Page 40 of Cruel Deception
“What... what is this?” My fingers trembled.
“Your grandfather wanted you to marry into the Moretti family. He never specified which brother. That means this—” he tapped the folder, “—is still very much in alignment with his wishes.”
“You want me to divorce Cassian? Just like that?”
“I want you to be my wife. As it was meant to be.”
“But it wasn’t meant to be,” I snapped, anger bubbling now. “We were engaged, yes—but you barely even looked at me. You were always busy. Distant. I wasn’t a person to you, Luca. I was a political match.”
His face didn’t change. “I’m offering you clarity now. That’s more than Cassian ever will.”
“And what if I say no?” I demanded.
He didn’t blink. “Then I’ll take you by force. I’ll marry you. You’ll carry my heirs. And Cassian won’t lift a finger to stop me.”
The words were spoken softly—almost bored. But their cruelty shook me to my core.
“You’re threatening me?”
“If you knew half of what I’ve done to preserve this empire, you’d know this isn’t a threat. It’s inevitability.”
“You’re insane,” I whispered, my hands clenching the folder.
“No,” he said. “I’m focused. Two weeks. That’s your deadline. Convince him. Get his signature. Or I’ll come for you, Charlotte. And nothing—not Cassian, not your grandfather’s memory, not even you—will stop me.”
Then he turned, walked away, and left me standing there with the roaring silence of the bike behind me.
My legs felt like they would buckle. My hands were still wrapped around the folder, knuckles pale.
Why? Why me? Why did Luca want me so badly now? What game was this?
I looked back at the bike. At least this—this—I could control.
I climbed onto it, pressed the ignition again. It responded like a loyal beast. As I drove out through the city, the wind tangled my hair and the speed cleared my head. For a few blocks, I almost forgot everything. Almost.
When I reached Cassian’s estate gate, I was stopped again—unsurprisingly.
One of the masked guards approached and handed me a small white card. “Keep this, Mrs. Moretti. For emergencies or if you ever need a private pickup.”
I took the card, blinking at it. “Thank you.”
At least I wouldn’t have to trek for an hour next time.
They opened the gates and I drove through, the cool wind skimming over my face. The silence here was deeper than usual, like the very walls were listening.
I stepped off the bike and removed the helmet, my body still thrumming from the ride.
And then I felt it—that unmistakable burn of being watched.
I looked up.
Cassian stood by the window, a shadow in the pale light. His posture unreadable. Still. Unmoving.
“I found the bike!” I called up, not knowing why I said it, just needing to. My voice echoed across the stone courtyard.
He didn’t move.
But two minutes later, the door opened.
