The evening had ended with Celeste’s biting remarks and Antoine’s surprising encouragement, leaving Furina and Diluc to navigate the complexities of their newly declared relationship. The drive away from the mansion was filled with a heavy silence, each lost in their thoughts as the London cityscape streaked past the car windows. Diluc’s usual air of detached composure had returned, his expression unreadable as he focused on the road.Furina’s heart pounded as Celeste's words echoed in her mind. “Diluc isn’t in this for love. He’s using you to get back at me.” Her mother’s jealousy and veiled threats a stark contrast to Antoine’s surprising warmth. She knew Celeste was a master of manipulation, but hearing it all laid bare had shaken her resolve. No matter how hard she tried to shake off the doubts, she couldn’t ignore the nagging feeling of uncertainty. Diluc’s voice broke through her reverie. “You seemed rather troubled. Is everything alright?”Furina turned to him, taken aback by t
The evening was quiet as Furina settled onto the couch with a book in hand, trying to unwind after a long day. The townhouse was peaceful, with Tiffany and Lizzy busy in the kitchen, and Tommaso not far off with his usual humor to keep them entertained. For a brief moment, Furina allowed herself to relax, letting the warmth of the cozy room soothe her nerves.Her phone buzzed, breaking the silence. Glancing at the screen, she saw Diluc’s name flashing. A flutter of nervousness hit her, as it always did when he called. She took a deep breath and answered.“Hello, Diluc,” she said softly, trying to keep her tone neutral.“Furina,” Diluc’s voice was calm, yet there was an undercurrent of tension that she had become all too familiar with. “There’s a charity event tomorrow night that we need to attend together. It’s important for appearances.”Furina’s stomach twisted. Another public event meant more scrutiny, more eyes on her, and more opportunities for things to go wrong. But she knew it
The evening of the charity event arrived with an air of anticipation and tension. The London night was crisp, with a slight chill in the air as the city’s elite gathered at one of the most luxurious venues in the city. Photographers and reporters lined the entrance, eager to capture every moment of the high-profile event. Furina took a deep breath as she stepped out of the car, the cool evening air brushing against her skin. Her eyes scanned the crowd for Diluc. She had to remind herself to stay calm, and to keep her composure no matter what.And then she saw him—Diluc, standing at the entrance, his tall figure impeccably dressed in a tailored black tuxedo. His expression was as cold and impassive as ever, but when his eyes met hers, something flickered there, something she couldn’t quite place.Diluc approached her, his movements fluid and controlled. “You look beautiful,” he said quietly, his tone neutral but sincere.“Thank you,” Furina replied, her voice steady despite the butterf
The rest of the evening was a balancing act. Diluc and Furina made their way through the ballroom, speaking with various influential figures, while constantly being aware of Yvette’s presence lurking nearby. As if knowing how Furina felt, Diluc kept his interactions with Yvette to a bare minimum, responding to her advances with cool detachment. If she tried to catch his eye across the room, he would look away. If she attempted to join a conversation, he would excuse himself and Furina almost immediately. His actions made it clear that he was not interested in engaging with Yvette on any level. For Furina, it was a relief to see Diluc handle Yvette so decisively, but it also deepened her resolve to stand by his side and not let Yvette’s schemes drive a wedge between them. As the night wore on, they found themselves having to work together, presenting a united front to the public eye.At one point, they found themselves standing by a large window overlooking the city. The glittering l
Furina couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that settled in her chest after the charity event. Yvette’s words echoed in her mind, and she knew she had to talk to someone about it. The next morning, she called Tiffany, Lizzy, and Tommaso, asking them to meet her at their favorite café.As Furina entered the café, she spotted her friends already seated at a corner table. Tiffany, with her fiery red hair and fierce demeanor, waved her over, while Lizzy and Tommaso greeted her with warm smiles. Furina felt a wave of relief wash over her; she knew she could trust them.“Hey, Fee,” Lizzy said as she hugged her friend. “I miss you, you know. My flat so empty without you. I’m so jealous of Tiffany, having you in her place and all.” Lizzy pouted and faked annoyance. Tiffany, on the other hand, was grinning. “It’s my luck, Liz.”Lizzy rolled her eyes then turned to Furina again, her eyes searching her friend’s face. “You look like you’ve been through the wringer. What’s going on?”Furina sighed a
The night was quiet as Furina sat in the living room of Diluc’s penthouse, her mind racing with thoughts she could no longer suppress. The dinner had been exhausting, and the tension with Yvette had pushed her to the brink. But it wasn’t just Yvette that was gnawing at her—it was the uncertainty, the lingering doubts that had taken root in her mind ever since Yvette entered the scene and threatened to ruin their pretend marriage. She couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something unresolved between Diluc and Yvette, something that had never truly been put to rest. Some unfinished business as Yvette would like to call it. Their marriage had always been a transaction, a business arrangement to solve her immediate financial crisis. When Diluc had offered her the one-point-five million pounds she needed to pay off her father’s debt, she had agreed to his terms. But over time, the lines between duty and emotion had blurred, and Furina found herself struggling with feelings she hadn’t
The next morning, Furina woke up feeling a renewed sense of resolve. She wandered around Diluc’s penthouse and noticed that he’d left for office. It odd considering it was only six thirty but perhaps he wanted to avoid an awkward encounter with her. Furina packed her things and quickly left the building. She needed to talk to her friends again, to get their perspective on the latest developments. She arranged to meet them at the café once more, hoping they could help her navigate this complicated situation.As she walked into the café, she was greeted by Tiffany’s concerned expression, Lizzy’s calm demeanor, and Tommaso’s ever-present grin.“So how was last night?” Tiffany asked.Furina quickly filled them in on the dinner with Yvette and the message she had received afterward. As she spoke, she could see the worry in her friends’ eyes.“This is getting serious,” Lizzy said, her voice steady. “Yvette isn’t just trying to win Diluc back; she’s playing a dangerous game.” Tommaso nodded
The weight of the recent revelations was bearing down on Furina like a leaden cloud. Every time she tried to focus on something else, her thoughts inevitably drifted back to Yvette, to the ominous hints she had dropped, and to the gnawing feeling that something was terribly, terribly wrong. Despite their marriage being nothing more than a paper arrangement, Furina couldn’t deny the way her chest tightened every time Yvette was near. It wasn’t jealousy—it was something deeper, something darker. A feeling that Yvette was playing a game, and Furina was nothing but a pawn. Two days after her meeting with Marco, Furina had made discreet inquiries and discovered that Yvette had been seen meeting with Marco again. Furina knew she had to confront Yvette, to get to the bottom of whatever twisted game she was playing. She couldn’t let this continue without taking a stand. She arranged to meet Yvette at a café, choosing a public place to ensure her safety. “I must say that when my assistant in