Semua Bab Ruthless Claim: Bab 111 - Bab 120

The evening settled softly over the villa, the kind of golden dusk that made everything look gentler, slower. Aria stood in the kitchen doorway, watching Luca finish washing the last of the dinner plates.Yes—washing dishes.Voluntarily.She leaned her shoulder against the doorframe, smirking. “You’re getting really domestic.”Luca didn’t turn around. “I was always domestic.”“No you weren’t.”“I cooked.”“Pasta,” she corrected. “Three kinds of pasta. And all of them involved threats.”He paused, then shot her a look over his shoulder. “They tasted good.”“They tasted like fear,” she teased.He shook his head, lips tugging upward. “Come here.”She crossed the kitchen, wrapping her arms around him from behind. He dried his hands, turned, and pulled her gently into his chest.“You’re glowing,” he murmured.She rolled her eyes. “You always say that.”“That’s because you always are.”Her fingers traced along his shirt. “How was today for you? Really?”Luca sighed softly, thinking. “Differ

The sun was dipping low by the time the villa came alive again.Lucia was the first to notice the ring.She entered the living room with a stack of folded blankets and froze mid-step, eyes narrowing at Aria’s left hand. The sunlight caught the diamond perfectly—small, delicate, impossible to miss.Lucia’s jaw dropped.“Wait. Wait. WAIT—IS THAT—?”Aria flushed pink. “Um… yes.”Lucia let out a sound so high-pitched it could shatter glass. “LUCAA!”Luca appeared in the doorway instantly—half because he’d been on his way in, half because he thought Lucia found a dead body again.“What?” he demanded.Lucia pointed dramatically. “What do you MEAN what? Look at her hand!”Luca did… and then rolled his eyes. “You saw the ring ten minutes after I put it on? I thought it would take at least—”Lucia launched herself onto Aria so fast Luca took a protective step forward, ready to intervene.But Lucia was just crying. And hugging. And squealing. All aggressively.Aria laughed breathlessly as Lucia

The villa buzzed with activity. Floral arrangements were being tested in the garden, tables were being measured and aligned, and the faint scent of fresh pastries drifted through the halls. Aria stood in the center of it all, notebook in hand, checking every detail twice.Leon toddled beside her, occasionally grabbing at the ribbons decorating the chairs. “Mama! Look!” he exclaimed, holding up a pale pink bow.Aria laughed, scooping him up. “Yes, amore mio. That’s perfect.” She kissed his soft cheek, the warmth of his skin grounding her amid the chaos.Luca appeared at the doorway, dressed casually but with that innate elegance he always seemed to carry, and a soft smile that made her heart stutter. He had a tablet in hand, reviewing seating arrangements, yet his eyes constantly flicked to her and Leon.“Is our little boss approving the decorations?” he asked, voice low, teasing.Leon giggled, pointing toward the garden. “Papa! Flowers!”Aria set Leon down, brushing a loose strand of

The villa was quiet, but in a different way now. The tension and fear that had clung to every corner had been replaced by soft laughter, the gentle coos of Leon, and the warm sunlight streaming through open windows.Aria woke first, the morning light falling across her face like a blessing. She stretched carefully, mindful of her still-healing body, and glanced at the bassinet where Leon slept peacefully. His tiny chest rose and fell in steady rhythm, and for the first time in months, her mind didn’t race with “what ifs.”She reached out, brushing a finger across his soft cheek. “Good morning, little one,” she whispered, a smile tugging at her lips.From the hallway came the faint scent of espresso. Luca. She rose slowly, clutching Leon to her chest, and made her way toward the kitchen.There he was, his shirt sleeves rolled up, hair still tousled from sleep, hands working expertly with the coffee machine. The casual domesticity of the scene struck her. This was Luca—powerful, intense

Aria didn’t sleep.She lay awake long after the villa lights dimmed, Leon breathing softly in his crib beside the bed, Luca’s arm heavy and protective around her waist. His presence should have calmed her. Usually, it did.Tonight, it didn’t.Clara’s words replayed in her mind like a whisper that refused to fade.Shadows have long memories.Aria stared at the ceiling, fingers curled into Luca’s shirt. She could feel the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath her palm—solid, grounding, real. And yet, unease threaded through her chest.She shifted slightly.Immediately, Luca stirred.“What is it?” he murmured, voice rough with sleep but alert in a way that never truly left him.“I’m sorry—I didn’t mean to wake you,” she whispered.“You didn’t,” he said quietly. His arm tightened around her. “You’re tense.”Aria hesitated, then turned to face him. His eyes opened fully now, dark and focused on her face. Always on her.“She messaged again,” Aria admitted.The air changed.Luca didn’t move