"Get out!" Luca shouted angrily.
But Sophia stood frozen, unable to tear her gaze away from the multitude of scars. "Who did this to you?"
His jaw tightened. "I said, get out."
Ignoring his command, Sophia took a hesitant step forward. "Luca, please. Who did this to you?"
Luca's face contorted with rage. In an instant, he crossed the room and grabbed her by the arm, forcing her to look up at him. "You don't get to ask questions about my past," he snarled. "Especially not you."
She winced at his grip but held her ground. "Why won't you tell me? Why do you hate me so much? What did I do to you?"
Luca's eyes darkened, and he released her arm, pushing her away. "Everything. You're the reason I'm this way."
Sophia shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes. "I don't remember anything. Please, Luca, help me understand."
He laughed bitterly, running a hand through his hair. "Help you understand? You don't deserve my help. You deserve to suffer."
"Why?" Sophia's voice broke. "What did I do to you?"
Luca's expression shifted from anger to something else, something deeper and more painful. "You and your father destroyed everything," he said quietly. "Everything I cared about."
Sophia's heart sank. "I... I don't know what you're talking about."
"Of course you don't," his voice shook with contempt. "Because you don't care. You never did."
Sophia took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "Maybe I don't remember, but I want to make things right. I want to understand."
Luca stared at her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then he turned away, his back to her once more. "Get out, Sophia. Before I do something we'll both regret."
"Please, Luca..."
"Get the fuck out," he yelled, and she jumped at the weight of his voice. Her legs quickly carried her out of the room as she ran down the hall in tears.
She ran outside, tears streaming down her face. Her vision was blurred, and her heart pounded in her chest. She stumbled into the garden, where she saw Kim sweeping the path. Kim looked up, immediately noticing Sophia's distress. She dropped the broom and rushed to her.
"Sophia, what's wrong?" Kim's voice was filled with concern as she reached out to steady her.
Sophia broke down, sobbing uncontrollably. "I... I can't do this anymore, Kim," she choked out between sobs. "I need to know about my past. Please, take me to the therapist. I can't stand not knowing any longer.
Kim held Sophia tightly, rubbing her back to soothe her. "Calm down, Sophia. I'll take you to see her, but not now. Let's wait until she's done with her work, then I'll take you to meet her."
"Thank you, Kim," Sophia breathed in relief, burying her head on Kim's shoulder. The comfort of a friend's embrace was enough to make her feel slightly better, though her heart still ached with the weight of unanswered questions.
Meanwhile, Luca and Gianna arrived hand in hand at the red carpet of the movie premiere. Flashbulbs popped, and reporters called out to them, seeking their attention. Luca managed to put up a front, smiling for the cameras as they posed together before making their way into the theater.
Settling into their seats, Luca couldn't get his mind off Sophia. The anger and hatred he felt for her consumed him. How dare she act as if she had no idea what she and her father had done to him? The memories of betrayal and heartbreak were fresh wounds that refused to heal.
He clenched his jaw, trying to focus on the movie, but his mind kept drifting back to Sophia. All he did was trust her, and she betrayed him in the most cruel ways. He would never forgive her for that.
"Are you alright?" Gianna's worried voice broke through his thoughts. She had noticed how tense he had been all night, despite his efforts to hide it.
"I'm fine... Don't worry," he replied, forcing a smile. He shifted his gaze back to the screen, determined to push thoughts of Sophia out of his mind for the remainder of the evening. But deep down, he knew it was a futile effort. The past had a way of haunting him, and Sophia's presence only made it worse.
.
.
.
.
Back In Luca Moreno's Estate
Later that evening, after the day's work had ended and most of the household was asleep, Kim led Sophia down a dimly lit hallway. They moved quietly, making sure not to wake anyone. Kim paused at a door and knocked softly.
"Come in," a calm voice called from inside.
Kim pushed the door open and gestured for Sophia to enter. Inside was a small, cozy room filled with books and soft lighting. A woman in her late forties, with kind eyes and silver streaks in her dark hair, looked up from her desk.
"Sophia, this is Lana," Kim introduced. "Lana used to be a therapist. She's agreed to help you."
Lana stood up and offered a warm smile. "Hello, Sophia. Please, have a seat."
Sophia hesitated for a moment, then walked over and sat down in a comfortable armchair. Kim gave her an encouraging nod before closing the door behind her.
"I hear you've been having some trouble with your memories," Lana began gently, sitting opposite Sophia. "Kim told me a little about your situation. Can you tell me what's been going on?"
Sophia took a deep breath, her hands trembling slightly. "I've been having these nightmares... recurring ones. And I can't remember anything about my past, but I have this feeling that it's connected to why Luca hates me so much. I need to know what happened."
Lana nodded, her expression serious but compassionate. "Memory loss and recurring nightmares can be very distressing. But we can work through this together. It may take some time, but I believe we can uncover what you need to know."
"Thank you," Sophia whispered, feeling a glimmer of hope for the first time in a long while.
Lana leaned back in her chair, studying Sophia thoughtfully. "Let's start with the nightmares. Can you describe them to me? Every detail you can remember, no matter how small."
Sophia closed her eyes, trying to focus on the fragments of her dreams. "I'm drowning in the lake... shouting. Someone, a young boy, helps me and pulls me out. But when I see him, instead of relief, I feel fear ...."
Lana leaned forward, her pen poised over her notebook. "Can you recognize who the boy is?"
Sophia shook her head, frustration evident in her voice. "I've tried by all means, but I can't. I don't know him."
Lana listened intently, taking notes. "And how do you feel when you wake up from these nightmares?"
"Terrified," Sophia admitted. "And lost. Like there's something important I should remember, but I just can't grasp it."
Lana nodded. "These could be memories trying to resurface. It's not uncommon for traumatic events to be buried deep in our subconscious. We'll work on techniques to help bring those memories to the surface in a safe and controlled way."
Sophia felt a mix of fear and relief. She wanted to know the truth, but she was also scared of what she might uncover. "Do you really think this will help?"
"I do," Lana assured her. "It's not going to be easy, and it might be painful at times, but you're not alone. We'll take this one step at a time."
Sophia nodded, feeling a bit more at ease. "Thank you, Lana. I just... I need to understand. I need to make things right."
Lana nodded thoughtfully. "Fear can sometimes cloud our memories, especially if those memories are tied to traumatic events. Let's try something now. Close your eyes again and take a deep breath."
Sophia complied, closing her eyes and inhaling deeply.
"Now, imagine you're back in that moment, but this time, try to observe everything around you. The sounds, the smells, the sensations. What do you see?"
Sophia's brow furrowed as she tried to delve deeper into her memory. "I hear water splashing... the wind rustling through the trees... the smell of the lake. It's cold, so cold. I feel the boy's hands pulling me out... and then, I see his face."
"What does he look like?" Lana's voice was calm and steady.
"Dark hair, blue eyes... he looks determined, but there's something else... anger? rage?" Sophia's voice trembled as she spoke. "He seems familiar, but I can't place him."
"You're doing great," Lana encouraged. "Now, think about the fear. Why are you afraid of him?"
"I don't know," Sophia admitted, her frustration growing. "It's like my mind just stops there. I can't go any further."
Lana took a moment to consider. "It could be that this boy represents something or someone from your past that your mind isn't ready to face yet. We'll take it slow. It's important not to push too hard."
Sophia opened her eyes, feeling both relieved and defeated. "I just want to understand. I need to know why Luca hates me so much and how this all connects."
Lana nodded sympathetically. "We'll continue working on it. Sometimes, our minds protect us by hiding certain memories until we're ready to handle them. You're making progress, even if it doesn't feel like it."
Sophia sighed. "I hope so. But I want to keep going, I can take it."
Lana looked at her with concern. "Are you sure? We don't want to push too hard."
Sophia nodded firmly. "I'm sure. I need to do this."
Lana nodded in agreement. "Okay then, let's continue. Close your eyes again, Sophia. Let's go back to that moment by the lake."
Sophia complied, her breathing steadying as she closed her eyes.
"You're back by the lake, feeling the cold water and hearing the sounds around you. This time, I want you to focus on the boy's face. Try to see if there are any details that stand out."
Sophia's mind drifted back to the lake, the coldness seeping into her bones. She saw the boy again, his dark hair and blue eyes filled with emotion. "He's wearing a necklace," she said suddenly. "A small, silver pendant."
"Good," Lana encouraged. "Can you see any other details about the boy or his surroundings?"
Sophia concentrated harder. "There's... a house in the background. A large, old house. And I can hear someone calling out... a man's voice."
Lana leaned forward. "What is the voice saying?"
Sophia's brow furrowed as she strained to hear. "It's muffled... but I think he's calling a name. Luca."
Lana's eyes widened slightly. "Luca? Are you sure?"
Sophia nodded slowly. "Yes, I'm sure. The man is calling for Luca."
Lana paused, her mind working to connect the pieces. "Do you recognize the voice?"
Sophia shook her head. "No, but it sounds familiar. Like I've heard it before."
"Alright," Lana said gently. "Let's take a moment to breathe. You're doing great, Sophia."
Sophia opened her eyes, her heart pounding. "Lana, what does this mean? Why would someone be calling for Luca in my dream?"