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Semua Bab His Brother's Bride To-Be : Bab 31 - Bab 40

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Chapter Thirty

THE THINGS WE DON'T SAY••Roman••The house was peaceful, a welcome quiet. As soon as we returned, Luci headed straight to her room, clutching the extra packs of chocolate milk we had picked up earlier. I couldn’t help but reminisce about how her face had lit up with joy at the mall when she spotted them.I wandered into the kitchen, determined to break the routine of ordering takeout. I scanned the space, searching for inspiration on what to make.Eventually, I grabbed a pan and stared at it as if it had personally slighted me. It had been ages since I last cooked, but I was aware that Luciana hadn't eaten much today—I noticed those details, even when I tried to ignore them.“She deserves this,” I murmured to myself.I cracked a few eggs, chopped some onions, and warmed up the oil. The sound as it met the pan was sharp and invigorating, momentarily creating an atmosphere that felt almost... normal.Lost in thought, I found my mind drifting back to her earlier. I remembered how her voi

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Chapter Thirty One

YOU WANT CHILDREN?••Roman••She returned a while later with the empty plates balanced in her hands. I did not say anything, but something settled quietly in my chest. Empty plates meant she ate. She liked it. That mattered more than it should have.She dropped them in the kitchen and came back, taking the seat across from me. My laptop was open on my lap, files spread across the screen. I was working on our recent deals. Things that could not wait.“Since you didn’t let me finish cleaning your hand,” she said, folding one leg over the other, “you’ll need to get an ointment.”I looked at her, then at my screen. “I have work to do.”“It heals fast,” she continued like she hadn’t heard me. “My mother always used it on me whenever I got hurt. Unfortunately, I didn’t bring it with me.”“You talk about this like it’s a gunshot wound,” I said.She rolled her eyes. “Oh, come on. You men always blow pain out of proportion and overlook treatment. That’s a risky mix.”I snapped my laptop shut h

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Chapter Thirty Two

I MISSED MY MOTHER••Luciana••"That's not what I meant," I said, but he remained there, staring at me, completely unbothered. "Yes, I want kids, but not right now, and definitely not anytime soon." I kept trying to clarify my thoughts."Can we go now?" he interjected. I was uncertain if I had upset him or if he was just angry. But honestly, did it matter? He was only my husband because that’s what our families wanted. I thought to myself.We exited the store and climbed into the car, sitting in silence. Roman didn’t utter a word, and neither did I. The atmosphere was heavy and uncomfortable, dragging on longer than I appreciated. Then my phone lit up. Antonio's face appeared on the screen; it was a FaceTime call from him."Oh my God," I sighed, feeling a wave of relief wash over me. "Thank goodness. At least this way, it won’t be quiet." Roman glanced at me as I picked up the call."Luci!" Antonio grinned. "Sorry for not calling lately. Things have been a bit overwhelming.""I though

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Chapter Thirty Three

NOT A BAD IDEA••Luciana••“Are you always going to be late?” Roman’s voice sliced through the hallway with a sharpness that dripped with impatience. I could hear his footsteps drawing near the door.“This isn’t just another dinner,” he pressed on. “It’s crucial for a deal that I absolutely can’t afford to miss. So come out now, or I’ll come in there and get you myself.”“I’m ready,” I called back, tossing my lipstick, wipes, and phone into my purse. If he’s okay with his wife looking casual, I at least want to feel good about how I present myself.A few moments later, I stepped out, brushing past him without a second glance. We slid into the car, and I took a moment to adjust the side mirror, giving my hair one last check.“Don’t forget your seatbelt,” his deep voice noted.I shot him a glance. He watched me as if he was already tired of the night. Ignoring him, I turned my attention to adjusting my earrings.As we drove, I inquired about our destination and the reason we aren't goin

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Chapter Thirty Four

QUIET BETWEEN US••Roman••As I stepped out, I noticed Luciana waiting by the car, her arms casually crossed as she stared off into space, lost in thought.“Sorry to keep you waiting,” I said as I approached her.“It’s fine,” she replied.Her tone was unnervingly calm—not the type that invites further conversation or seeks forgiveness. She climbed into the passenger seat without saying anything more.About halfway through the drive home, the silence grew heavy and uncomfortable. Luciana was unusually quiet; on her worst days, she would typically fill the air with her complaints, observations, and random thoughts, questions she never waited to be answered. But now, there was nothing.I stole a few glances her way, but nothing changed. Her expression remained neutral, her eyes fixed out the window, her jaw clenched as if she was grappling with something inside.“Are you okay?” I ventured to ask.“I’m fine,” she replied, her tone sharp.“Alright then,” I responded, my focus back on the ro

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Chapter Thirty Five

WE MEAN NOTHING TO EACH OTHER ••Luciana••“From now on, you send all daily reports to me,” I said firmly. “If anything goes wrong, you let me know ASAP.”“Yes, madame,” the manager replied from the other end of the line.I ended the call and leaned back against the chair, staring at nothing for a moment. The past few days had been nothing but work— Sapphire Lounge, staff reports, corrections, and decisions. I barely stepped out of my room. And honestly, I preferred it that way.Thankfully, we had separate rooms here in Sicily. Unlike Russia, where sleeping beside Roman was unavoidable, this place gave me space, distance, and silence.I had been ignoring him since that night. If I was only a name to him, a benefit, or a convenient alliance for his family, then it was better to be on my own. The marriage had always been contractual. I reminded myself of that whenever my chest tightened for no reason.We meant nothing to each other. At least, that was what I told myself.A familiar voice

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Chapter Thirty Six

NARROW ESCAPE ••Roman••"Hello brother," Mildred greeted me as she and Luciana entered together.Luciana did not look at me once. She walked past the living room like I was another piece of furniture, her steps calm, and distant. No greeting. She disappeared into her room, the door closing softly behind her, yet the sound landed heavier than a slam.Mildred turned toward me, hands on her hips, eyes sharp with curiosity and something close to concern. I was seated on the couch with my laptop open, unread reports glowing on the screen while my mind refused to focus.“Well,” she said, dropping into the armchair opposite me, “that explains a lot.”I closed the laptop slowly. “Explains what?”"The cold war happening in this house.” she replied.I leaned back. “You are dramatic.”She scoffed. “Roman, she barely acknowledges your existence. That is not drama. That is deliberate.”I said nothing. Mildred studied me, her head tilting slightly. “What did you do?”“Nothing,” I answered immediate

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Chapter Thirty Seven

IN THE SPACE BETWEEN US••Luciana••I finished packing my last bag when I suddenly heard a cacophony—gunshots echoing in the distance. Instinctively, I dashed out of the room, my bare feet hitting the icy floor, my heart racing as the sounds intensified. Shouts mixed with hurried footsteps filled the air, and then, an overwhelming silence engulfed me, heavier than the prior chaos.As I reached the living room, Roman burst in, cradling Mildred in his arms. “What’s wr—”The question fell silent in my throat. Dark blood soaked Roman’s shirt, spreading ominously. In that fleeting moment, panic washed over me, and I feared it was his blood. My breath caught, but then I heard Mildred’s whimper—a heart-wrenching sound that drew my gaze downward.There was a small tear in her dress, with blood seeping out.“Mildred,” I whispered, my voice barely escaping. With great care, Roman placed her gently onto the chair, pressing a cloth against her arm, applying pressure while frantically rummaging

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Chapter Thirty Eight

VOICES THROUGH THE WALLS••Luciana••We stayed two more days at the villa.Mildred recovered faster than anyone expected. The nurse said the bullet missed anything vital, luck doing most of the work. She complained a lot, as usual, but the color slowly returned to her face, and by the second day she was already arguing with the nurse about her food.Roman and I existed in the same space without colliding. We spoke when necessary; short sentences, neutral tones. No edge, or warmth. It felt like two people sharing oxygen, not intimacy. Strangely, it worked. There was peace in the distance, even if it was fragile.On the third day, we returned to Sicily.The flight back felt heavier than the flight out. I caught myself thinking that maybe we should have stayed longer, not because the villa was safe, but because everything there felt paused, like life had pressed a temporary stop button for us.After settling in, Roman and I retreated to our room.I really dislike the whole unpacking proc

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Chapter Thirty Nine

SOMETHING IS OFF••Luciana••“Roman, I’m truly sorry,” I started, my words spilling out in a rush. “I didn’t mean to hold you up from getting back to Russia. Your responsibilities, your father, all of it. I—” I hesitated. Roman wasn’t paying attention. He leaned casually against the counter, a cigar dangling from his fingers and a lazy grin playing on his lips—one that suggested he was enjoying this far too much. “What’s so amusing?” I asked, irritation slipping into my tone before I could rein it in. “Just thinking,” he said calmly, smoke curling around his face. “That the person who didn’t matter before is suddenly very important now.”My heart raced. Why was he bringing this up now of all times? “That was different,” I retorted quickly. “We were in a different place then.”He chuckled, not softly or kindly, but with a deep, resonant sound that filled the room.“And I was a problem that needed fixing back then,” I shot back, my voice sharper than I intended.He said nothin

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