Chapter 42: A Test

Chapter 42

Anna stared at him, her heart a complete mess, her brows knotted in confusion. Under normal circumstances, she would’ve reminded him once again that her name wasn’t Peach but Anna, but now—now seemed like no time for that.

Knowing she couldn’t refuse him and it would take one slight tug for him to get her out of the car, she reluctantly took off the seatbelt, her hand a trembling mess as she got out of the car.

Anna almost couldn’t breathe upon realizing that this was actually a bridge—one push, and she would land in the afterlife.

Her heart was a racing mess as she stared at him, and with the way he had parked the car in the middle of the road, it meant cars didn’t go through this route, and if Leone truly had bad plans, there would be no saving.

He slammed the door behind her, her breath hitched, her back pressed on the door frame as he cornered her, slamming his hand at the side of her head.

“Is something wrong, Peach?” His head tilted as he stared at her, and Anna was left starstruck.

Of all places to ask her this, he had chosen here? This place that left her fear-stricken to ask her this question? The one time that she convinced herself he wasn’t being a psychopath, he does something far worse—that even a mental asylum wouldn’t do any good for him.

What was she supposed to say to this question? Anna’s eyes held his, and she shook her head. “No, absolutely not,” her voice cracked at the end, making her sound almost unbelievable.

Something swirled in those eyes, something wild—untamed yet overly sinister, like if she irked him, he wouldn’t hesitate to throw her off the bridge. Her heart raced, her back pressed further into the door, and if she weren’t as light as a feather, the glass window might have broken at that rate.

“Should we test that?” His minty breath fell on her face while she craned her neck up to stare at him, her face paled. What test was he going to carry out in this deserted place?

He leaned in further, his other hand wrapped around her tiny waist as his breath fell on her shoulder, which was left bare.

Her heart raced in her chest, her limbs weakened from the adrenaline rush that fueled the fear she felt. She was wearing her off-shoulder gown, where the cleavage of her white, milky breast was exposed.

Just one small pull of her dress had her breast fully bared to his sight, her nipples standing erect.

Anna’s eyes widened, blood rushing to her neck and her cheeks at his action. Her hand quickly flew to cover herself from him. “Stop,” she heaved for breath.

Leone craned his neck, a smirk on his lips. “Why?”

Anna stared at him, her breath labored, goosebumps formed on her skin—not just because of the cold air that hit her skin but because of this man who now stood in front of her.

She’d have said he had no right to touch her since they weren’t together, that they were outside where anyone could drive in and see them in the act, or the fact that she despised him and he irked her to no end—or even the fact that she would be getting engaged to his brother—but none of those words left her lips.

“Don’t touch me when you clearly love someone else,” she blurted, even before she realized it.

Her eyes flew wide, realizing what she had just uttered and wishing she could take it all back—but she couldn’t.

He now stared at her, the smirk gone from his lips. “Cazzo,” he cursed in Italian.

Her cheeks were a vivid shade of red, not believing what she had just said herself. His hand held hers, gently pulling it away from her body, but not because he wanted to stare at her. To Anna’s surprise, he began adjusting her gown, which he had pulled, and he covered her properly, after which he took a step away from her.

Leone gently pulled her away from the door frame and he opened the car door for her. Anna gulped before stepping into the car, and he gently shut the door afterward.

Leone got back into the car, he ignited the engine, and then he began driving them away—not at the insane speed he had used earlier on, but at a moderate speed.

Anna’s lips were clamped shut. She kept wondering about what was going on in his head after what she had said. She felt like knocking herself on the head or banging her head on the dashboard.

She hadn’t meant to say that. She didn’t know why she did. Her heart hadn’t settled; it still drummed in her chest erratically. Her cheeks burned from embarrassment, and Leone, on the other hand, wasn’t saying anything. He appeared calm—too calm, and it unsettled her.

Finally, they were past the forest path, and in no time, they arrived at a magnificent skyscraper building, and Leone parked the car in the driving lot.

Anna could see his guards, who had arrived before them, now standing, waiting for them. With the car parked, Anna saw it as her cue to get down from the car, ready to escape the awkwardness and the embarrassment.

“Don’t move.” His words had her halting in her tracks.

Anna watched him get down from the car, and he walked to her side of the car, and then he pulled the door open for her to step down. But he didn’t let her get down right away as he stood in front of her, blocking her way.

He leaned close to her to unbuckle her seatbelt. Her heart caught in her throat, her cheeks flushed as his eyes met hers. And when he was done, he didn’t step back. Instead, his large frame hovered over hers.

His voice soft, his eyes warm. “I’m sorry, Peach.”