The Temporary Wife: Luca and Valentina's Story(76)

“Wife?” he repeats, his face blanching.

My office door opens, and Valentina walks in. She pauses midway, her eyes landing on Miguel. Fuck. It fucking kills me to see her make that hurt expression, even if it’s only for a split-second before she schools her features. How did I miss that last time? Is that how she looked at him then too?

“Beg,” I murmur, my voice low. “Or get the fuck out of my office before I have security drag you out.”

He glances at me, his gaze filled with hatred that only amuses me. Then he turns and walks out, brushing past Valentina as though she’s nothing to him. I see the way she flinches, and I’m going to make sure he regrets acting this way. One way or another, I’m going to bring him to his knees in front of my wife.

“What was he doing here?” she asks, her gaze filled with accusations. “You agreed to let him invest?” She looks away, as though she can’t bear to face me. I can see it in her demeanor. She thinks I betrayed her the way he did. It makes sense now, the way she keeps everyone at a distance, as though she believes it’ll hurt less if she pushes people away before they have a chance to leave her.

“Come here.” I hold my hand out for her, and she grits her teeth. “Please, baby.”

Some of the tension flows out of her body as she walks toward me, a spark of hope in her gaze, as though she wishes I’ll prove her wrong. She’s giving me a chance.

Valentina places her hand in mine, and I bring our joined hands to my lips. “Tell me, my wife. Do you want me to take everything from him and give it to you? Do you want his company for yourself, or should I destroy it? If you want it, I’ll acquire it for you after I sink his share price. We can turn it into Windsor Insurance.”

She stares at me wide-eyed. “W-what… what are you… Luca, you can’t. H-he is… my father is ruthless. Please don’t—”

I’ve never seen her so rattled. She’s always overconfident, even in situations she shouldn’t be, yet here she is, insecure and worried, because of that fucker. I cup her face and smile at her. “Did you forget who you married? I once promised you I’d put every single one of my resources at your disposal, so use me. You don’t have to be the bigger person anymore, Valentina. That’s only for people without the power to make a difference. You’re a Windsor now. You’re my wife. Anything you want, baby. Just tell me, and I’ll make it yours.”

She smiles at me then, genuinely, some of her unease fading away. “You really would, wouldn’t you?”

I nod. “I’d do anything for you, Valentina.”

“Why?” she whispers, her gaze once more reflecting pain.

Does she really not know why? I run a hand through my hair and sigh. “Valentina, you make me wish it were possible to pluck a star from the sky, just so I could make you smile. You make me do things I’ve never done before. Surely you know that? Maybe you truly have driven me insane, at last. You must have, because how else would you explain the fact that I’d start a war for you?”

In many ways, the words I just spoke to Miguel truly will start a war. The media coverage will be a bloodbath, and his company is about to become the biggest casualty. I can’t bring myself to regret it though. Valentina deserves this much. She might not ask for it, but she deserves revenge. No matter the cost.





Chapter Forty-Seven





Luca

My heart skips a beat when my wife walks out of the dressing room, a long red gown highlighting every delicious curve. “We should stay home,” I murmur.

Valentina chuckles, and my heart skips a beat. She hasn’t smiled that way in a while. Witnessing her grandmother have an episode took its toll on her, and seeing her father in my office just made things worse. I suspect that Ben constantly being around her at work doesn’t help either. Everywhere she turns, there are reminders of the past, and no matter how hard I try, I can’t eliminate them all.

Hopefully, she’ll be able to relax a little tonight. I know we’re technically attending this charity event for work, but I’m definitely sneaking in a dance or two with her.

“What’s wrong?” she asks, twirling around slowly. “Weren’t you the one who picked this dress? Raven told me you called her and kept grumbling about how you wanted me wearing red for you this time. Don’t tell me you’re still mad about Theo? How can you be so petty, Luca?”

Heat rushes to my cheeks as I mentally curse my sister-in-law. Damn Raven. I should’ve kept my mouth shut around her. Of course she went and tattled to my wife straight away. “Stay right there,” I tell her when she walks toward me. “Let me take a photo for your grandmother.” Abuela has been calling me every so often ever since Valentina and I stayed the night at her house. In part, I think, because she’s trying to make me feel accepted. I think she feels bad for the way she hit me, and I’m not sure how to convince her that it’s completely fine. It’s easy to see why Valentina loves her so much.

My wife’s eyes widen a fraction, and she smiles broadly as she poses for me. For a moment, I just stare at her, frozen in place.

“Luca?”

I snap out of it and take a couple of photos, my heart racing. She’s so beautiful, it’s unreal. When she smiles at me that way, I become utterly useless. I truly think she’s slowly driving me insane.