Mistakenly Yours: Contract Marriage With The Billionaire-Chapter 85: Luca’s stubborn pride

Chapter 85: Luca’s stubborn pride
"What kind of question is that?" Sara stammered, clearly blindsided.
"A question that every mother wants to hear from the woman who once admired her son," she stated. "I found out things about you and Luca. So, let’s cut to the truth. In the past, did you ever love him?"
"I did have feelings for Luca in the past," Sara admitted. The clarification, however, was necessary. "But he didn’t reciprocate my feelings." A knot tightened in her stomach. She desperately tried to decipher the motive behind Vinni’s blunt interrogation. Was this a test? A warning? So far, she couldn’t discern if Luca’s mother was an ally or an adversary.
"Last night you put quite an uproar in your house," Vinni stated. "I will be perfectly clear with you, Sara. I hope you don’t involve Luca in your family’s mess." It sounded like an order than a request.
Sara remained perfectly still, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. She sensed that any reply would only be taken as an argument or, worse, an excuse. And she didn’t want to incite her displeasure.
The moment was broken by the quiet arrival of the waiter, who carefully wheeled a silver food trolley to their table. He presented and arranged the ordered assortments. Once the dishes were laid out, he retreated, gently pushing the trolley away, leaving them once again cloaked in complete silence as they prepared to eat.
For a long stretch, only silence covered the table as they only focused on the meals served to them. Vinni when finished, reached for a linen napkin and dabbed her mouth while Sara took a slow, final sip of water, trying to steady her nerves.
"Luca seems to be in love with you," she stated simply. "I don’t know why he insisted on this contract marriage arrangement with you, but his actions speak louder than his words. That much is obvious."
She paused before continuing, "Michael and I want you to shift to our home with Luca."
Just then, the waiter returned to clear the table, disrupting the stunning news. Vinni held up a commanding hand, gesturing for him to stop. He acknowledged the unspoken command, left the bill pad silently on the pristine white tablecloth, and discreetly withdrew after cleaning the table.
"Shouldn’t Mother ask this to Luca?" she clarified, trying to keep the confusion from her voice. "It will be his decision to shift to his home, not mine."
"You think I would have invited you over lunch if I could approach Luca?" she countered. "He never stepped foot into our house after his grandfather died and a deadly dispute occurred within the estate." Her eyes, usually so guarded, carried the undeniable pain she had been hiding for years.
"Luca doesn’t like to be there," she stated.
Vinni’s lips curved up into a smile. "You will make it happen," she pronounced. "My husband also has high hopes from you."
She leaned forward. "You’re now a De Augustino. Our daughter-in-law and pride. No matter what the media speaks of you and your past, you’re now Luca’s wife. Contract or not, you are supposed to carry the duties of a married woman."
"Mother, I don’t think Luca will agree," Sara opined, struggling to remain respectful while firmly establishing her boundaries. "And I have no intention to freshen his old wounds."
Vinni reacted not with anger. She licked her lips, and then leaned back in the chair, maintaining a poise.
"Do it for a mother," she finally said.
Sara’s eyes knitted closed briefly.
Vinni pressed on, her voice dropping into a sincere, painful humbleness. "I was too career-oriented once. And in that pursuit, I forgot to look after my son. I always regret the distance that created between me and Luca." She paused as she took a deep breath. "And what worries me the most is what he does alone in that house."
"He shouldn’t be like his grandfather. I never beg to anyone before, but to you, Sara, I do. Please bring Luca to his house and live with us."
Sara was utterly perplexed by the request. She wondered why her own mother wasn’t like Vinni. Her mother had abandoned her without a second thought, discarding her entirely. Yet here was Vinni, a woman of immense power and standing, reduced to begging just for the chance to mend her family and reconcile with her son. There were, indeed, mothers like Vinni, who still genuinely cared for their children.
Vinni let out a soft breath she seemed to have been holding for years. "Thank you, Sara. Michael has more faith in you than anyone. He is truly eager to have you both at home. Don’t tell Luca about today’s meeting."
Sara understood the need for secrecy. Luca’s stubborn pride would likely reject any move initiated by his mother. She nodded with a small smile.
As Sara glanced at the bill pad, Vinni had already produced her wallet. "Mother, I will pay," Sara offered, reaching for her purse.
"It’s alright," Vinni whispered back. "I’ll pay today."
Sara let her settle the bill. Once done, they both walked out of the restaurant.
"I can drive you home if you want," Sara offered.
"That’s not needed. I have come with the driver," Vinni replied. She patted on Sara’s shoulder before walking ahead and climbing into the backseat of the car. Sara remained standing there until her mother-in-law fully disappeared from her sight.
Then, heading to the parking lot, she sat into the car. As she lowered her handbag to the seat next to her, she heard her phone buzzed. She pulled it out and saw Luca’s missed calls, not one but many.
She quickly dialed his number and the call was picked up immediately.
"Where are you?" Luca asked from the other side.
"Umm... Did you finish working?" Sara asked.
"Yeah."
"Let’s just meet at home. I’ll cook for us," Sara suggested.
Luca couldn’t refuse for it as he found it would be more romantic than eating outside.
"Sure," Luca then hung up while Sara stared at the screen of her phone.