Chapter 40: The Truth That Broke Her
The door opened.
Adrian stepped in.
Lucy saw him.
And immediately stepped back.
"Don't come close to me," she said, her voice shaking.
He stopped for a second.
But only for a second.
Then he walked toward her.
Lucy shook her head quickly, panic rising.
"I said don't come close!"
Before she could move again, he reached her and pulled her into his arms.
She froze for a second.
Then started struggling.
"Let me go!" she cried, hitting his chest.
"Let me go!"
Her fists kept landing on him.
Again.
And again.
But he didn't move.
Didn't react.
Like he didn't feel anything.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly.
Lucy stopped for a second.
Then pushed against him harder.
"Sorry?" she cried.
"You're saying sorry?"
Tears streamed down her face.
"I saw everything!" she shouted.
"I saw what you did!"
Her hands trembled as she tried to push him away.
But he held her firmly.
"Calm down," he said.
"Don't tell me to calm down!" she snapped.
Her voice broke.
"You killed him," she whispered.
"He was begging you… he was begging you to let him go…"
Her chest tightened as she looked at him.
"You should have just let him go," she said.
Adrian looked at her.
Calm.
Unmoved.
"In my world," he said slowly,
"forgiveness is a crime."
Lucy blinked.
"And as a mafia boss," he continued,
"I don't know the word forgiveness."
Silence.
Lucy stared at him.
"…Mafia boss?" she repeated.
The words felt heavy in her mouth.
She stepped back slowly.
"I didn't know…" she whispered.
Her eyes searched his face.
Like she was seeing him for the first time.
Then suddenly—
She turned and ran.
"Lucy," Adrian called.
But she didn't stop.
She ran out of the room, past the hallway.
Staff turned immediately.
"Ma'am, please slow down!" one of them said.
"You'll fall—"
But she didn't listen.
Didn't even look at them.
She ran upstairs.
Straight to her room.
She shut the door and locked it.
Her back hit the door.
Her breathing was uneven.
Then she rushed to the bed and pulled the blanket over herself.
Tears came freely.
"Why…?" she whispered.
Her body shook as she cried.
And slowly, exhaustion took over.
She fell asleep.
Downstairs, Adrian stepped out of the room.
The staff were whispering.
Low voices.
Uneasy.
The moment they saw him, everything stopped.
Silence.
They all lowered their heads.
Adrian stood in the middle of the house.
His presence alone changed the air.
"From today," he said calmly,
"Lucy does not leave this house without my permission."
No one moved.
"She is not to do any house chores."
A pause.
"Her food must be ready before she wakes up."
The staff listened carefully.
"And you will keep an eye on her."
His voice dropped slightly.
"She is not to harm herself."
A few of them exchanged quick glances.
"Anything she wants," he added,
"you give it to her."
Silence.
"Yes, sir," they answered together.
Adrian turned and walked upstairs.
He entered his room, took a shower, and changed.
Then he sat down and went through some documents.
But his mind wasn't there.
Time passed.
7:00 pm.
He hadn't seen her.
Hadn't heard her voice.
He stood up.
Walked out.
"Have you seen her?" he asked the chefs.
"No, sir," one of them replied.
"She hasn't come out."
Adrian's jaw tightened slightly.
"Prepare something for her," he said.
"Yes, sir."
They left immediately.
He stood there for a moment.
"…Why am I like this?" he muttered to himself.
Then he walked to her door.
Knocked.
"Lucy."
No response.
He knocked again.
Still nothing.
He tried the handle.
Locked.
A small smile appeared on his lips.
"Stubborn," he murmured.
He brought out a spare key and unlocked the door.
He stepped inside.
The room was quiet.
"Lucy," he called.
No answer.
He was about to call the guards—
Then he saw her.
Curled up under the blanket.
He walked closer slowly.
Carefully, he pulled the blanket down from her face.
Her eyes were swollen.
Tear marks still visible.
Adrian's expression changed.
"…You cried this much," he said under his breath.
Something in him tightened.
He sat beside her and tapped her gently.
"Lucy," he called softly.
She stirred.
Turned slightly.
Her eyes opened slowly.
And the moment she saw him—
She moved back immediately.
"How did you get in?" she asked quickly.
He looked at her.
"It's my house," he replied.
She went silent.
Then looked away.
"Get up," he said.
"I'm not hungry," she replied.
"Get up."
"I said I'm not hungry," she snapped.
"Go eat by yourself."
Adrian watched her for a second.
Then moved closer.
He held her face gently.
"I'm not in the mood for your drama," he said calmly.
Before she could react—
He lifted her.
"Adrian!" she protested.
"Put me down!"
He didn't listen.
He carried her out of the room.
Down the stairs.
The staff quickly moved aside.
He placed her on a chair at the dining table.
Then sat beside her.
He served food into her plate.
Lucy pushed it slightly.
"I said I'm not eating."
He looked at her.
Then smiled faintly.
"If you eat," he said,
"I'll take you to see your family on Monday."
Lucy froze.
She turned to him slowly.
"…Are you serious?" she asked.
"Yes."
"You're not lying?"
"I don't lie."
She stared at him for a moment.
Then quickly took the spoon from his hand.
And started eating.
Adrian watched her quietly.
And for the first time that day—
The tension in his chest eased.
Just a little.