She was barely around. Always out, always quiet. The other girls mentioned that she hadn't been sleeping in the shared room either.
At first, I didn't care. Maybe she just needed space. But a small part of me was curious.
One night, I couldn't sleep again. I went to the poolside, needing air. But something told me to take a walk toward Luca's room.
That's when I saw her.
Emma.
She was standing right in front of Luca's door.
I quickly stepped back and hid behind a wall, watching her closely. Was she going in? Or was she just leaving?
She looked around nervously, glancing left and right like she had lost something. Then, without knocking, she turned and walked back toward the girls' rooms.
From that moment on, I kept my eye on her. But she never returned to that hallway—at least not when I was watching.
Eventually, our wedding day arrived.
It was perfect.
Family, friends, laughter, tears—it was everything I dreamed of. I was the happiest bride alive.
After the wedding, things calmed down. Guests left. Life started to feel normal again. And I had a plan—I wanted to surprise Luca at work with a luxurious watch I had bought him.
I drove to his office building, went up the elevator, and stepped out onto the top floor. As I neared his office, I heard voices inside.
A woman's voice. Laughing.
Familiar.
I stopped.
It was Emma's voice.
Peering through the tinted glass, I saw them—Emma and Luca. Her hand was on his arm, and they were laughing, relaxed, too close.
I took a deep breath, then knocked lightly before opening the door.
Luca turned quickly. "Aria! You're here," he said, standing u
"Yes," I said quietly, forcing a smile. "I brought you something."
I handed him the gift box.
Emma stepped forward, her smile sweet but her eyes sharp. "How thoughtful, Aria," she said. "Luca is so lucky to have such a sweet wife."
I nodded, keeping my smile in place, but I couldn't ignore the way her hand still lingered on his arm—like she belonged there.
"Thanks," Luca said, barely looking at me. He set the gift down without giving me a hug or a kiss. He looked at the package longer than he looked at me.
My chest tightened, but I stayed quiet.
My chest tightened, but I stayed quiet, pretending not to notice.
Then Emma cleared her throat—lightly but deliberately—as though she had been waiting for the perfect moment to speak. She tilted her head slightly, her tone sweet but with a hint of something else beneath the surface.
"You know, Aria," she began, her voice smooth and measured, "Luca and I have known each other a long time. We've been through a lot together."
What does she mean?