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “I’ll have to come over and see it one of these days. Maybe you can teach me how to build one too.”
He giggled, and I could hear him proudly explain the castle’s walls and towers in great detail. The conversation drifted to his plans for the upcoming summer and his excitement about a new book he was reading, and I indulged him, feeling a small sense of peace as I listened to his innocent chatter.
Finally, after a few more moments, I said, “Alright, Merlin, I’ve got to let you go now, but I’ll be thinking about that castle.”
“Okay, Lia. See you soon!” he said before the line went quiet, and I was left with the sound of Benedicta’s voice again.
“I’ll let you go too, dear. Be careful. You never know what’s out there.”
“I will,” I assured her, though my mind wasn’t entirely at ease. “Thanks, Benedicta. Give my love to Merlin.”
After hanging up, I stared at my phone for a moment before the soft knock on my door pulled me from my thoughts.
A maid stood in the doorway, her expression respectful but firm. “Miss Lia, dinner is ready. Your family is waiting downstairs.”
I nodded, setting the phone down, and stood up. “Thank you,” I said, smoothing out my dress as I followed her down the stairs.
The dinner table was set in the grand dining room, a beautiful spread laid out before us. Finn sat at the head of the table, his sister, Alina, seated to his left, and Bianca sitting beside me. There was an awkward tension hanging in the air, one that I couldn't quite place. As I settled into my seat, I glanced at Finn, but he was already looking away, his attention elsewhere.
I decided to break the silence. “So, Finn, the wedding preparations are moving along,” I began casually, hoping to engage him. “I’ve been working with the florist, and the venue’s almost confirmed. It’s all coming together nicely.”
Finn barely looked up, his gaze flickering to his plate before returning to his glass of water. “That’s great,” he muttered, his voice distant.
I raised an eyebrow but pushed forward, unfazed. “I was thinking we could start planning the rehearsal dinner soon, too. A few close friends, family, and of course, a few of your business partners. It’ll be a good chance to get everyone in the right mood for the wedding day.”
Still, Finn didn’t seem particularly engaged. He merely nodded, his fork picking at his food as his sister, Alina exchanged an amused glance with Bianca. I didn’t care, though. I wasn’t here to talk about anything else but our wedding. If Finn wasn’t interested, it was his problem.
“Well, I’ve also been thinking about the guest list,” I continued, feeling my pulse quicken with the desire to push his buttons. “It’s always difficult to narrow it down, especially since your father has so many colleagues and people from the business world that he wants to invite. But I suppose it’s a matter of managing expectations, isn’t it?”
Finn finally glanced up, his eyes narrowing. “Yes,” he said slowly, but his tone remained disinterested.
I felt a flash of frustration but kept my smile in place. It didn’t matter if Finn didn’t care. This wedding was happening, and he had no say in how it would unfold.
After a few more uncomfortable moments of silence, dinner came to an end. I pushed my chair back, ready to make my next move.
“I’d like to speak with you in your office, Finn,” I said, standing up from the table.
His eyes shot to me, but instead of responding immediately, he exchanged a look with Bianca, who raised an eyebrow in return. Alina, too, seemed to be caught off guard by my request. But neither of them said a word.
“Alright,” Finn said after a beat, his voice flat. “I’ll meet you there.”
As I turned to leave, I couldn’t help but feel the weight of their gaze following me. What were they thinking? What were they hiding? I would find out soon enough.
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