Mistakenly Yours: Contract Marriage With The Billionaire-Chapter 73: No one to rely on

Chapter 73: No one to rely on
"You think you won’t be safe with me?" Luca questioned.
"If you continue doing what you currently are, then yes," Sara answered without any hesitation. "I don’t know what transpired between you and your parents, and I respect your decision to walk away from their life. However, my instinct tells me their concern for you is genuine, it’s simply about your safety. Nothing more. You are the CEO of a company that dominates its sector. It is far better to stay in that light than to willingly entangle yourself in the business of shadows."
Luca watched her, a faint flicker of respect crossing his features. She wasn’t attempting to manipulate him or impose a moral judgment; she was simply articulating her perspective on the folly of trading his legitimate power for a life ruled by the mafia legacy.
He opened his mouth to press her further, but before he could speak, Sara moved. She drifted past him, and walked close to the edge of the cliff.
"The wind is so refreshing here," she murmured, inhaling deeply. "And the sea is simply magnificent!"
As she extended her arms wide, Luca turned to face her. His hands remained clasped and tucked deep into the pockets of his custom-tailored trousers as he absorbed the sight of her.
’She is truly not the girl from her early twenties,’ he conceded internally. Initially, he had convinced himself she would be predictable, perhaps even pliable. ’I thought she was easy. But I was profoundly wrong. She showed me a kind of truth that I never sought to confront.’
"Luca, why are you lingering back there? Come to the front," Sara called, tilting her head back slightly. The subtle movement dragged him out of the tangle of his thoughts.
He unclasped his hands as he walked to stand beside her. "I have been thinking over a certain decision," he admitted. "Now, I am completely certain about it."
Sara lowered her arms, dropping her hands to clasp them loosely in front of her. She turned to him, her curiosity a gentle, bright spark in her expression. "And what was that decision about?"
He closed the short distance between them, his eyes locking on hers, making no move to touch her.
"It was deciding why you, above all others, are the only woman who affects me so profoundly."
She stared back at him, utterly confounded by his unexpected answer.
Then, Luca moved his hands up to her arms. Sara felt a shiver run down her spine. Still, she didn’t flinch, not did she push him away.
"Sara, do you remember the first time you questioned me back in school when we were 16? You came up to me and asked why I didn’t protect you when a guy pushed you from behind. You complained only to me, in the entire class."
He paused, a dark amusement stirring in his eyes. "Indeed, it was fun to see you cry." His words were brutally honest, yet he softened his grip, drawing her fractionally closer. "But that day, I was testing something. I wanted to see what that girl would do entirely on her own, if she believed there was truly no one to rely on."
Sara’s brow furrowed, a flash of old indignation tightening her features. "You just enjoyed my misery. You and your friends bullied me all the time."
"I never did," Luca countered, his intense gaze pinning her in place. "I simply wanted to know your reactions. I wanted to gauge your limit. And I knew you would protect yourself well, which you did."
He didn’t tell her how the two guys who hid her notebooks never took another step in that school without looking over their shoulders, their ’mischief’ quickly and quietly punished by him.
"So, what does this mean?" Sara arched her eyebrows, pulling a small distance away, though his hands remained on her. "That I don’t need anyone to protect me? That I can fight every trouble on my own after shedding a few tears for days?"
Luca finally let go of her arms, his own hands coming up to cup her face gently, his thumb moving to stroke the curve of her cheekbone.
"It means you are the only person I have ever watched struggle, knowing that you would eventually win. And because you don’t need a protector, you are the only person I could ever allow myself to want to protect."
Sara stared at Luca, not uttering a single word. Did she again doubt his intentions? This woman was so hard to please.
"Then, protect me tonight. What I’ll do tonight is going to bring a lot of cussing on me," Sara stated.
"I’m curious what you plan to do tonight," Luca said, his hand still remained on her cheek.
"I’ll create a havoc as I told you before," Sara affirmed.
~~~~
Katherine stepped onto the flagstone path of the grand garden with late-blooming roses after lunch. She noticed Marcella instantly, her daughter-in-law stood near a marble fountain, practically vibrating with triumphant anticipation.
"Lila, go to the gates and fetch the parcel that has just arrived in my name," Marcella commanded in a dismissive quality. She didn’t even look at the personal attendant, a young woman hired specifically to care for Katherine.
Katherine stopped dead on the path. Her grip immediately tightened on the silver head of her cane.
"Go fetch your own deliveries for such trivial chores," Katherine stated. "Do not misuse my attendant for your errands. You’ll only blame her later when your little trinket goes missing, as you always do."
Marcella turned slowly, the evil grin already fixed on her face before she spoke. She took two steps toward Katherine, lowering her voice just enough to ensure the exchange remained private, yet audible.
"Mother, please. All the other servants are scrambling to prepare for tonight’s event," Marcella purred. "Don’t decide to act like the tyrant of this house today, of all days. My son will be officially declared the heir of this entire estate and fortune in a few hours. I really wouldn’t want to start the celebrations by having to physically kick you out first."
The veiled threat hit Katherine like an insult.
"What did you say?" The words were barely a hiss, and the old lady, incandescent with rage, ready to hit Marcella with the cane in her hand.
Before she could move, Lila, the attendant, darted forward. "Madam, please, I will do it. Don’t be angry," she whispered urgently, her eyes wide with fear, not for herself, but for the looming disaster. She offered a quick nod to Marcella and excused herself, hurrying toward the gate.
Marcella’s eyes narrowed as she watched Lila go, then she turned her full attention back to Katherine.
"Mother, why is it so difficult for you to show me a little respect? It won’t cost you anything," she scoffed. "My children and I have been exceptionally patient with you for far too long. If you insist on maintaining this hostile attitude in front of me, I may have to take a step that will hurt you even more than losing your position."
Marcella leaned in slightly, a predatory glint in her eyes. "And then, Sara won’t be able to protect you," she threatened with menace.
Katherine’s spine remained straight. "Your son won’t become the heir of this family," she stated.
Marcella merely let out a slow laugh. "Well, you’re too late, Mother. Adam has already changed his will." She leaned in one last time. "Why can’t you simply admit the blunder Sara created by selling her father’s company? Adam no longer wants her as a part of this family. The sooner you put this in your head, the better it will be."
This final layer adds another antagonistic character to the scene, increasing the pressure on Katherine. I will ensure Frida’s words are manipulative and Marcella’s reaction solidifies their shared cruelty.
"Mother is absolutely right!"
Frida strolled into the garden. She gave Marcella a swift, elegant air-kiss before positioning herself beside her mother.
"Grandma, you should finally start considering us your ultimate family," Frida continued. "Sara doesn’t want you. She’s off having fun with Luca. If she truly cared for your well-being, she would not have left you behind for us to take care of."
Katherine’s already furrowed brow drew tighter. This was more than just insolence. The real face of Frida was beginning to scare her far more than the facade she kept in the past.
"Until I draw my last breath, Sara is a part of this family," Katherine declared, her voice ringing with the authority that Marcella and Frida were trying desperately to extinguish.
She didn’t wait for a response. Instead, she turned sharply, using her cane to pivot her frail body, and walked toward the house where she knew Adam was in his study.
Marcella and her daughter exchanged a glance.
"I feel like pushing her into the pond over there," Frida whispered. "This old hag always prioritises Sara over everything and always make you feel low, Mom."
"Frida, calm down. Tonight everything will change. And as soon as Diego gets the title of the heir, I am throwing my dear mother-in-law out of this house," Marcella said with a wicked smile.