Sara's eyes fluttered open, her sleep broken abruptly when a sudden cool air hit her face. But at the same time, a warmth cocooned her, and it took her a moment to realize she was tucked beneath a soft blanket. Blinking away the haze, she sat up slowly, only to find herself in Luca's room.
Her breath hitched when her gaze shifted to the side. Luca was lying right next to her. Flustered, she immediately shuffled back a little, clutching the blanket tighter around her.
"When did I fall asleep?" she whispered, fragments of memory trickling back, how she had cried endlessly until exhaustion had claimed her. But… she was sure she had been curled up on the chair, not on this bed.
Her eyes softened with a hint of disbelief as the thought struck her. 'Did he… carry me here?'
Her hand lifted instinctively, as if to hit him in frustration. But halfway through, her resolve faltered. She lowered her hand, unable to bring herself to strike him as he slept so peacefully.
Sara made her way down the bed and picked up her phone from the table. She hoped for her father's message, but there was nothing. Tears formed in her eyes as a thought came to her mind, 'Dad has truly abandoned me.'
Sara wiped the tears clinging to the corners of her eyes. Her chest felt heavy, but her decision was clear, she had to see her boyfriend today and end things once and for all. She stared at the contact of Asher, her boyfriend.
Just then, a hand settled over her shoulder. Startled, she turned to find Luca standing behind her, his expression laced with smug amusement.
"What are you doing?" His lips curled into a half-smirk. "Ahh… calling your lover boy? I told you he's been cheating on you." His tone dripped with provocation.
Sara jerked away, glaring at him with fire in her eyes. "Shut your mouth. You don't know anything about him! Unlike you, he has never broken my heart… never humiliated me. And I warned you not to accuse Asher again." Her fingers tightened around the phone. "How can you be so shameless?"
She shook her head, but the motion made the world tilt. Her body swayed, weak from not having eaten properly in two days. Before she could collapse, Luca's strong arms steadied her.
"You always have the strength to argue with me," he muttered under his breath, his hold firm despite her resistance.
"Don't… touch me," Sara protested faintly, her voice nearly breaking, but she couldn't push him away. Ignoring her, Luca scooped her up and set her down gently on the bed.
"Did you eat anything yesterday? You'll make yourself sick and I warned you not to trouble me," Luca scolded with frustration.
"You don't need to trouble yourself over me," Sara whispered, turning her face away. "Just pretend I don't exist like you always have."
Luca's eyes darkened. He straightened, his tone turning sharp with irony. "You can barely stand on your own, but when it comes to arguing with me, suddenly you're full of strength."
With that, he turned and strode out of the room, leaving her staring after him.
Luca walked back into the room, carrying a small plate with neatly arranged sweets. He set it down and held one out to her.
"Eat," he ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"I don't want to," Sara muttered, shaking her head.
"Your sugar levels are low. And besides," his gaze locked firmly with hers, "we're getting married today in an official ceremony." He picked up a piece and brought it to her lips as he sat across from her.
Sara let out a short, incredulous laugh. "You're joking, right?"
But the unwavering seriousness in his eyes froze the smile on her face. Panic surged through her. "We signed a contract, Luca. Why must we marry? I am not walking down the altar with you!"
Before she could push him away, he shoved the sweet between her teeth, his voice edged with cold authority.
"You don't have a choice. Ah, did you forget? You didn't even bother reading the contract properly. It clearly mentioned there would be an official ceremony. No wonder you nearly ran your company into the ground, you never pay attention."
His mocking made her jaw tightened, but she chewed furiously, glaring at him. He smirked faintly, placing the plate on the bedside table. "Eat. I don't want you fainting on me again. You're heavy enough, it hurts my arms to keep carrying you."
Sara swallowed the sweet with visible resentment, her eyes burning into him.
And then, her outrage spiked. "What are you doing?!" she screamed, clutching the blanket as Luca casually began unbuttoning his shirt.
"Don't act like you've never seen me like this before," he replied smoothly, removing the shirt from his shoulders. Without another glance, he walked into the washroom, leaving her fuming and cursing under her breath.
As she finished the sweets, a soft knock echoed at the door. Startled, Sara wiped her hands and opened it to find a maid standing politely outside.
"Madam, these bags contain the clothes and accessories you'll need. Sir brought them last night from a store," the maid said respectfully.
Sara blinked in surprise. "Thank you," she murmured, taking the bags and closing the door behind her.
She carefully opened them and peeked inside. Her cheeks warmed at the sight of a delicate lingerie set paired with an elegant dress.
"How does he even know my size?" she whispered to herself, a flush creeping up her neck.
Another knock followed almost immediately. She hurriedly opened the door, still feeling flustered.
"Madam, sorry to trouble you again," the maid said gently. "The room adjacent to this one is ready for you. You can freshen up there. Also, may I know what you'd like for breakfast?"
"Just a simple breakfast will do," Sara replied, still trying to collect herself.
The maid nodded and left, and Sara quickly dashed to the adjacent room, closing the door behind her. She sank onto the bed for a moment, frustration and confusion swirling in her mind.
'What game is Luca playing with me?' she muttered, frowning. 'Why did he arrange a marriage with me for an entire year? What's he hoping to gain from all this?'