Mistakenly Yours: Contract Marriage With The Billionaire-Chapter 119: Covering their tracks

Chapter 119: Covering their tracks
Sara and Luca finished giving their detailed statements to the two police officers, who assured the couple they would find the truth and the culprit soon. As the officers left the room, Luca rose stiffly from the couch.
"Before they can find the truth, I’ll find out who did this," Luca stated, set in cold determination. "But where’s Remo?" He pulled out his phone, intending to call his associate, when he saw Remo walking into the room.
His parents, Michael and Vinni, and Sara all turned their gazes in the same direction as Luca’s.
"Are you honestly going to use those methods?" Michael asked with disapproval.
"Yes," Luca confirmed without hesitation, meeting his father’s gaze.
"Good afternoon, Uncle Michael and Aunt Vinni!" Remo greeted them cheerfully, flashing a wide, white-toothed smile. "And this is for you, Luca," Remo said, walking over and handing him a cheerful bouquet of fresh flowers. "I can see you’re doing much better today."
"Thanks for these flowers," Luca answered, taking the bouquet. "Yeah, I’m much better than yesterday," he added. He then glanced pointedly at his parents. "Don’t you have to go for that lunch outside?" he asked with a polite tone, but clearly signaling that he didn’t wish to discuss his next moves in their presence.
"We have cancelled our plans," said Michael immediately, refusing to leave. "I told you not to use such wrong methods, son. Why do you want to create more enemies by choosing this dangerous path? You heard the officers earlier, they promised to investigate, yet you want to take matters into your own hands?" he asserted, worry and frustration etched onto his face.
"Dad, the officers are going to take forever," Luca stated, his impatience clear. He saw no reason to wait for the slow process of an official investigation.
Then, he glanced pointedly at Remo and continued, "Let’s talk in the garden. I’ll see you later, Sara." He excused himself, lowering the bouquet onto the side table before immediately walking toward the garden with Remo close behind him.
"This is exactly what I was talking about!" Michael sighed in frustration, running a hand through his hair. "I have only one son, but he doesn’t listen to a single word I say."
"Father, please don’t stress yourself out," Sara stated gently, seeing her father’s agitation. "I’ll go and see what they both are discussing." With that, she went to the garden too, wanting to understand what Luca was planning.
In the garden, Luca and Remo were already seated on the comfortable outdoor couch.
"The person from whose bank account the illegal transaction was made was found dead this morning," Remo revealed to him in a low, serious tone.
"What?" Luca exclaimed in shock, his earlier determination faltering slightly at the grim news.
"Yes. It seems this person was a low-level cutout who was silenced," Remo remarked with a grim expression. "Maybe the culprit knew you were going to look into it once you were conscious. But whoever it is, they are clearly not someone to take lightly. They are already one step ahead, covering their tracks."
"Yes. But that Sara has such a powerful enemy, that’s shocking," Luca murmured with a frown, still processing the grim reality of the dead man.
"She’s here," Remo warned in a low voice.
Luca tilted his head and saw her approaching them.
"So, what did you find out?" Sara asked, lowering herself onto the same couch next to Luca, clasping her hands together expectantly.
"Nothing much yet," Remo answered smoothly, following Luca’s silent signal to keep quiet about the dead accomplice and the severity of the situation.
"Don’t lie. You already know something," Sara insisted, her gaze becoming sharper, then she glanced at Luca. "Am I right?"
"Sara, if I had found out something conclusive, do you think Luca would have sat this calmly?" Remo chuckled, trying to deflect her suspicion with a half-truth.
"That means a bigger hand is behind this attack," Sara stated, ignoring Remo’s attempt at humor, the realization dawning on her. "I have a friend who is exceptionally good at hacking and stuff. I think I should take his help in this matter now," she added, already reaching for her phone.
"His? You have a male friend? How am I not aware of this?" Luca instantly asked with a surprised look and an undeniable spark of jealousy. "And why do you wish to take the help of a hacker? How will a hacker help?"
"Why do you care? I’m not sharing my plan with you," Sara stated. A flash of defensiveness in her eyes was clear. "Just the way you keep everything from me, I’ll do the same. It’s only fair."
Remo grinned and leaned back, wondering what his friend would do now that Sara was mirroring his secrecy.
"I don’t keep things from you intentionally, Sara," Luca said, trying to make her understand the difference between protection and deliberate deception.
"But I do," Sara immediately responded, emphasizing the contrast. "You two shall continue with your conversation." She affirmed her decision, making a move to stand up and take her leave.
Luca quickly reached out and held her wrist, his grip was firm yet gentle, not letting her stand up.
"Tell me about your friend," Luca insisted, trying to hide the jealousy that flared up. "Is he trustworthy? Can he actually be useful to me in finding the culprit?"
"What?" Sara arched her eyebrows, pulling her wrist slightly away. "Are you seriously suggesting I contact him to help you? The man who won’t share any information with me?"
"Yes," Luca answered, meeting her stare, realizing he had to compromise to gain this potential resource. "So, now, give me his contact information. I’ll talk to him personally and see what he can do." ’Who is this friend whom I never knew? She never was close to a guy, except for Asher,’ he thought, the mystery surrounding this new person only deepening his annoyance.
"No. First, tell me what information you’ve gathered," Sara demanded, her voice firm. "Also, I thought we are going to share a lifetime together. Is this the way you’re going to do it? By keeping everything from me? By keeping me in the dark? You don’t care about my feelings, do you? You think just because you say some sweet words to me, I become happy, don’t you? While the rest of the time, you want to keep me aside from your affairs."
Luca’s eyes softened immediately as he realized the depth of his mistake and the true impact of his secrecy. "This isn’t true, Sara. You’re getting me wrong. I simply want to protect you."
Sara managed to pull her hand free from his grip. "Don’t bother to protect me unless you truly want to share your life with me, completely." She rose to her feet decisively and walked away, heading back toward the house.
"Sara!" Luca called her name as he stood up too, frustration warring with regret, but she didn’t stop.
"You should share everything with Sara," Remo said, rising and shaking his head. "She’s trying to understand you and be your partner. What’s wrong with you? Why are you stopping her now when she’s ready to fully embrace your world?" Remo chuckled, honestly unable to understand what was going through Luca’s mind.
"I’ll talk to you later," Luca said curtly to Remo, his attention already focused on Sara. "Thanks for coming." He didn’t wait for Remo’s reply but immediately strode off in the direction Sara had gone.
Sara hadn’t gone back into the mansion; instead, she took the gravel pavement that led through the middle of the garden, only stopping when she reached a small, peaceful gazebo nestled beneath some trees.
"Did I overreact?" Sara mumbled to herself, rubbing her arms. She stood there, conflicted. "I don’t think I did. Luca doesn’t seem to see that I’m truly worried for him. His parents are concerned, and I want to be a part of his life, not just a bystander."
"Sara!" Luca’s voice was firm, yet strained from the effort of catching up, and it stiffened her posture. She turned around promptly, watching him approach the gazebo with long, hurried strides, slightly panting when he reached her.
"I didn’t mean to shut you out just now," Luca admitted, his gaze intense. "Of course, you have every right to know what I’m up to and what I do. It’s just that you were the target for that shooter, and that fact is what worries me constantly. Besides, you don’t like my methods. You don’t like what I do."
He then gently held both her hands, tracing small, reassuring circles on the back of her palms. "Remo found something, which is why I was hesitant to talk in front of you. The shooter was hired by someone we don’t know, and the payment came from an account belonging to a person who was found dead this morning."
Luca watched her reaction closely. "So, you can see how complicated and dangerous the situation is. This person is covering their tracks with murder. And as for your hacker friend, I think he genuinely can help us. Otherwise, I’ll have to hire someone else, and I’d prefer to trust your judgment."