Mistakenly Yours: Contract Marriage With The Billionaire-Chapter 114: Sara’s mother’s return

Chapter 114: Sara’s mother’s return
Adam was deeply engrossed, looking at pictures of Sara, when a knock sounded on his door. He quickly shoved the album into a desk drawer and straightened up in his chair. "Come in," he ordered.
The door opened and his mother, Katherine, entered the room, leaning heavily on her cane.
"Mother," Adam whispered, rising instantly to his feet.
"Luca is injured," Katherine stated plainly. "A deadly attack happened on them both. You should go and see Luca once," she suggested.
"How is Sara?" Adam inquired immediately, his face etching with genuine worry.
"Thankfully, she is safe," Katherine replied.
"Sara has broken all ties with me. She’s not going to see me, even if I go there," Adam remarked, the defeat clear in his tone.
"So, what?" Katherine challenged him, moving closer. "Did you forget the humiliation she faced in this house? You refused to trust her when she needed you most. You truly thought she intentionally destroyed your company. But when you finally saw the truth, you lacked the basic courage to turn things right."
Katherine’s gaze was laced with disappointment. "This family is on the verge of destruction because of foolish pride. What did you ever actually do for Sara? You could have at least attended her wedding, but you kept that stiff pride burning in your heart. Sara has suffered enough in such a short time." She counted off her son’s mistakes with a scornful gaze.
"It’s not easy, Mother," Adam stated.
"I know. You have hurt the heart of your daughter. Then, try to fix it. Sara always thought you kept her because she feared you would abandon her like her mother did. And it truly happened. You did leave her all by herself," Katherine said.
Adam stood silent, the weight of his mother’s accusations leaving him with no defense.
Suddenly, Marcella burst into the room. "Adam, your—your..." she stuttered, visibly unable to speak due to shock.
Katherine turned to gaze sharply at the woman while Adam demanded, "What happened? Speak!"
"Gloria is here," Marcella announced.
"What?" Adam exclaimed as the name rang the bells of danger in his ears. He rushed out of his study, Katherine and Marcella following quickly behind him.
As Adam reached the large living room, he skidded to a halt. Standing directly in front of him was a woman who was his first wife, Gloria, and apparently she looked the same as she looked twenty-two years ago.
"Gloria, how dare you enter this house after all this time?" Adam questioned with fury.
"I’m not Gloria anymore. I am Paulina Montes," the lady answered smoothly, before taking a seat elegantly on the central couch. She motioned with a graceful hand to the spot across from her and said, "Take a seat, Adam Falcone."
"Get out of my house before I ask the security to kick you out of here!" Adam bellowed, his anger fully unleashed. Marcella and Katherine arrived in the living room just in time to witness the frightening display of Adam’s fury.
"Shouting has no use on me, Adam," Paulina stated calmly, remaining seated. "I simply left my daughter here in your care. I’ve returned now to take her back."
"Are you out of your mind?" Katherine snapped, instantly stepping forward to confront Paulina. "Don’t even dare to try and make a claim on Sara! Where exactly were you all these years that you suddenly returned asking for her?"
"I am Sara’s mother," Paulina pronounced, still maintaining her composure. "I simply left her in her father’s care, which was my right. Also, I made sure I legally divorced Adam before leaving this house. I did leave those papers on your desk, Adam."
"I remember them well," Adam stated with a glare. "But you have no right to Sara anymore. You showed up here after twenty-two years without any shred of shame."
Marcella, seeing a crack in the opposition, seized the opportunity to bring her ruined family back to track, or so she hoped. "Sara got married to Luca. She has completely broken all ties with us," she spoke up quickly.
"She broke all the ties with this family!?" Paulina’s composure wavered slightly, confusion flashing across her face. She knew Sara was married to Luca De Augustino, but approaching her now suddenly seemed more difficult. That was precisely why she had been forced to come to this house first. "Then give me her contact information. I will see her myself."
"I am absolutely not giving you her contact," Adam spat. "You are dead to Sara."
Paulina chuckled softly, rising gracefully to her feet. "Adam, I know my daughter better than you do. She missed me desperately all these years. You should give me her contact or I’ll be going to the station."
"Go wherever you wish to go," Adam challenged, his voice dangerously low. "But don’t even think about getting near Sara. Are you going to hurt her again after your sudden reappearance?"
"Your current wife just mentioned that Sara has broken ties with all of you," Paulina pointed out, a look of cool distaste crossing her face. "It seems you didn’t take care of her very well. I have been following the news. You threw her out of this house, didn’t you?" she asked with disgust.
Before Adam could formulate a defensive response, Paulina continued, "I am not here to create trouble for you or your family. I only want my daughter back."
With that final declaration, she turned her back on them and walked out of the house.
"Adam, you must call Sara immediately," Katherine urged, her face etched with worry over the new threat Paulina represented.
"She has blocked me on every known number," Adam admitted, guilt and frustration flooding him. "But now, I’ll go and see her in person." He quickly glanced at the house butler who was standing nearby and ordered, "Prepare the car for me right now."
"Honey, don’t go now," Marcella suggested, stepping forward and touching Adam’s arm. "Call Sara first." She then glanced meaningfully at Katherine and continued, "Mother, you should call Sara with your number. Also, I truly think if we tell her about Gloria, I mean, Paulina’s return, she will become unnecessarily stressed. Already the attack on Luca must have left her quite anxious."
Adam considered her words. Marcella’s advice was thoughtful and pragmatic. "Then, I’ll go and see her first thing in the morning," he decided. He shifted his gaze to Katherine. "Mother, please call her in the morning and make sure you hand the phone to me so I can talk to her. I simply cannot let Gloria go near her. That woman has returned with an evil motive; I can see she wants to destroy Sara’s hard-won peace."
Katherine nodded in agreement, feeling worried for Sara now.
~~~~
Luca stepped out of the washroom, feeling the restorative effects of the rest and medication, and dried his face with a towel.
"I feel much better after taking that medicine," he said, lowering the towel onto the chair.
"Are you really not scared? Because I am," Sara began. "Who would want to attack me? And if it happens again in the future, your life will be in danger, too."
"Whoever it is will be caught soon," Luca said, walking toward her. "This was supposed to be a relaxing, fun weekend for us. I feel completely betrayed suddenly. It feels like fate, or God, is playing with my patience."
"You’re not scared!?" Sara pressed, still searching his eyes for any sign of fear.
"No, I’m not. I answered you earlier as well," Luca stated firmly, his hands coming up to gently cup her face. "You’re the only one I am concerned about." He took a step closer, holding her gaze steady. "Don’t think about what happened earlier, okay?"
"It’s not easy not to think about it, Luca," Sara mumbled, the anxiety still heavy in her voice.
"Then, how do I make you forget it?" he whispered, his eyes dipping to her lips. His nose nuzzled her cheek, and she gasped softly at the unexpected intimacy.
"You still have the nerve to be intimate in such a situation!?" Her brow arched at him in amusement.
"I can’t help it," Luca confessed, his eyes darkening with affection and need. His lips then suddenly connected with hers. His hands gently cupped her face as his thumbs softly caressed her earlobes. They shared a gentle kiss that pulled them away from the day’s stress.
Finally, Sara pulled back slightly. "It’s almost dinner time," she whispered, a little breathless.
"We can have each other before dinner," Luca murmured, his voice husky.
That bold statement caused Sara’s cheeks to immediately burn bright red. "Why do you speak so... dirty?" she muttered, though it was impossible for her to hide the shy smile forming on her lips.
"I am not speaking dirty," Luca corrected, his tone earnest. "That’s honestly what I’m feeling right now." He gazed into her eyes, which carried a certain possessiveness and intensity that made Sara’s heart race even faster.