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Lia’s POV

I sat in Benedicta’s cozy living room, the warmth of her home calming the unease simmering in my chest. I tried to focus on the conversation, but my mind kept wandering back to the events of the past few days. I couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching me, that every move I made was under a microscope. Finn had to be behind it, of course. He was testing me, trying to see if my intentions were genuine. But did he realize how close he was to the truth?

Benedicta noticed my distracted expression and placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. “Lia, don’t let it get to you,” she said gently. “You’re doing everything you can. Remember, this isn’t just for you—it’s for everyone relying on you. Don’t let Bianca or anyone else intimidate you.”

I nodded, grateful for her support. Before I could respond, the sound of the front door opening pulled both our gazes toward the entryway. Luca walked in, his face set in a calm, unreadable mask. As he entered the room, I felt a mix of relief and apprehension. I needed answers, but I wasn’t sure I was ready for what he might say.

“Luca,” I greeted, standing up. “Why did you ask me to come here?”

He offered a small, reassuring smile before he glanced briefly at Benedicta. “I think it’s time we talked about everything,” he said, his tone steady. He gestured for me to sit back down, and as I did, he took a seat across from me, leaning forward with a serious expression.

“Lia,” he began, “things are happening behind the scenes that you need to be aware of, but you have to act like you know nothing. Bianca and Jenny have been planning something ever since they learned about your engagement to Finn. They think you’re in their way, and they’re not afraid to play dirty to get you out of the picture.”

The weight of his words sank in, and I felt a chill run down my spine. I knew Bianca had her issues with me, but this was more than I’d expected. “What are they planning?” I asked, barely managing to keep my voice steady.

Luca glanced around as if making sure we were alone. “They’re planning to use your wedding as an opportunity. They want to take you away and and create enough chaos to break any trust Finn might have in you. If they can make him doubt you, it’ll be easier for them to get rid of you for good.”

My heart pounded as his words settled in. “So, they want to ruin everything… by making me look like a traitor,” I murmured, piecing it together. “If Finn thinks I’m hiding something or working against him, it’ll be all over.”

Luca nodded. “That’s exactly their goal. But here’s the thing: they’re working with Lex, who’s giving me updates on their plans. He’s on our side for now, but you’ll need to tread carefully. They can’t know you’re aware of any of this.”

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my thoughts. “So… what do I do?”

“You keep going as if everything is normal,” Luca replied, his voice firm. “Don’t act differently around Finn, Bianca, or anyone else. Make them believe that you’re oblivious. And be careful with Finn. He’s already suspicious, watching your every move. The slightest slip-up could give them exactly what they want.”

“Trust me, I know he’s watching,” I muttered. “He’s had someone following me since we got engaged. It’s like he’s waiting for me to prove him right.”

Luca leaned closer, his expression more intense. “That’s why you can’t give him any reason to doubt you. Stick to the plan, and when you’re with Finn, make it clear that you’re serious about this marriage. The more he believes in your loyalty, the harder it’ll be for Bianca and Jenny to undermine you.”

I glanced at Benedicta, who gave me a reassuring nod. “He’s right, Lia,” she said gently. “Stay calm, keep your composure, and don’t let them see any fear or hesitation. Remember, you’re not alone in this.”

I looked back at Luca, feeling a new resolve settling over me. “Fine. I’ll act like I don’t know a thing. But I need to be ready if they decide to make a move sooner than we expect.”

Luca nodded approvingly. “Good. And remember, Lex will be keeping an eye on Bianca and Jenny. If anything changes, I’ll get the information to you as soon as possible. Just… stay cautious.”

“Understood.” I looked down for a moment, gathering my thoughts, before looking back at him. “One more thing, Luca. Why are you helping me with all of this? What do you get out of it?”

A hint of a smile played on his lips. “Let’s just say… I have my own reasons for wanting to see this play out in your favor. There are people in this world who think they can control everything. Bianca is one of them, but she’s about to learn that she’s not as untouchable as she thinks.”

As his words hung in the air, I felt a surge of confidence. Maybe I wasn’t as isolated as I’d thought. With allies like Luca and Benedicta, I stood a chance of navigating this maze of deceit and coming out unscathed.

I stood up, giving him a firm nod. “Thank you, Luca. I’ll be ready.”

With that, I left Benedicta’s house, feeling the weight of his words settle into determination. If Bianca and Jenny thought they could ruin everything, they were in for a surprise.

___

Jenny’s POV

Jenny leaned back in her chair, a smug grin spreading across her face as Bianca paced the small room. They had been going over every detail of their plan for days, and the sense of satisfaction bubbling inside her was hard to contain. “So, once Finn suspects Lia, it’s only a matter of time before he starts questioning her motives,” she murmured, pleased with how everything was coming together.

Bianca paused and looked at Jenny with a gleam in her eye. “Exactly. Finn’s always been cautious, and with enough nudging, he’ll see her for the threat she is. And once he doubts her, he’ll throw her out himself. We won’t have to lift a finger.”

The two shared a triumphant smile, imagining the chaos they would unleash. Just then, the door swung open, and Alina strode in with a look of cold determination. The air shifted as her sharp gaze fixed on Bianca, clearly unimpressed with their plotting.

“You should stay away from Finn, Bianca,” Alina said, her tone icy. “Or else you might just vanish. And trust me, no one will care enough to look for you.”

Bianca’s eyes narrowed, the initial shock quickly turning to irritation. “This doesn’t concern you, Alina,” she sneered, trying to mask her discomfort. “Why don’t you just stay out of it? You have no idea what’s really going on here.”

Alina took a step closer, crossing her arms as a smirk spread across her face. “Oh, I know exactly what’s going on,” she said, her voice low but firm. “You’re scheming against Finn, using Jenny here to carry out your pathetic little plot. You think you can manipulate him, make him doubt Lia, and get rid of her in one sweep. It’s transparent and weak, Bianca.”

Jenny bristled, feeling the sting of Alina’s words but unwilling to back down. She exchanged a quick glance with Bianca, unsure of how they would handle Alina’s unexpected intrusion. Bianca, however, met Alina’s stare with defiance.

“Get out,” Bianca hissed, her voice trembling slightly. “This isn’t your concern. Go run along and play the loyal little sister elsewhere.”

Alina laughed softly, shaking her head as if Bianca’s words were nothing more than a minor irritation. “You think you’re untouchable, Bianca, but you’re just another pawn in this game, whether you realize it or not. And don’t think I haven’t heard about your so-called plan. It’s laughable that you think it will actually work.”

The smugness drained from Bianca’s face, replaced by a flicker of uncertainty. Alina’s confidence, the way she seemed to know every detail of their scheme, unnerved her. Before Bianca could respond, Alina turned on her heel and strode toward the door.

Pausing in the doorway, Alina cast one last glance over her shoulder. “Good luck with your little scheme,” she said with a mocking smile. “Let’s see if it really comes to pass, or if you two just end up embarrassing yourselves.”

With that, she walked out, leaving Jenny and Bianca in stunned silence. For a moment, neither of them moved, the tension in the room thickening as they processed Alina’s words. Jenny felt a chill run down her spine, the doubt creeping in despite her best efforts to brush it off.

“Do you think she’ll try to stop us?” Jenny asked quietly, unable to mask the worry in her voice.

Bianca clenched her fists, jaw tightening. “Let her try. She’s bluffing, Jenny. Alina doesn’t have the power to stop us, not if we stick to the plan. We just need to be careful, keep everything under wraps, and make sure we control what Finn sees. Alina’s just trying to scare us off.”

Jenny nodded, though Alina’s warning lingered in her mind, gnawing at her confidence. She wanted to believe Bianca, to trust that Alina’s words were nothing more than an empty threat. But as they returned to their planning, a small part of her couldn’t shake the feeling that Alina might be more dangerous than they had realized.