Chapter Five: Carol's POV

I didn’t move for a long time after Luca left. I just stood there, breathing slowly, trying to understand everything.

He was Antonio’s son.

The man I had given myself to in a moment of pain and confusion. He was part of my twisted world!

My hands were shaking. My legs felt weak, but I forced myself to sit on the bed and hold my face in my hands.

I couldn’t cry. My tears were gone but my heart hurt.

Everything felt wrong.

Luca was calm. Too calm, like this was all normal to him.

Was this his life? Living in this cold mansion, watching his father break people and staying silent?

Why did he come to me that night?

Why didn’t he tell me who he was?

I pulled my knees to my chest and rocked gently. The silence was heavy.

I didn’t know how long I sat like that, but eventually I lay down, staring at the ceiling. My body was tired. My mind was louder than ever.

He said he didn’t want to hurt me.

But wasn’t this already a kind of hurt?

Letting me feel safe with him, only to find out he was Antonio’s son.

I didn’t sleep that night.

The sky outside turned from dark to grey, then slowly to morning light.

I stayed in bed, the covers pulled over me, but I couldn’t rest.

A soft knock on the door broke the silence.

The same maid from before entered quietly with breakfast. She didn’t say anything this time, just placed the tray on the table.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

She paused, looked at me gently. “Eat something, miss.”

“I’ll try.”

She hesitated. “You don’t have to pretend you’re okay.”

I nodded slowly. “I’m not pretending.”

She gave me a sad smile, then left and locked the door again.

I got up and walked to the tray, which contained fruits and proteins.

I touched a piece of fruit and put it in my mouth. It felt dry but I forced myself to eat a little.

My stomach was tight, but I knew I needed something.

I sat by the window, staring through the bars. There was a garden below, empty and perfect. Too perfect.

This place wasn’t real.

It looked clean, beautiful even but it was a golden cage.

I wondered if Luca was here now. Somewhere in the house.

Did he watch me from the hallway? Did he think about what happened between us?

Or was I just another mistake he was trying to forget?

Hours passed, and soon I heard the door unlock again.

This time, it was Luca.

I stood up quickly.

“What do you want?” I asked sharply.

He didn’t answer at first. He walked in slowly, his hands in his pockets. He looked at the untouched food.

“You barely ate,” he said.

“I wasn’t that hungry.”

He looked at me. “Still angry?”

I crossed my arms. “Should I be anything else?”

He walked to the window, stared out. “You think I’m just like him.”

“I don’t know what to think,” I said truthfully. “You kept secrets. You let me believe you were a stranger.”

“I am a stranger to him, too.”

That confused me. “What does that mean?”

He turned to face me. “Antonio isn’t a father. Not to me. We don’t talk. We don’t live like family. I was raised here, yes. But by staff. By distance.”

I stared at him. “Then why are you still here?”

“Because I have nowhere else to go.”

I didn’t reply. I didn’t know if I believed him.

He walked closer. “I didn’t know you were his wife. Not at first. At the bar you looked lost. You looked like I felt.”

I swallowed hard. “And after you found out?”

“I didn’t know until I saw your picture in his study. Two days ago.”

I frowned. “Then why did you come see me last night?”

He looked away. “Because I still think about that night.”

“You shouldn’t.”

“I know.”

We stood in silence, tension growing between us, until he took a step closer. “I know what this looks like but I’m not here to trap you.”

“Then why are you here?”

He was quiet for a second. Then he said, “Because you looked broken yesterday. And I didn’t like it.”

My eyes burned, and I blinked it away immediately.

“I didn’t come here to be part of some twisted game,” I whispered.

“I know.”

“You should leave me alone.”

“Do you want me to?”

I didn’t answer.

He took another step closer. “Say it, and I’ll go.”

But the words didn’t come out.

He looked into my eyes. “You’re not a gold digger. You’re not like the others. He said you were, but I saw you cry when no one was watching.”

I froze. “He said that?”

“He always says that about women. That they want him for his money. But you… you cried like your heart broke.”

I looked away. “You don’t know anything about me.”

He stepped closer again. Too close. “Then let me.”

“Luca…”

His voice softened. “You’re scared. I get it. But you don’t have to go through this alone.”

“I don’t need your help,” I said, but it didn’t come out strong.

He looked down at my hand. “You’re shaking.”

I pulled my hand away. “Don’t touch me.”

He didn’t. But he didn’t step back either.

“Do you hate me?” he asked.

I looked up at him. His face was calm, but his eyes… they weren’t cold.

“No,” I said quietly. “But I don’t trust you.”

“That’s fair.”

We stood there, the space between us full of everything unsaid.

“I should go,” he finally said.

I nodded.

But he didn’t leave right away. He looked around the room. At the couch. The dresser. The pictures.

“You saw the photos?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“That woman in the photo was my mother.”

I stared at an empty space for a while.

“She died when I was young. Antonio didn’t even go to the funeral.”

“I’m sorry,” I said softly.

“She was his wife before you but no one talks about her.”

I didn’t know what to say.

He finally moved toward the door. “You’re not a prisoner, Carol. Even if it feels like it.”

“Then unlock the door.”

He paused. His hand touched the doorknob.

“I’ll come back later,” he said.

He stepped out and the lock clicked.

“Liar,” I muttered to myself.

___

That evening, a storm rolled in. I curled up on the bed, trying to stay warm, then I heard footsteps. When the door opened, I saw that it was Antonio.

He looked tired. His shirt was undone at the top. His eyes were unreadable.

He stared at me for a moment, then stepped inside.

“I heard Luca came to see you,” he said.

I didn’t answer.

“He’s always been quiet. Distant.”

“What do you want, Antonio?”

“I wanted to check on you.”

“I don’t want you here.”

He walked closer. “You don’t get to say that. You’re mine.”

“No, I’m not.”

His eyes darkened. “Don’t push me.”

I stood up. “Or what? You’ll lock me in a different room? Threaten me again?”

He grabbed my arm. “You belong to me.”

“Let go,” I said through gritted teeth.

He stared at me, then finally dropped my arm and stormed out.

I sat down again, breathing hard.

A minute later, there was a knock.

It was Luca yet again.

He stepped inside, looking at my arm. “Did he hurt you?”

“No,” I lied.

His jaw clenched. “If he does, tell me and I’ll stop him.”

“You said you wouldn’t meddle.”

“I changed my mind.”

“Why?” I asked.

He looked at me. His eyes were softer this time. “Because you matter.”