Chapter 3: The Hidden Past
(Note: If you find the name Luca in some sentence, it's none other than Luke ! )
Janet stood at the entrance of Luke's mansion, her tear-stained face glowing faintly under the golden chandelier light. The place was massive—vaulted ceilings, stone staircases, velvet walls lined with oil paintings, and servants who kept their eyes lowered, as if trained never to ask questions. It looked more like the estate of a mafia lord than a home. She was too dazed to even feel fear anymore. Her mind was spinning with the betrayal, the wedding she fled from, and the man who stood beside her.
Luke
He walked quietly beside her, his sharp jawline clenched, eyes unreadable. Despite his intimidating appearance—tall, muscular, and dressed in black—he hadn't raised his voice or touched her inappropriately. Not even once.
"You can stay in this room," he said, opening a large door that revealed a luxurious bedroom with a four-poster bed, pale lavender curtains, and a soft golden glow from antique lamps. The room had a regal charm, as though plucked straight from a royal palace. A vanity sat near the window, along with a chaise lounge and a wide wardrobe.
Janet didn't speak. She stepped in silently and sat at the edge of the bed, still in her bridal dress, now torn at the hem from her run. Her veil had long since vanished, and her hair, once elegantly tied, now fell in messy curls across her back. He didn't leave yet. He stood there for a second longer.
"Do you really not know who I am?" he asked again, softly.
She looked up, brows furrowed. "No. I've never seen you before in my life."
Luke gave a faint, sad smile but didn't say more. He shut the door gently behind him.
---
That night, Janet couldn't sleep. She stared out of the tall glass window, her thoughts consumed by Asher's betrayal. He sold me... for one million dollars.
Every kiss, every promise, every dream—they were all lies. And worse, her family had vanished from the wedding venue the moment she ran. Why didn't they come after me?
She bit her nails nervously, recalling the words she had overheard. The transaction. The price. The man. That man wasn't Luke. She was sure of it. So who had she been sold to? And why had Luke come to help her?
It didn't make any sense. She pulled the covers tighter around her. The moonlight bathed her in a silver glow, but her heart remained heavy. Every breath hurt, and silent tears soaked her pillow.
At some point, she must've fallen asleep, because she awoke to the gentle knock of a maid.
"Miss, good morning. Master Luca asked me to bring you breakfast."
The tray was filled with delicacies—warm croissants, fresh fruit, a cup of aromatic coffee, and soft scrambled eggs. She stared at it blankly.
"Is he here?" she asked.
"He's downstairs, waiting. He said you can join him whenever you feel comfortable."
Janet changed into the fresh clothes left for her—a simple but elegant dress in ivory silk—and stepped out into the hallway. The mansion was even more stunning in daylight. Paintings of war heroes and noblewomen adorned the walls. Crystal chandeliers glittered above her. Everything screamed wealth and old money.
As she wandered, something caught her eye.
A framed photo.
It was a group photo—teenagers in uniforms. A school setting. She leaned in. Her eyes widened.
She was in the photo.
Janet stared at the faces. And then her breath caught. A chubby boy with uneven hair and round glasses stood in the corner of the group. He looked so familiar. There was something sad in his expression, something that tugged at her memory.
Her heart raced.
Before she could dwell more, she heard footsteps.
Luke appeared at the end of the hall.
"Do you recognize that photo?" he asked, his tone unreadable.
She turned. "Yes. That was my school. That's me... but—"
"A memory from a long time ago," he said quickly, cutting her off. "Some things are better left in the past."
Her eyes narrowed slightly. "That boy... he looks so familiar."
Luke smiled faintly. "Maybe just someone you used to know."
She tilted her head. "Were you in that school too?"
"Let's talk about breakfast," he replied smoothly, changing the subject. "You've barely eaten."
---
The dining room was immense. The table could seat thirty people. Janet sat across from Luke. A faint jazz tune played in the background.
He poured her coffee and pushed the plate of eggs toward her. "You need strength."
She stared at him. "Why are you doing this?"
"Doing what?"
"Helping me. Saving me. Bringing me here. Who are you, really?"
Luke leaned back in his chair. His fingers tapped slowly on the table.
"Someone who believes you didn't deserve what happened to you."
Her eyes watered, but she blinked quickly. "I don't even know you. And yet... you're the only one who didn't use me."
He didn't reply.
"I don't even know where my family is. Whether they're looking for me. Whether they care."
Still silence.
She continued, her voice barely a whisper, "Why does it feel like you know more about me than you say?"
Luke looked at her. His eyes softened. "Let's just say I've seen you before."
---
Elsewhere, trouble was brewing.
Asher sat in his luxury apartment, throwing things across the room. His hair was disheveled, eyes bloodshot.
"She ran! On the wedding day!" he roared.
His friend had even come there . He gives the photo which he had taken earlier of Janet with luca .
Asher snatched the photo. His nostrils flared. "Find him."
"She escaped. But I'm tracking her. I'll find her. I swear."
"You better. You know what's at stake."
The line went dead. Asher slammed his fist on the table.
"Janet, you've made the biggest mistake of your life," he hissed. "Now you'll pay."
---
Back at the mansion, Janet stood at the window of the guest room. Outside, the vast gardens shimmered under sunlight. It was peaceful here. Too peaceful.
And yet, she felt like something was off.
Why was Luke being so kind? Why wouldn't he answer her questions? Why did he seem... familiar?
She sighed and turned back. Her gaze fell on the photo again. That boy. That sadness. That photo had more answers than she realized.
She would find out.
No matter what.