Lucy didn't speak much after eating.
She finished slowly, quietly, avoiding Adrian's eyes.
"Done?" he asked.
She nodded.
"Good," he replied and stood up.
Lucy hesitated, then followed him upstairs.
The house felt different now.
Not just big.
But heavy.
When they got to the hallway, Adrian stopped.
"I have something to take care of," he said.
"Stay in your room."
Lucy didn't argue this time.
"Okay," she said softly.
He looked at her for a second.
Then walked away.
Lucy entered her room and closed the door.
She sat on the bed.
Quiet.
Her mind kept replaying everything.
His words.
His actions.
That room.
"Mafia boss…" she whispered.
A soft knock came.
Lucy looked up.
"Come in," she said.
The door opened.
Jurbe stepped in, hands in his pockets, a small smile on his face.
"Well," he said.
"You look like someone who just saw something she shouldn't."
Lucy stiffened.
"You knew," she said immediately.
Jurbe raised a brow.
"Knew what?"
"Who he is," she replied.
"What he does."
Jurbe didn't answer immediately.
He walked in and sat on a chair across from her.
"You're in his house," he said calmly.
"What did you expect?"
Lucy shook her head.
"I didn't expect… that," she said, her voice low.
Jurbe watched her carefully.
"He told you?" he asked.
"He didn't have to," Lucy replied.
"I saw it."
Silence.
Jurbe leaned back slightly.
"You're scared of him now," he said.
Lucy didn't deny it.
"…Yes," she said quietly.
Jurbe nodded slowly.
"That's normal."
Lucy frowned.
"Normal?" she repeated.
"In his world," Jurbe said,
"fear keeps people alive."
Lucy looked down.
"But I'm not part of his world," she said.
Jurbe gave a small smile.
"You are now."
That hit harder than she expected.
Lucy looked back at him.
"Why me?" she asked suddenly.
"Why did he choose me?"
Jurbe's smile faded slightly.
"That's a question only he can answer," he said.
"Then tell me what you know," she insisted.
Jurbe shook his head.
"Some things are better coming from him."
Lucy sighed, frustrated.
"I don't understand anything," she said.
"I don't understand him."
Jurbe stood up.
"You don't need to understand him," he said.
"You just need to know one thing."
Lucy looked up.
"He won't let anything happen to you."
Lucy held his gaze.
"…Even after what I saw?" she asked.
Jurbe didn't hesitate.
"Especially after what you saw."
Silence filled the room.
Lucy didn't feel fully reassured.
But something in his tone felt real.
"Rest," Jurbe added.
Then he walked to the door.
"And Lucy…"
She looked at him.
"Try not to run next time," he said lightly.
Then he left.
Lucy sat there, still thinking.
Later that evening—
Adrian came back.
Lucy was standing by the window.
She turned when she heard him.
They looked at each other.
Silence.
Then Lucy spoke.
"Why me?"
Adrian didn't respond immediately.
"You could have chosen anyone," she continued.
"So why me?"
He walked further into the room.
"You're asking questions you won't like the answers to," he said.
"I still want to hear them," she replied.
A pause.
Adrian looked at her.
"You were there," he said simply.
Lucy frowned.
"That's not an answer."
"It is," he replied.
Lucy shook her head.
"No, it's not," she said.
"You took me from my life… from my family… and you expect me to accept 'you were there'?"
Her voice wasn't loud.
But it carried weight.
Adrian's eyes darkened slightly.
"I didn't ask you to accept it," he said.
"Then what do you want from me?" she asked.
Silence.
For a moment—
He didn't answer.
Then he said quietly,
"Stay."
Lucy blinked.
"…Just stay?" she repeated.
"For now," he said.
That answer wasn't enough.
But it was all he gave.
The next day came faster than she expected.
Lucy stood in front of the house.
Adrian beside her.
"Are you ready?" he asked.
She nodded.
They got into the car.
The ride was quiet.
Lucy's fingers tightened slightly on her dress.
When they arrived—
She stepped out quickly.
The moment her family saw her—
Everything changed.
"Lucy!"
Her mother rushed to her and pulled her into a tight hug.
"You're okay…" she said, her voice breaking.
Lucy hugged her back.
"I'm fine, Mom," she said softly.
Ruben stepped forward.
"You didn't call," he said.
"You just disappeared."
Lucy looked at him.
"I'm here now," she replied.
Their father stood there, watching carefully.
Then his eyes moved to Adrian.
Adrian stood calmly behind her.
Respectful.
But distant.
"You came," her father said.
"I said I would," Adrian replied.
Her mother pulled away slightly and looked at Lucy.
"You look… different," she said.
Lucy forced a small smile.
"I'm okay," she repeated.
But her eyes said something else.
Ruben noticed.
He looked at Adrian again.
Long.
Careful.
Something didn't sit right with him.
Lucy turned slightly toward Adrian.
Their eyes met.
And in that moment—
Everything felt complicated.
More than before.
Because now—
She knew exactly who he was.