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Lia's POV

As soon as I closed the door behind me, I hurried across the room, grabbing my phone from the nightstand. My heart raced as I dialed Luca’s number, silently urging him to pick up quickly. The line clicked, and his familiar voice sounded in my ear.

"Lia, what’s wrong?"

I didn’t waste any time. “Luca, things are getting complicated. Right now, Finn is trying to track down the owner of that phone—the one I left at the gate. If he figures out it’s yours… I’ll be in serious trouble. And Bianca’s helping him. I’m sure she’ll try to pin everything on me.”

There was a pause on Luca’s end before he replied, his voice calm and reassuring. “Don’t worry. I’ve taken care of it. They won’t be able to get anything from that phone, trust me. No one will trace it back to me.”

His words brought a flicker of relief, but I still felt the weight of everything pressing down on me. “Are you sure?” I pressed, needing more than just his word. “Because if Finn finds out…”

“Lia,” he interrupted, his tone firm. “I promise, nothing will come of this. No one will find anything, and if they do, it won’t point to you. Now listen to me.” He paused as if making sure I was fully focused. “We need to meet tomorrow. There are some things I need you to do, and once you follow through, everything will go as planned.”

I hesitated, feeling the enormity of it all settle over me. But I knew there was no turning back. Not now, not after everything I’d put into this.

“Alright,” I murmured, taking a deep breath. “But Luca, I want to make one thing clear—I’m not ending this marriage. I’m going through with it. I’ll be marrying Finn tomorrow, no matter what.”

There was a brief silence, then a low chuckle from Luca. “Of course. That’s exactly what I want. Marrying Finn will only work to our advantage. You need to be by his side for this plan to succeed. So go ahead, get married to him. It’s all part of what we need to do.”

His approval only added fuel to the fire simmering inside me. For so long, I’d played my role, staying patient, waiting for the perfect moment to turn the tables. Now, that moment was finally here. I was done being a bystander in my own life.

“Fine,” I replied, determination settling in my voice. “We’ll meet tomorrow, just tell me where.”

“A café,” he answered smoothly. “I’ll text you the location. We’ll talk, and I’ll go over what you need to do. Just make sure you don’t leave any loose ends behind.”

“I won’t,” I assured him. “And thank you… for handling this.”

“Don’t mention it,” he said, his voice softening just a fraction. “Remember, Lia, we’re in this together. Everything is under control.”

The line went silent as he hung up, and I put my phone down, exhaling deeply. I felt an odd calm settle over me, even with the whirlwind of everything that was happening. If Luca was confident, then I had to be too.

I paced the room, unable to stay still. My mind was spinning, thoughts tangled with emotions. Marrying Finn had never been about love or loyalty, but about taking control, about making sure I came out of this on top. It was my turn to hold the power, and I wasn’t going to let anything—or anyone—take that away.

After a few moments, the walls of the room started to feel suffocating. I needed to clear my head, to walk off the tension curling inside me. So I slipped out of my room, walking down the dim hallway until I found myself standing near the CCTV room.

The faint sounds of voices drew me closer, and as I peered inside, I saw Finn hunched over a monitor, frustration etched across his face. He was flanked by two other men, all of them working on the phone, trying to crack whatever was left of it.

I leaned casually against the doorframe, clearing my throat. Finn glanced up, his expression shifting as he saw me.

“What’s going on?” I asked, feigning a look of mild curiosity.

“We’re trying to access the numbers,” Finn replied, his voice strained. “But it seems like the owner’s blocking us somehow. There’s nothing to trace.”

I nodded, masking the relief that surged through me. Just then, Bianca walked into the room, her face twisting into a scowl as she caught sight of me. Ignoring her, I offered Finn a small smile.

“Good luck with that,” I said, my tone casual. “Let me know if you need any help.”

Without waiting for a response, I turned on my heel and walked away, leaving them to their frustrated attempts. As I walked back to my room, a sense of satisfaction washed over me. Let them try all they wanted—Luca had made sure they wouldn’t find anything. Tomorrow, I’d marry Finn, and my plan would unfold exactly as it was meant to.

Everything was falling into place, and for the first time in a long time, I felt like I was finally in control.

___

Alina's POV

I sat alone in my bedroom, the dim light from the lamp casting soft shadows around me. My thoughts circled like vultures, picking apart every detail of the situation unfolding around me. That phone was left at the gate… it was suspicious enough on its own. But now, Finn was rushing into a marriage with Lia, someone who had always felt like an outsider. Something about all of this didn’t sit right with me.

I tapped my fingers against the arm of the chair, frustration bubbling up. It was impossible not to see how strange this was—this sudden marriage, Finn’s stubborn trust in Lia, even with all the secrecy swirling around her. If only he could see her the way I did.

A knock at the door broke through my thoughts, and I glanced up as one of the maids stepped inside, bowing her head slightly in respect.

“Ma’am, you called for me?” she asked, her voice soft.

“Yes,” I said, my gaze sharp as I looked her over. This maid was discreet, one of the more trustworthy ones, and I needed someone who would be thorough. “I have some instructions for you, and I need you to follow them exactly as I say.”

She nodded quickly, standing straighter, clearly sensing the gravity of the task I was about to give her.

“From this moment on, you’re to watch Lia closely. I want to know everything she does, every room she enters, every conversation she has. And make sure you pay attention to Finn as well. I need you to keep track of their interactions and report them all to me. Do you understand?”

The maid nodded again, her expression serious. “Yes, ma’am.”

I leaned forward, my voice lowering. “This is particularly important regarding that phone they found. I need to know the outcome of that investigation. Finn is digging around for answers, and I have a feeling that Lia knows more than she’s letting on. If there’s anything suspicious, I want to be the first to know. Understood?”

The maid’s eyes widened slightly, but she nodded with steady determination. “I understand, ma’am. I’ll do exactly as you say.”

“Good,” I said, satisfied with her response. “And remember, I want updates regularly. Anything you see, no matter how small, report it to me immediately. Don’t let anything slip by.”

I watched as she absorbed my words, her face serious and attentive. I needed someone loyal, someone who wouldn’t be swayed by Finn’s charming ways or Lia’s manipulative front. This maid had been with us long enough to understand that my orders weren’t up for negotiation.

“Also,” I added, “be cautious. I don’t want anyone noticing that you’re keeping tabs on them. Discretion is crucial. If they realize you’re watching, they’ll change their behavior, and then we’ll lose any advantage we have.”

She nodded again. “I understand, ma’am. I’ll be careful.”

With a final glance, I motioned toward the door. “That will be all. You can go now.”

The maid gave a small bow before slipping out of the room, leaving me alone once more. I leaned back in my chair, staring off into the distance as the wheels of my mind turned. This entire situation was infuriating. Ever since Lia had come into our lives, things had been thrown off balance. Finn was behaving recklessly, blindsided by his so-called “trust” in her, while Lia seemed to be weaving herself deeper into his life every day.

And now, a marriage—just like that, without any consideration for the rest of us. If it were up to me, I would have put a stop to this nonsense the moment she showed her true colors. But Finn’s stubbornness and arrogance were a constant roadblock. He never saw the full picture, the way I did.

Still, I wasn’t about to sit idly by. This maid would be my eyes and ears, and I would be one step ahead of Lia at every turn. It wouldn’t be long before her secrets unraveled. I’d find out what she was hiding, and I’d make sure Finn saw her for what she truly was.

There was too much at stake to let this slide. Our family’s reputation, our legacy—it all mattered far more than Lia’s petty ambitions. She thought she could manipulate her way to the top, but I would make sure she fell just as quickly. She was nothing but a temporary storm, a fleeting problem that would be dealt with soon enough.

I stood up, crossing the room to the window, gazing out into the night. Somewhere out there, Lia was probably plotting her next move, thinking she had everything under control. But she underestimated me. No one waltzed into this family without my permission, and certainly, no one played my brother like a pawn.

Soon enough, I’d have her exactly where I wanted her. And when the time was right, I’d make sure she regretted every deceitful step she took toward this family.

With a final look at the empty hallway, I allowed myself a small, satisfied smile. Whatever games Lia was playing, she’d soon learn that I was two steps ahead. And when the truth finally came to light, I would be there to watch it all unfold.