บททั้งหมดของ His Possession: Don’s Reluctant Bride : บทที่ 31 - บทที่ 40

The early morning air was cold and sharp, slicing through the tension that clung to the Moretti estate like a second skin. Elana stood at the window of the study, watching the mist roll over the grounds. Somewhere behind her, Luca’s voice was low and clipped, speaking into his phone. She didn’t have to hear the words to know something was wrong. His posture said it all—rigid, on edge, like he was preparing for war. Because maybe, he was. When he finally hung up, she turned. “What happened?” He hesitated, which only confirmed her worst fears. “Another warehouse hit last night. Small crew, but precise. They knew what they were looking for.” Elana folded her arms, her voice steady. “You think it’s Marconi?” “I know it is,” he muttered. “He’s poking holes, testing how far he can go before we strike.” “But you’re not striking yet.” It wasn’t a question. “No.” He met her eyes. “Because of what you said. We wait. We bleed him dry with patience.” Her lips parted in surprise. “Y

The night air was thick with tension, heavy enough to choke on. Elana stood by the tall windows in Luca’s study, arms folded tightly around her chest. She watched the driveway below where Matteo and two others loaded crates into the back of a black SUV. Weapons. Ammunition. Proof that war was no longer a distant shadow—it was crawling to their doorstep. Behind her, Luca entered the room. His steps were quiet, measured, but she still felt the shift in the atmosphere. “You shouldn’t be up this late,” he said, his voice low. She didn’t turn. “Neither should you.” “I’ve got enemies mobilizing,” he replied. “Sleep isn’t a luxury I can afford right now.” Silence hung between them like a weight. Finally, Elana turned to face him. “And what about us, Luca? Do we fall to the bottom of your priorities now?” His jaw tightened. “You know it’s not like that.” “Do I?” she asked. “Because all I see is a man preparing for war. Not a husband. Not a partner. Just a soldier.” He stepped c

Luca sat at the head of the long dining room table, its polished surface now buried under maps, surveillance photos, and weapon manifests. The weight of leadership sat heavier on him tonight. His eyes moved with practiced efficiency, but Elana could see the tension in his jaw, the silent calculation in every breath. “This alliance Marconi’s building,” Matteo said from the corner, “it’s not just about territory anymore. He’s targeting loyalty. Buying men who were ours.” “Cowards,” Luca muttered. Elana stood off to the side, arms folded, watching them all. Men in suits with cold eyes. Her mother’s warning still echoed in her mind, threading through every sentence spoken around that table. She stepped forward. “What if he’s not trying to buy them?” she said, voice firm. “What if he’s threatening them? Offering them safety if they turn before the storm hits?” The room went quiet. Luca looked up at her. “She’s not wrong,” Matteo said. “Fear is a faster motivator than greed.”

The room was dim, lit only by the soft glow of a desk lamp. Luca stood by the window, staring out at the courtyard while Elana sat on the couch, Isabella curled beside her, half-asleep with a stuffed bear in her arms. But Elana’s eyes were wide open—alert, heart thudding. She couldn’t shake the image of Lucia’s face from the grainy security feed. It had been so long, but some things never faded. There was a soft knock. Matteo stepped inside. “She’s clean. No weapons, no wires. Nervous, but not hostile.” Elana stood immediately. “Where is she?” “In the guest study. She asked to speak with you first—alone.” Luca turned from the window. “No.” Elana met his gaze. “Luca.” “You’re not going in there alone. I don’t care who she used to be.” “Then let me take Matteo with me. Just not you.” He raised an eyebrow. “Why not me?” “Because you walk into a room and everything shifts. People see blood before words.” Her voice softened. “She came to me. Let’s not scare her off.” A

The silence in the house was no longer peaceful—it was loaded. Every hallway felt like it echoed with what hadn’t yet been said.Elana stood at the edge of the courtyard, watching the way the wind tugged at the fountain’s still water. Her mother was behind her, quiet, but she could feel the weight of her presence.“You’ve changed,” Isabella said finally.Elana didn’t turn around. “I had to.”“That man you married… he’s not the type to let a woman stay soft.”Elana turned, her voice sharp but not unkind. “You think I’m less because I don’t flinch anymore?”“I think you’re surviving. I’m just wondering how much of you is still left underneath.”Elana’s jaw flexed. “That’s not fair.”Isabella stepped forward, her eyes narrowing. “Is it? You didn’t even blink when Matteo said they found another body this morning.”“That body was one of ours,” Elana said. “A boy who grew up guarding this house. And I’m angry. But I can’t fall apart every time someone dies, not anymore.”For a moment, Isabe