MATTHEO'S POV
Back to Mattheo's Mansion
Mattheo sat on the couch in the living room, glasses on his face, reading the newspaper while sipping hot coffee. The room was calm, quiet. Then he felt a presence. He lowered the paper and looked up.
"Viet…" he whispered, shock flashing across his face. His brother stood there, bandages wrapped around his body, some already coming loose, stained with blood.
"What the hell happened to you?" Mattheo threw the newspaper aside and rushed over, grabbing his brother's arm to check the wounds.
"Did Luca do this to you?!" Mattheo's voice rose in anger as he reached for his car keys. "I swear, I'm going to him right now—"
Viet quickly stopped him, weak but desperate. "No, brother, please… don't. I'm fine. Just… let it be."
Mattheo glared at him. "Fine? Look at you! You're bleeding through your bandages, Viet."
Viet shook his head. "He didn't touch me. He just told his men to drag me out of the house… I resisted, and that's why the bandages opened again."
Mattheo's jaw tightened. "Why did you go there in the first place?"
Viet lowered his gaze, ashamed. "I wanted to apologize to Mia. I feel guilty for what I did to her."
Mattheo let out a sharp sigh. "I told you we would go together. Why didn't you listen?"
"I didn't want to be a coward," Viet said softly. "I wanted to face her myself, to show I could be brave."
Mattheo looked at him for a long moment, then his face softened. He pulled Viet into a hug, feeling his brother's weakness in his arms. "It's okay… I understand. But if you really want to apologize, you must take care of yourself first. Heal, get stronger. When the time is right, I'll take you to her."
Viet nodded, holding back tears. Deep inside, he wished Luca was more like Mattheo—gentle, protective, caring. But every family had its dark sheep, and Luca was that shadow none of them could escape.
LUCA'S POV
Later that evening, Luca walked through the long hall of his mansion. His boots echoed on the marble floor. He stopped outside Mia's door, but this time he didn't enter. He just pushed the door slightly open, his tall frame blocking the light.
Mia froze when she saw him. Fear rose in her chest, her heart racing.
"Get dressed in something warm," Luca said in a flat, cold tone. "Come downstairs." Then he turned and walked away.
Mia quickly obeyed. She put on a sweater, her hands shaking. Something felt strange—the house was too quiet. Usually, guards stood everywhere. But when she came downstairs, the halls were empty, silent.
Her eyes widened. Was this her chance to escape?
Her bare feet ran across the cold floor as she hurried to the gate. When her hands touched the cold metal and pushed, nothing happened. Locked.
Then suddenly—alarms blared through the mansion. The sound pierced her ears. She grabbed the bars desperately, shaking them, trying to force the gate open. But it was useless.
She turned around, breathless—and froze. Luca's men stood behind her, trying to hide their laughter. And at the center, walking slowly towards her, was Luca. His face was unreadable, his eyes full of disappointment.
"I… I wasn't…" Mia stuttered, trying to form a lie.
Luca's cold gaze cut through her words. He stepped closer, silent, his eyes never leaving her. She knew there was no escape. No lie could save her now.
When he finally reached her, he bent down and, without saying a word, scooped her into his arms. Mia gasped, terrified, but didn't dare to fight. Her body trembled in his hold.
He carried her back into the mansion. But instead of taking her to her room, he walked toward a door she had never seen before. He pressed a hidden button, and the wall slid open to reveal an elevator.
Her heart dropped.
The elevator went down, deeper and deeper, until it stopped with a heavy clang. The doors slid open, revealing a place that made her blood run cold.
It was a prison. A dungeon. The walls were stone, damp with moisture. Chains hung from hooks. Knives, blades, whips, and strange tools lined the tables. At the center stood a single iron chair, bolted to the floor.
Mia's breath quickened. She shook her head in terror, tears filling her eyes. "No… please…"
Luca placed her on her feet and looked into her eyes. For a moment, she thought she saw something human—pain, conflict—but it vanished quickly. His stare turned cold, empty.
"Sit down," he ordered.
She didn't move. Her knees were too weak, her fear too strong.
"I said SIT DOWN!" His voice thundered through the prison.
Mia jumped in fear and slowly lowered herself into the chair, sobbing quietly.
Luca walked forward and strapped her wrists tightly to the chair. The cold iron dug into her skin. Her heart pounded so hard it hurt.
"I didn't want this," Luca said in a low voice, almost broken. "I thought maybe you were learning your place. I thought maybe you were starting to accept me… but you still want to leave me." His jaw clenched as if the words pained him.
"I'm sorry," Mia whispered through tears.
But it was too late. Luca picked up a shocker from the table. Sparks flashed as he turned it on.
He leaned close, his lips near her ear. "If you stay calm… maybe I won't be too cruel."
Mia trembled, her tears soaking her cheeks.
"Open your mouth," he commanded.
She froze, shaking her head.
Luca grabbed her hair, yanking her head back roughly. "Mia. You know me. I don't repeat myself. And I hate disobedience."
She sobbed and nodded. "O-okay…"
"Good girl," he muttered, letting go of her hair. "Now… open."
Mia opened her mouth slowly, her lips trembling.
"Stick out your tongue. Close your eyes."
She obeyed, her whole body shaking.
Luca smiled darkly, pleased with her submission. He brought the shocker close and pressed it against her tongue. Sparks jumped—pain shot through her body. Mia gasped, eyes flying open, shutting her mouth quickly.
Luca's smile vanished. His hand gripped her chin tightly.
"You don't want it in your mouth?" His voice dropped, dangerous. "Fine. Let's try somewhere else."
He forced her legs apart, his knee holding them down. The shocker buzzed as he dragged it slowly down her skin, closer to her thigh.
Mia whimpered, her whole body tense.
"Scared already?" he whispered, smiling like a demon. "If this frightens you, I wonder how you'll look when I put the real thing inside you."
The shocker touched her thigh. She screamed in pain.
"Shhh… piccola…" Luca cooed mockingly. "This isn't pleasure. This is punishment. Relax."
Her cries only fueled him. He pressed it again, watching her body jolt. She begged, "Please… please stop…"
But her begging only made his smile wider.
Finally, her body couldn't take it anymore. Her head fell to the side, and everything went black. She fainted.
Luca stood over her, staring at her unconscious form. For the first time, his smile faltered. Something flickered in his eyes—guilt, or was it regret? He reached out, brushed a strand of hair from her face, then pulled back his hand quickly.
Was this love… or pure wickedness? Was he obsessed… or just a monster?
Even Luca didn't know anymore.
---
Mia's eyes slowly fluttered open. For a moment, she thought she was still trapped in that underground prison, but when her vision cleared, she realized she was back in her room. Relief came too quickly—because the moment she tried to move, a sharp pain shot through her left ankle.
She gasped. A heavy iron chain was locked tightly around her leg, connected to the bedpost. She could move around a little, but not far. The metal dug into her skin, leaving it sore and burning.
And then came the worse pain—the throbbing sting between her thighs, right where Luca had used the shocker. Her body trembled at the memory, and tears slid silently down her cheeks.
The door creaked open.
Luca walked in, dressed in black, carrying a silver tray. The smell of warm food filled the room. He set it on the table and looked at her with cold, unreadable eyes.
"Eat now," his voice was deep, sharp. "Or I take it back."
Mia's lips trembled. She could tell he was still angry, so she didn't dare refuse. She took the tray with shaky hands and began to eat slowly, every bite tasting like ashes in her mouth. Tears slipped down her face, dripping onto the plate.
Luca's jaw tightened. His fists curled at his sides as he watched her cry.
"Fuck…" he cursed under his breath, his voice rough with frustration. "Stop making me feel guilty. If you had just stayed calm, I wouldn't have hurt you."
"I… I'm sorry," Mia whispered, her voice breaking as she sobbed harder.
"Don't fucking tell me sorry!" he suddenly shouted, his voice echoing against the walls. "That's the only thing you ever say."
He dragged his hand through his hair, pacing once, then stopped and stared at her with fire in his eyes. The sight of her broken face made something snap inside him.
With a low growl, Luca stormed toward her, grabbed her chin, and crushed his lips against hers. The kiss was rough, desperate, angry. His mouth devoured hers like he wanted to drown in her tears.
Mia whimpered and tried to push him away, her hands pressing against his chest, but he caught her wrists in one hand and pinned them down. His other hand gripped her face, forcing her still as his lips moved fiercely over hers.
She struggled, twisting under his hold, shaking her head.
"Fuck… Mia…" his voice was hoarse when he pulled back just enough to breathe. His eyes were wild. "Open your goddamn mouth."
She shook her head, tears spilling faster, refusing him again.
"Stop resisting me, Mia," he growled, his tone sharp with warning. "If you keep fighting me, I swear I'll take you right here and force you to understand who's in charge."
His hand slid to her throat—not choking, just pressing enough to make her shiver in terror.
"Stop making me feel guilty," he said through gritted teeth, his voice breaking. "Stop it… stop it."
For a moment, he just stared at her, his chest rising and falling heavily. Then, as if fighting his own demons, he suddenly released her, stumbling a step back.
"I hate this…" Luca muttered under his breath, his face twisted with rage and something darker. "I hate this."
Without another word, he turned, slammed the door so hard the walls shook, and left her trembling on the bed, her tears falling silently as fear wrapped around her chest.
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