CHAPTER 71

“Miss Riann, are you there?

I just wanted to check up on you, I hope there isn't any problem”

“N— no it's alright, I'll be out in a minute”

“O-kay, I'll be outside”

Luca smiled at her, did he really find all of that funny?

“I have to get going Luca”

Really? Do you seriously want to spend the rest of your day with her?

“Do I really have a choice?”

There was another knock

Sharon gave Luca a quick kiss on the cheek.

“I don't want her getting suspicious Luca—”

He pulled down her top, smoothed out her hair, then scattered it back. He took out his phone from his pocket—

“What the hell”

Sharon whispered

“I want everyone to look at you, and know that you've been a Very bad girl

“You're the one who— ughhh!”

Sharon grabbed her purse, and in the seconds that passed before she opened the door, she could see Luca's smile filter through his default cold expression.

“Miss Riann!”

I was so worried about you, I thought —

Georgia looked at Sharon from heat to toe

“What happened to you?”

“Nothing, is anything wrong”

“Well your lips look swollen, and I didn't notice that necklace earlier”

Sharon cast her a stare

“Do you have a problem with how I look all of a sudden?”

“Oh no, I was just expressing my concern”

“Good, let's continue our tour then”

Sharon walked past Georgia, with all the confidence in the world. She had never been that carefree in a long time. Italy did have a way of changing people.

She ran her fingers on the pendant of the necklace she was wearing. It brought back a not so sweet memory. Infact the toilet scene she had with Luca was like a repetition of what happened before—

She could still remember, it was the night of her engagement dinner. The night Luca found out that his arranged marriage wife was the same woman he had a regrettable night with a few weeks back.

The night she convinced herself that he was a monster, and her life was going to be hell. Sharon could still remember the feeling of his hands on her neck, choking her, trying to make her understand that he despised her. It made her aware of her position in his life, where she stood in his heart

She remembered buying a necklace shortly after, to hide the traces of his abuse.

But somehow, Luca was able to recreate that scene—

It was as though he was trying to love her, in a way that erased all the bad memories they had together

The big question; was she willing to accept him?

Sharon found it difficult to comprehend how he could transition from hating her, to claiming to love her, to loving her outright

And somehow she felt like her restraints were falling apart, and she was going to love him sooner or later

And there was a sixty percent chance that it was going to be the former

*****************

The tour finally came to an end, and it was time for them to leave.

Georgia had received an urgent message a few minutes before the bus was to depart

Sharon watched as she rushed out of the bus, wondering what could've been so important—

While she was stepping out, another guy was coming in. Sharon didn't really pay attention to him, until he sat down next to her, in Georgia's seat

“Um excuse me, someone is—”

Sharon looked into the strangers eyes, the very familiar pair of deep blue eyes. The ones that made her scared, and excited at the same time

“I beg your pardon miss—”

Sharon smiled, trying to hide her reaction

“What the fuck are you doing here Luca, don't you realise that Georgia is going to come right back here, and get the wrong idea?”

Luca's face remained expressionless, as though he was unbothered about the situation

The started to move, making Sharon wonder what kind of strings he pulled to achieve that

“Aren't you happy to see me?”

“You're fucking crazy”

Luca shifted closer to her, and whispered—

“You didn't say that when we were making out this morning”

Sharon could trace his wry smile. He was enjoying every moment of whatever it was they were doing

She turned her head away, in a bid to avoid direct eye contact with him

“What will happen to Georgia?”

“She'll find her way”

He squeezed her hand gently

“If you don't want me here, this bus will turn around, and Go back because it mistakenly switched tourists. Georgia will come back—”

“No”

“No?”

“Let's just stay like this”

“Well—”

Luca placed her head on his shoulder

If you're going to allow me stay with you, you might as well get comfortable

Sharon wanted to protest, but she felt an instant wave of calm surround her. She closed her eyes, and let herself go. She wanted to believe so much, that things were going to remain that way

“Hey stranger”

“Yes”

He patted her head softly

“I lost my room keys”

“Oh did you now”

“Yup”

“Well my apartment is nice and warm” He said, his voice growing deeper with every word.

“Do you mind, your PDA is getting unbearable” A random woman who sat across from them commented

“Seriously? I swear we just met”