116
Finn’s POV
I watched as Lia left the dining room, her back straight, movements calm, as though she were completely in control. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more beneath that carefully crafted composure. Why did she want to see me in my office? I felt a faint pulse of suspicion as I stood up, unable to ignore the tension that lingered between us tonight.
Just as I took a step to follow her, Alina approached, her expression a mix of worry and frustration. She lowered her voice, glancing briefly in the direction Lia had disappeared to make sure she was out of earshot. “Finn, you need to be smart about this,” she murmured, her tone sharp. “Your so-called fiancée isn’t who you think she is.”
I frowned, my gaze hardening as I looked at her. “What are you talking about, Alina?”
“Lia has her own agenda. I don’t trust her, and neither should you.” Her eyes flickered with something close to desperation as if she’d been holding back these thoughts for far too long. “Just… be careful.”
Before I could respond, Bianca chimed in, her voice filled with quiet resentment. “She’s right, Finn. Don’t let Lia brainwash you into whatever game she’s playing. I don’t know what she’s planning, but don’t be foolish about it.”
I glanced between the two of them, irritation starting to bubble up. “Bianca,” I warned, but she didn’t stop.
“I mean it,” she pressed, her tone urgent. “Whatever Lia’s about to tell you, don’t just take her words at face value. Think, Finn.”
Alina turned to her, her eyes narrowing. “Will you shut up, Bianca? No one asked for your opinion.”
Bianca stiffened, her eyes flashing with anger. “Excuse me? I’m only looking out for him, which is more than I can say for you.”
Alina’s face darkened, her lips pressing into a thin line. “Don’t think for a second you know what’s best for my brother. I’m his family, not you.”
It was obvious that they were moments away from launching into a full-blown argument. I let out an exasperated sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose as their voices escalated. “Enough,” I snapped, glancing between them with a hardened expression. “Both of you, just shut up.”
They fell silent, each of them casting me a sullen look but refraining from saying more. I turned away without another word, the tension between them left unresolved but, for the moment, contained.
As I walked down the hallway toward my office, Alina’s words echoed in my mind, stirring up a sense of unease. Lia isn’t who you think she is. I had always trusted Alina’s instincts, and she rarely warned me without reason. But Bianca’s words lingered, too. Had Lia been attempting to manipulate me, subtly guiding things to her advantage?
I reached the door to my office and paused, taking a deep breath to compose myself before I walked in to face her. Whatever Lia had to say, I’d hear her out. But I’d keep my guard up this time.
____
Lia’s POV
I sat in Finn’s office, my hands resting on the armrests, eyes fixed on the door as I waited. The ticking of the clock on the wall was loud in the silence, each second stretching out longer than it should. The tension from dinner still hung over me, but I kept my face carefully composed, my posture steady. This was something I needed to confront, and no matter how it turned out, I wasn’t going to back down.
The door opened, and Finn walked in, closing it behind him with a quiet click. He looked at me, his expression unreadable. "Why did you want to see me, Lia?"
I took a slow breath, meeting his gaze. "I wanted to talk to you about something I’ve noticed." I paused, choosing my words carefully, watching his face. "I know you had me followed, Finn."
For a moment, his expression didn’t change, but I saw a flicker of something in his eyes. "And why do you think that?" he asked, his tone guarded.
I raised an eyebrow, leaning forward just a little. "Because it’s obvious," I replied, keeping my voice calm. "You don’t trust me, so you need someone to keep an eye on me. You need to… soothe your conscience, I suppose." I watched him carefully, seeing the faint tension in his shoulders as he stood there, unmoving. "Am I right?"
He didn’t immediately answer, and I could see he was trying to choose his words, weighing how much he wanted to reveal. But I didn’t let him speak before I continued, my voice softening just a bit. "Finn, tomorrow we’re supposed to be married. I don’t want to start that chapter of our lives without any trust between us." I tilted my head slightly, watching him, searching for a reaction. "Don’t you think, at the very least, I deserve that? Some trust?"
Finn looked at me, his expression still hard, but there was something in his eyes—hesitation, perhaps? He shifted slightly as if struggling to find the right response. I waited, feeling the quiet tension building between us. Whatever he said next would matter.
But just as he opened his mouth to reply, his phone buzzed loudly in his pocket. He glanced down, frowning as he looked at the screen. Then, without a word, he walked quickly to the door.
"Finn?" I called, a trace of irritation slipping into my voice. "What’s going on?"
He paused, his hand on the door handle, looking back at me with a tense expression. "The phone that was left at the gate," he said, his tone low, "we’ve just received a signal from it. We’re going to need to figure out who it belongs to."
“What? Are you sure it's not for a random person,? I mean,, who'd leave his or her phone there?” I asked, my heart racing. What if he finds out it's for Luca?
“You seem bothered, what's wrong?” He asked as I sighed.
“I don't just want any troubles tomorrow, it means a lot to me. That's all.” With that, I walked out of his office.
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