Seraphina's POV
I stand in the Vitale penthouse bedroom, my hands shaking as I hold the marriage contract. Luca's pointing at a tiny line of words, his face hard. The clause says if he betrays me or my family, all Vitale assets, money, businesses, everything, go to me. My heart pounds. This isn't a marriage. It's a trap, and Papa set it.
"What does this mean?" I ask, my voice sharp. "Papa planned this?"
Luca leans against the desk, his green eyes locked on mine. "Your father's smart," he says. "He didn't just marry you off. He made you a weapon."
I stare at the paper, my head spinning. A weapon. Not a daughter, not a bride. Papa wanted me to hold power over Luca, over the Vitales. But why didn't he tell me? I look at Luca, his jaw tight. "Did you know about this?"
He shakes his head. "Not until last night. My mother found it in the contract copy. I was as blindsided as you."
I don't believe him. Not with his secrets, the envelope with my family's crest, his meetings with G. Moretti, that photo of me with a stranger. "You expect me to trust you?" I say, stepping closer. "You've been lying since the wedding."
Luca's eyes flash, but his voice stays calm. "I'm not the only one keeping secrets, Seraphina. What were you doing in your father's study last night?"
My breath catches. He knows I was there? "How did you, "
He cuts me off, his voice low. "I have eyes everywhere. You're not as sneaky as you think."
I clench my fists, my temper rising. "Then tell me the truth, Luca. Who's G. Moretti? Why's my family's crest on your envelope?"
He steps closer, so close I can smell his cologne. "You want truth? Start with yourself. What did you find in that safe?"
I freeze. He's fishing, but he's close. Too close. I can't tell him about the adoption certificate, about Elena Moretti. Not yet. "This isn't about me," I say, holding his gaze. "It's about you and your games."
He laughs, but it's bitter. "Games? You're holding a contract that could ruin me. If anyone's playing, it's your father."
I'm pacing the living room later, the contract still in my hand. Luca's gone to "make a call," but I don't buy it. I need to talk to someone I trust. I grab my phone and call Dante. He picks up fast, his voice rough. "Sera, you okay?"
"No," I say, keeping my voice low. "I found something in Papa's safe. And Luca showed me our marriage contract. There's a clause, Dante. If he betrays us, I get everything."
He's quiet for a second. "What? That's… Papa set him up?"
"Yeah," I say, my throat tight. "But Luca's hiding stuff too. I don't know who to trust."
Dante's voice hardens. "Not him, that's for sure. I'm at the estate. I'll dig around. You watch your back."
"I will," I say. "Be careful, Dante."
We hang up, and I feel a little better, but not much. Dante's on my side, but he doesn't know about the adoption certificate. If I'm not a real Calabrese, what does that mean for us? For me?
Isla walks in, her curly hair tied back, a tablet in her hand. "Mrs. Vitale," she says, her voice all business. "Need anything?"
I study her. She's too quiet, too watchful. I know she's reporting to someone, maybe about Luca's meetings. "I'm good," I say. "Where's Luca?"
She shrugs. "On a call. He'll be back soon."
I nod, but my skin prickles. A call with who? I want to push her, but she's already walking away, her fingers tapping the tablet. She's part of this puzzle, and I need to figure out how.
I'm in the kitchen, grabbing water, when Natalia slips in. Her red hair's in a messy bun, and she's got a coffee mug. "Trouble in paradise?" she asks, her voice teasing but sharp.
I roll my eyes. "What do you want, Natalia?"
She leans against the counter, smirking. "Just checking on my new sister. You look stressed. Marriage not what you expected?"
I sip my water, keeping my voice even. "It's fine. But you seem to know a lot about Luca's business. Care to share?"
Her smirk fades. "Don't play detective, Seraphina. You won't like what you find."
She walks out, and I'm left fuming. Everyone's hiding something, Luca, Natalia, Isla, even Papa. I head back to the bedroom, the contract still in my pocket. I need to confront Luca, but I need more than accusations. I need proof.
I'm sitting on the bed, rereading the clause, when I hear Luca's voice in the hall. It's low, too low, like he doesn't want to be heard. I creep to the door and crack it open, just enough to listen. He's in the office across the hall, his phone to his ear.
"Are you in position?" a voice says, deep and muffled through the phone.
Luca's voice is quiet but firm. "Yeah. Everything's set."
My heart races. Set for what? I lean closer, my breath shallow.
"Good," the voice says. "Don't mess this up, Vitale. The pact depends on it."
"I know," Luca says. "I'll do anything… for the pact."
The call ends with a click, and I pull back, my pulse pounding. Pact? What pact? Is this G. Moretti? I want to barge in, demand answers, but Luca's already moving. I shut the door soft and dive back to the bed, pretending to read.
He walks in a second later, his face calm, a smile playing on his lips. "Miss me?" he asks, like nothing happened.
I force a smile, my heart still racing. "Always," I say, but my voice is tight. "Where were you?"
He shrugs, loosening his tie. "Just business. Nothing exciting."
I nod, but my mind's screaming. Business. A pact. Anything. He's not just hiding secrets, he's planning something big. And I'm caught in the middle, holding a contract that could destroy him. But if I use it, what happens to me?