Sophia couldn't sleep.
Again.
But this time, it wasn't fear.
It wasn't the mansion.
It wasn't even the kidnapping attempt.
It was him.
Luciano.
His words.
"I don't let go of things that matter."
Her chest tightened as she stared at the ceiling.
"What does that even mean…" she whispered.
He was confusing.
Cold one moment.
Intense the next.
Like he was fighting something inside himself—and losing.
Sophia sat up with a frustrated sigh.
"I need answers."
Before she could stop herself, she slipped out of bed and walked toward the door.
This time…
She wasn't trying to escape.
She was looking for him.
The mansion was quiet.
Late.
Still.
Sophia moved through the halls carefully, her footsteps soft as she followed the faint glow of light coming from downstairs.
A door was slightly open at the end of the corridor.
Voices drifted out.
Male voices.
One of them—
Luciano.
She froze instantly, stepping closer without thinking.
"…you should have told me sooner," Luciano was saying, his tone low, controlled—but tense.
"I did," another voice replied. Calm. Older. "You just didn't want to hear it."
Sophia frowned slightly, inching closer to the door.
"It's handled," Luciano said.
"For now," the other man replied. "But this changes things."
A pause.
Then—
"It doesn't change anything," Luciano snapped.
Sophia had never heard that edge in his voice before.
Sharp.
Unstable.
Interesting.
"Luciano," the man said quietly, "you're repeating the same mistake."
Silence.
Then—
A soft laugh.
But it wasn't amused.
It was dark.
Dangerous.
"I don't make mistakes."
Sophia's curiosity burned stronger.
Who was he talking to?
"And yet," the man continued, "you're keeping her here."
Sophia's breath caught.
They were talking about her.
"She's not part of this," Luciano said coldly.
"She is now," the man replied. "Just like—"
"Don't."
The word came out like a warning.
Sharp.
Final.
Sophia's heart skipped.
There was something there.
Something deeper.
The man sighed. "You can't erase the past, Luciano."
A long silence followed.
Then—
Luciano spoke again.
But this time…
His voice was different.
Quieter.
"He shouldn't have touched her."
Sophia frowned.
Her?
"Neither should you have," the man replied
Another silence.
Then—
"He took something from me," Luciano said.
The words were low.
Heavy.
Like they carried years of weight.
"And you took everything from him," the man said.
A pause.
Then—
"He deserved worse."
Sophia's heart started pounding.
What were they talking about?
"Is that what this is?" the man asked gently. "Punishment? Control?"
"No," Luciano said immediately.
Too quickly.
Too defensive.
"Then what is it?" the man pressed.
Silence.
Long.
Uncomfortable.
Then—
"I won't lose again."
The words were quiet.
But they hit like a storm.
Sophia's breath caught.
Lose… what?
The man seemed to understand.
Because his voice softened.
"You didn't lose," he said.
Luciano let out a dark, humorless laugh.
"I watched her die."
Sophia froze.
Her entire body went still.
What?
"She begged me to run," Luciano continued, his voice hollow now. "And I didn't."
The air felt heavier.
Thicker.
"I thought I could protect her," he added quietly. "I thought I had control."
Sophia's chest tightened painfully.
"Luciano…" the man started.
"But I didn't," he cut in. "I was too late."
Silence.
The kind that presses down on you.
Crushing.
"She died because I hesitated," Luciano said.
Sophia felt something shift inside her.
Something she didn't expect.
Pain.
Not her pain.
His.
Real.
Raw.
"And now?" the man asked softly.
Another pause.
Then—
"I don't hesitate anymore."
The words were cold.
Sharp.
Final.
"And that's why you've become who you are," the man said.
Luciano didn't deny it.
Didn't argue.
Because it was true.
"You think control will save you this time," the man continued. "But it won't."
"I don't need saving," Luciano replied.
"No," the man said quietly. "But she might."
Sophia's heart skipped again.
"She's not the same," Luciano said.
"No," the man agreed. "But you're treating her like she is."
A pause.
Then—
"Like she'll disappear if you loosen your grip."
Silence.
Luciano didn't respond.
And that said everything.
Sophia's chest tightened.
Everything suddenly made sense.
The control.
The obsession.
The way he watched her.
Protected her.
Refused to let her go.
It wasn't just about power.
It was fear.
Fear of losing again.
"I'm not losing her," Luciano said finally.
The words sent a chill through Sophia.
Not because of how he said it.
But because of what it meant.
"You don't get to decide that," the man replied.
Luciano's voice dropped.
Dangerous.
"I do."
Sophia stepped back slightly, her heart racing.
This was too much.
Too real.
She shouldn't be hearing this.
But now—
She understood him.
Not completely.
But enough.
And that made everything worse.
Because now…
He wasn't just a monster.
He was a man who had been broken.
And rebuilt himself into something dangerous.
Something unstoppable.
Sophia turned quietly, slipping away before she could be caught.
Her mind raced as she made her way back to her room.
He watched her die.
He lost someone.
And now
He was holding onto Sophia like she was something he refused to lose again.
She closed her door softly behind her, leaning against it as she tried to steady her breathing.
"This is bad…" she whispered.
Because now—
It wasn't just obsession.
It wasn't just control.
It was something deeper.
Something rooted in pain.
And people like that…
They didn't let go.
Ever.
Sophia slid down slowly, sitting on the floor, her thoughts spinning.
"I'm not her," she whispered.
But the way he looked at her…
The way he held onto her…
The way he said you're mine…
It didn't feel like he saw a difference.
And that scared her.
Because if he was trying to replace what he lost—
Then letting her go…
Was never an option.