Chapter 7 Uncharted Water

Francesca's breath hitched as Giulia's icy gaze locked onto hers across the restaurant. The air felt heavier with every passing second, the tension between the two women crackling like an electric current. Luca had left them alone, perhaps as a test, perhaps to see how they would handle each other, but whatever his intentions, Francesca knew she was caught in a battle of wills. Giulia's voice cut through the silence, smooth and deadly. "I see you've found your place in Luca's life." Francesca stiffened, but she refused to show weakness.

"I'm just here for dinner," she said, her voice steady despite the nerves twisting in her stomach. Giulia's smile was sharp, more a sneer than anything. "Dinner... Right. I'm sure he's treating you like the queen of the evening." Her eyes flickered to Luca's empty seat before returning to Francesca, a silent challenge in them. The weight of the unspoken words hung between them like a guillotine. Francesca clenched her fists under the table, the pulse in her neck quickening. "I'm not a distraction, if that's what you think." Giulia leaned in, her scent-something sweet but with an edge-filling the space between them. "You're just a temporary distraction, darling," she purred, her voice low enough to send a shiver down Francesca's spine. Francesca's heart pounded in her chest, the mix of anger and fear stirring inside her. "I'm not afraid of you," she said, the words coming out harsher than she intended. Giulia raised an eyebrow, amused. "Oh, you should be." She leaned back, her eyes never leaving Francesca's. "Enjoy your fleeting moment with him. It won't last." Francesca's pulse raced as Giulia's words sank in. Was she right? Or was this all just a power play to undermine her? Giulia's presence lingered in the air long after she had returned to her seat. Every glance exchanged between Luca and Giulia felt like a silent standoff, a test of control and power. Francesca watched them closely, the unease in her chest growing with every word that passed between them. "Is that your ex?" she asked quietly, keeping her voice neutral, but her eyes never leaving the two. Luca's gaze shifted to Giulia for a moment before answering. "Giulia's... someone from my past." His tone was dismissive, but the undercurrent of tension was palpable. "Someone from your past?" Francesca's voice wavered despite her efforts to stay composed. "Does that mean she's" "She's nothing," Luca interrupted sharply, his jaw tightening. But Francesca could see the look in his eyes and something more than just indifference. It was possessiveness, something darker than anything she had seen in him before. Giulia's voice interrupted the silence, sweet and venomous. "You're playing a dangerous game, darling," she called over to Francesca, a twisted smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "You think you know him, but you don't. You're not prepared for what comes next." Francesca's stomach churned, and for a moment, she felt like the walls were closing in on her. Giulia's words echoed in her mind, each one a cold warning. She wasn't prepared for this, for Luca's world-this world of power, secrets, and lies. "What do you mean by that?" Francesca asked, her voice low, a thread of fear weaving through her words. Giulia's smile widened, her eyes glinting with something cruel. "Oh, you'll see," she said softly, her gaze never leaving Francesca's. "You'll see exactly what you're up against." Alone in her apartment, Francesca sat on the edge of her bed, staring down at the small white plastic stick in her hands. Her world had shifted just hours ago, and now, this? The small pink line on the pregnancy test mocked her, a reminder of the night with Luca, of everything she had tried to ignore. Her heart raced as she stared at it, unable to make sense of the reality that was crashing in on her. She had spent the last few weeks caught between desire and caution, trying to figure out what Luca's world truly meant for her, but this? This was a different kind of consequence. Francesca's fingers trembled as she set the test down on the edge of the sink, her reflection in the mirror a stranger to her. The fear and uncertainty gnawed at her insides. She had never imagined this. She could never have imagined this in a million years. Her mind raced with thoughts of Luca. How would he react? Would he even care? Or had she simply become another woman in his long line of distractions? "This is impossible," she whispered to herself, her voice small, lost in the vastness of the room. The weight of the truth was heavy, suffocating. She didn't know if she should tell him or if it was even worth it. Her phone buzzed suddenly, breaking the silence. The sight of Luca's name on the screen made Francesca's heart race. Without thinking, she picked up. "Luca," she said, her voice shaky, but she didn't trust herself enough to say anything else. "Where are you?" His voice was calm, but there was something in it that made her insides twist. "I've been trying to reach you all day." Francesca's mind was spinning, but she pushed the panic down. "I... I'll see you soon," she replied, hanging up before she could say more. Her stomach churned again. How would she face him now? Francesca paced her apartment, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts. She could feel the weight of the secret she carried, heavy and oppressive, as if it were pressing down on her chest with every breath. She stopped in front of the window, staring out at the city below. It was late, the streets below lit by the soft glow of streetlights, but everything felt distant. Everything felt cold. "Should I even tell him?" She muttered to herself, her voice a mixture of frustration and fear. Her hand reached up to brush away a stray strand of hair, but the action was mechanical, absent of any real emotion. She thought of Luca. His dark eyes, the way he made her feel like she was both everything and nothing at once were all she could think about. She couldn't deny the pull she felt toward him, but what would telling him about the baby do? Her mind was a battleground, torn between the fear of what Luca might do and the overwhelming sense of responsibility that weighed on her shoulders. "I don't even know who I'm becoming," she whispered, her voice barely audible. The uncertainty was suffocating, and for the first time in her life, she wasn't sure which direction to take.