14. Camera in the Doll's Room

Maria's POV

“Hey.” Luca said as he planted a kiss on my head. Joining me on the dining table.

There was a bruise on his fist so I asked what happened and he said nothing.

I saw the look on his face and I could tell he doesn't want me to press any further.

So I didn't.

“Were you able to deal with that problem from earlier?” I asked him.

“What problem?”

“The London problem.”

“Oh… it's escalated. I don't want to talk about it now.”

“Does it have to do with why you had the security here tightened?”

“Yes.” Luca answered almost immediately and continued with his meal.

I didn't say anything for a while. I just carried on eating.

The whole dining room became silent to only the noise of our cutlery hitting our plates.

“I want to go home for a while.” I said all of a sudden.

Luca paused his food but then asked, “why?”

“I just wanna be there. Even if it's just for a while. If it doesn't feel safe, then I'll come back.”

“Well, I don't think it's safe. Especially with what has just happened.” Luca replied, sipping a drink.

“And what has just happened?” I asked, worried.

“Something and it's not safe for you to go to your apartment.”

“And so it's safe for me here?”

“Yes, it is.” Luca answered, his voice sounding final.

I wanted the throw the camera question at him there but I hesitated.

I just got up and left the dining room. I didn't want to go to my room ever since I discovered the camera and I just couldn't go to his room.

My heart was racing, not because of fear but because of frustration.

I know there's something going on but he can't just keep me here like I'm his toy, especially without telling me what's happening.

I opened the door to my room and walked in, shutting it a little harder than I intended. I sat on the bed edge and just stared at the space in front of me.

I wondered if whoever tried to attack me went back to my apartment.

I also wondered why Luca would have a camera planted in my room. Has he been spying on me? Watching me naked and all? 

I know I was supposed to be very angry about it but somehow I'm not.

In fact, I don't even know how I feel about it at all.

All I know is I was going to confront him about it but not yet.

I didn’t even know how to bring it up without him turning cold or shutting me out. But it all just sat on my chest like a heavy stone.

I didn’t know how long I stayed like that before I heard a soft knock and then the door opened slowly.

It was him. Luca.

He walked in quietly, his eyes meeting mine. I could tell he was here to apologise or at least show he was remorseful.

He shut the door behind him and walked to me. Then, without saying anything at first, he sat beside me and rubbed his hands together, like he was gathering his thoughts.

“I’m sorry,” he finally said.

I turned to him slowly, not expecting the apology to come like that.

“I should have told you what's going on,” he continued. “Someone’s trying to harm me. And I can’t—I won’t—risk anything happening to you.”

He reached for my hand.

“I won’t be able to forgive myself, Maria. Not even a scratch. Do you understand?”

I nodded slowly, “I do.”

And I meant it. I could feel his sincerity. Whatever this thing was, it had shaken him. Luca, the one who never seemed to flinch at threats, looked haunted now.

He let out a breath, eyes still on mine.

I moved closer and ran my fingers along his jaw. I didn’t say anything. I didn’t ask further. I just leaned in and pressed my lips to his.

His hand wrapped around my waist almost instinctively, pulling me onto his lap.

I knew what I was doing.

And he needed the distraction.

He kissed me back like he had been holding something in for too long. There was anger in the way he touched me, in how he held my waist tight like he wanted to crush everything that was threatening him at that moment.

I didn’t stop him. I guided him into my bed and he followed, his body hovering over mine in seconds.

“Are you sure?” he whispered, his voice hoarse, raw.

“Yes.”

His lips found mine again, deeper this time. His hands didn’t waste time pulling my dress off, revealing the skin he had memorized but still touched like he was discovering it all over again.

I moaned into his mouth as he kissed down my neck, down my chest. Every part of him felt desperate—like he wasn’t just trying to lose himself in me, but trying to reclaim a piece of himself that was being threatened.

He reached for his belt, undoing it in one motion. I knew I had him now. Right where I needed him.

Just as he was about to go further, I whispered, “Luca…”

His breath caught. “Yeah?”

My hand ran down his chest slowly, eyes locking on his. “Why do you have a camera to my room?"

He froze. His body stiffened above me, eyes suddenly unreadable.

“What?” he said, but I already saw it—the flicker of panic in his eyes.

“I found the screen in your bathroom and saw how you have eyes on every corner of my room.”

Silence.

His hand was still on me, but the fire between us was suddenly burning for a whole different reason.

“I didn’t want to believe it at first but I just can't ignore it. So I want to know why and don't you lie to me..” I said softly, my voice calm but sharp.

His eyes searched mine like he was trying to read what I was really thinking.

“Maria…”

I waited.

But he didn’t speak.

He didn’t deny it.

He didn’t say anything.

And in that moment, with him still inside my room, half undressed, breathing hard and caught between lust and guilt—I knew this was it. I had him.

All I need to know is what is he going to do about it now.