A week had flown by, filled with endless hours of searching for any clue about Andrew. Our lives had settled into a familiar, tiresome routine. Then, one evening, a quiet shift stirred when Vincenzo came home and asked me on a date. I was caught off guard—What could he possibly be thinking? I wondered.
Then he explained that while returning home, he had overheard some of the ladies in our building gossiping. They were intrigued by us, remarking, "They're newlyweds, yet we rarely see them go out—just working. Are they even a real couple?"
"Oh, that's why!" I exclaimed, realizing the need for a little diversion." But is it really alright to go on a date in the middle of the work?".
Vincenzo reassured me, "This is part of our mission—we must dispel any suspicions."
Then the idea of going camping casually slipped from my lips. " Why don't we go camping tomorrow?" I had asked. Vincenzo's eyes sparkled with mischief as he replied, "Yeah, that's a good idea." The next morning, golden sunlight poured through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the room. I was still tangled in my dreams, wrapped up in the warmth of my blanket, completely unaware of the world outside.
A gentle knock echoed on my door. Tap, tap.
"Eva, get up. It's morning already," Vincenzo's voice called from the other side, calm but persistent.
Silence...
He paused for a moment before speaking again, this time with a teasing lilt in his voice."Alright then, if you don't answer, I'm coming in." The door creaked open, and he stepped inside, pausing at the edge of my bed. I was curled up under the blanket, eyes closed, still lost in the haze of sleep. "Hey, sleeping beauty," he said softly, walking closer. "Did you forget? We're going camping today."
I let out a faint groan and mumbled, voice laced with sleep, "Let me sleep… I don't wanna go anywhere." He laughed under his breath, then leaned in, his touch featherlight as his fingers tenderly tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. His fingertips grazed my cheek before he gave it a playful squeeze. "That's not fair. If you don't get up now… I'll have to use my way."
That made me smile, half-asleep. "Try then," I challenged softly.
Without warning, he pressed me gently to the other side of the bed, pulled the blanket halfway down, and slipped beside me with one smooth, confident motion. His arm circled my waist, his body warm and close. My eyes flew open, my heart skipping a beat.
"W-What are you doing?" I stammered, suddenly wide awake, sitting up straight.
He grinned, entirely too pleased with himself. "You told me to try. This is my way of waking you up. Honestly, I think you secretly wanted this… Naughty wife."
"No!" I gasped, cheeks turning scarlet. "I didn't mean this!"
He shifted closer again, his hand finding my hair, gently tucking it behind my ear. His voice dropped to a soft, dangerous whisper. "Well, you're awake now, aren't you?"
I narrowed my eyes, defiant. "That doesn't count. You didn't win. I'm not getting up."
Oh really?" he said with mock seriousness. He stood up, walked around the bed, and in a flash, he pulled the blanket off again and scooped me into his arms. My breath caught. "Vincenzo! What are you doing?" I half-shouted, half-laughed. "Vincenzo!" I exclaimed. "What are you doing?! Put me down!" He looked down at me, eyes gleaming with amusement and something deeper—something that made my pulse race. "I'm just taking care of my wife. She wants her husband to wake her up like this, hmm? Oh, I have plenty of tricks to keep you from sleeping in again."
My heart fluttered, the chaos of emotions dancing through me. He carried me effortlessly into the bathroom and placed me gently on the basin counter. His hands lingered for just a second longer than necessary, the warmth of his touch still tingling on my skin. He gave me my toothbrush, his voice teasing as he said, "Come on, get ready quickly."
I blinked, still stunned, watching him turn toward the door. Just as he reached it, he paused and turned back with a wicked smirk.
"Unless… you want help getting ready too?"
"No!" I nearly shouted, flustered.
He laughed, deeply amused, and finally left, closing the door behind him.
I stared at my toothbrush for a long second, then caught sight of myself in the mirror. My cheeks were flushed, my lips slightly parted, and my heart was still racing like I'd just run a mile.
"Why am I blushing?" I whispered, fingers brushing against my warm face. "Is it… because of him?"
I shook my head and quickly raked my fingers through my hair. "Pull it together, Eva. Get ready."
But even as I said it, the ghost of his touch still lingered. And deep down, I could already tell, this camping trip was shaping up to be far from ordinary.
After I got ready, I stepped out of my room, and the soft aroma of something warm and delicious greeted me. My eyes followed the scent—and there he was.
Vincenzo stood by the stove, sleeves rolled up, focused and calm as he flipped something in the pan. The morning sun spilled through the window, casting golden light on his sharp features and strong arms. It was such a simple scene, yet something stirred me deeply.
The man—my fake husband—was making breakfast, For me.
There was something about that image that felt strangely domestic, deeply intimate… and almost frighteningly real. The way he moved, the way he put care into each action—it struck a chord in me I wasn't ready to face.
I stood there longer than I should have, simply watching him, Admiring him.
He must've noticed because suddenly he turned, smirking with that devilish glint in his eyes. "Now, if you're done staring at your husband, wife... come have breakfast."
I jolted, caught red-handed. My cheeks flushed as I scrambled for words. "I—I wasn't staring at you! I was looking at the… the bread!"
His low, amused chuckle filled the room, melting me further. "Oh, I see," he said with mock seriousness, placing a plate down. "Then, darling... if you're done staring at the bread, let's eat."
We both laughed, the awkwardness dissolving into warm, playful energy. We sat down and shared breakfast, teasing and stealing glances like we were trying not to fall into the illusion of something more. Something that I could sense it, though—in each word, each look, each fleeting smile we shared.
After breakfast, we packed our things and left the apartment. As we reached the entrance of our building, we were met by a few of the neighborhood ladies, including our elderly neighbor who always watched us closely. "Kids, where are you heading so early in the morning?" she asked, her eyes full of sweet curiosity. Without hesitation, I slid my hand around Vincenzo's arm and leaned close, resting my head lightly against him. His body tensed for a second before relaxing into the role. I smiled, adding a little extra warmth to my voice. "My husband is taking me camping today. He's been so busy lately, so he finally took a day off to spend some time together."
The old lady gave a knowing smile. "That's very sweet. Enjoy yourselves."
As we walked away, our steps falling in sync, I glanced up at him. "Well, there's no room left for suspicion now."
He gave me a sideways smile, his hand resting on my shoulder protectively. "No suspicion at all. We're quite the convincing couple, aren't we?"
I felt his fingers brush against the fabric of my shirt, so casually, but the touch lingered like a secret only I was meant to feel.
Four Hours Later…
The road trip had been nothing short of electric. We vibed to songs, teased each other like kids, and laughed until our stomachs hurt. There was something chaotic but beautiful in our silence too—like the world had taken a backseat and all that existed was us and the road ahead.
Finally, we arrived.
A breathtaking view unfolded before us: a towering green mountain, bathed in sunlight and shrouded in mist. The winding trail ahead seemed like an adventure waiting to be written. I could already feel the buzz of excitement as we pulled our bags from the car. He stood there, watching me with a soft smile, amusement glimmering in his eyes. "Someone's excited," he said, his voice warm and teasing.
"I'm very excited!" I called back.
The first part of the trail was easy. Birds chirped, the wind whispered through the leaves, and my adrenaline made me feel invincible. I walked faster, hopping over rocks and skipping past him like a child on a sugar rush.
But then... reality hit.
Somewhere halfway up, my legs grew heavy. My breath came shorter. The forest started spinning a little too fast. I stumbled to the side and slumped against the trunk of a large tree. "I… can't climb anymore," I panted. "I'm so exhausted…"
Vincenzo knelt beside me, a knowing smirk playing on his lips. "I knew this would happen. You've been bouncing around like a monkey since the first step."
I ignored his teasing and laid my head in his lap, eyes closed, trying to catch my breath. "I don't want to go up. Let's just camp here." He didn't say anything at first. His fingers slowly began moving through my hair, gently brushing it from my face. The way he touched me… was soft, unspoken, and addictive.
"Don't give up so easily," he murmured. "Rest for a while. Then we'll climb it together. I'll be with you the whole way."
My heart clenched at his words—at the way he said together. There was no teasing in his voice, just something warm and steady.
I looked up at him, our eyes meeting under the dappled sunlight.
"Why are you being so sweet?", I whispered, unsure if I was seeking an answer or simply wanting to lose myself in the moment.
He tilted his head, his fingers still brushing my hair. "Maybe because I like watching you when you're messy and real. When you're not pretending to be strong."
I blinked. My pulse skipped.
Then he added, playfully, "Also… I knew if I let you stay in bed, you'd miss this view. And I don't mean the mountain."
I laughed, the tension easing. "So annoying…"
"You love it," he whispered near my ear.
And strangely… maybe I did.
And in that moment, I forgot we were on a mission. I forgot we were pretending.
At that moment… we were just us.
He stood and reached for my hand, pulling me up with ease. The grip of his fingers around mine was firm, steady—reassuring in a way I didn't know I needed. "Let's go," he said softly, brushing a leaf from my shoulder. "We need to reach the top before the sun starts to sink."
I nodded, and we resumed our climb—step by step, deeper into the quiet embrace of the mountains. The forest seemed alive, breathing around us, whispering its secrets in the shadows. The path grew narrower, winding through dense green, and though the climb was exhausting, there was a thrill in it. An intimacy that wrapped itself around us, as if the world had fallen silent just for the two of us.
Eventually, we took another break under a tall, shady tree whose branches swayed gently with the mountain breeze. We sank into the soft moss beneath its shade. Vincenzo pulled out the sandwiches he had carefully packed this morning—each one wrapped with care. "I made these for you," he said with a half-smile, handing one to me, his fingertips grazing mine longer than necessary. I took it, biting into it as we sat shoulder to shoulder. The moment hung in a quiet stillness. Peaceful. His presence was intoxicating, the air between us thick with the warmth of something unspoken, something that lingered just out of reach. After packing up our little lunch date, we resumed the climb. He walked ahead, scanning the path, his focus razor-sharp.
But then… something felt off.
The bush beside me shifted—just slightly—but enough to make my heart stutter. A strange, low sound curled through the air. Then, out of nowhere, a wild cat launched at me, claws flashing and eyes gleaming. The ground tilted beneath me as I stumbled backward. My feet slipped, and I tumbled—down the slope, helpless, rolling with the force of gravity. Branches scraped my arms. Rocks tore at my skin. A sharp pain pierced my leg as I collided with a tree.
"Eva!" I heard his voice echo through the trees—raw, panicked, unlike anything I'd ever heard from him —unexpected, raw, and entirely unfamiliar.
Then everything blurred.....