Page 129 of Cruel Deception
I should’ve let the silence cradle us.
But the question burned too loud inside me.
“The woman in that cell... is she my mother?”
The words broke through the fragile stillness like glass underfoot.
Heavy. Unforgiving.
He froze.
Then slowly pulled away, the warmth between us retreating with him.
The shift was instant—like someone cut the string holding the moment together.
His eyes dropped to the floor. He didn’t answer. Just turned his back and walked across the room, shoulders drawn tight, as if bracing for a storm.
He crossed to the cabinet, opened a drawer, and pulled out a gun.
Checked the chamber. Clicked it shut.
Cold. Clean. Mafia.
“I know everything now,” I said, voice splintering. “If you’re chaining her because of what she did to Jade... I’ll understand. Just tell me. Please.”
He didn’t move.
Not at first.
Then—still holding the gun—he paused. Slowly set it down. Closed the drawer.
When he turned to me, something had shifted.
His eyes met mine, and for one fragile heartbeat, his face broke.
The mask slipped.
His lips parted like he was about to speak—
And I stepped forward, hope flaring in my chest.
Then his phone rang.
Loud. Jarring. A blade through everything tender.
The moment shattered again.
He grabbed it, answering with a clipped tone I couldn’t make out. But my body was still frozen in place—eyes locked on his profile, on the shadows dancing across his jaw. I waited, still hoping. Hoping he’d come back to the truth. Hoping he’d return to me.
Then my phone vibrated.
I glanced down at the screen.
LUCA: He’s cheating. Ask Elodie if you doubt me. I’ll send live proof next time he does it—location, too, so you can see for yourself.
My stomach dropped.
“What?” I muttered under my breath, fingers trembling.
