Luca followed him inside. The house was exactly as he remembered, dripping with wealth, just like the people who lived in it. He didn't care for any of it.
As they walked deeper into the house, Karen, Annabelle's mother, appeared in the hallway.
"Luca, sweetheart," she said in a soothing voice. "It's been so long. We missed you."
Luca's eyes flicked at her, unimpressed by the act. He crossed his arms. "Where's your daughter? I didn't come here for pleasantries. I came for Annabelle."
Karen's face tightened briefly before she glanced at her husband, who cleared his throat.
"Luca, before you see her, we think it's important that we all sit down together. There's a lot to discuss."
Luca felt the heat rising in his chest. He was done with this charade.
"I'm not here for a family meeting," he snapped. "You people don't get to control the narrative. Now, where is she?"
"Please, Luca. We just want to talk—" Ben said.
Luca's voice rose sharply, cutting him off.
"Talk? You think I want to talk after the stunts your daughter has pulled? She's out there dragging my name through the mud, and you want to talk?"
Karen stepped forward, trying to soften the situation. "Luca, we know this has been difficult, but Annabelle is—"
"Annabelle is what?" Luca barked, taking a step closer. "Manipulative? Vindictive? You raised her, so you should know. Now, stop wasting my time and take her out."
Ben sighed, looking weary. "Luca, you need to calm down. We're only trying to help."
"Help?" Luca let out a bitter laugh. "You two wouldn't know how to help if it hit you in the face. Do you know what she's done? Do you even care, or are you just as delusional as she is?"
At this, Ben's eyes hardened, and Karen pursed her lips.
Raymond shot back,"Watch your tone, Luca. You forget where you came from. We were there when you had nothing."
Luca's face twisted with anger as memories of his past, his struggle, his poverty, flashed before his eyes. He could feel the rage building,
"Don't you dare bring that up," he hissed, stepping closer to Raymond. "I pulled myself out of that hell on my own. You think, because you gave me scraps back then, that you have some right to lecture me now?"
Karen's face paled as she tried to interject, "We're not trying to lecture you, Luca. We just think—"
"Think?" Luca's eyes blazed with fury. "You have no right to think anything about my life! You're as much to blame as your daughter. I don't owe you anything. Now, for the last time, bring her out, or I'll find her myself."
Ben realized that Luca was on the verge of losing control. He glanced at Karen, who nodded reluctantly. She disappeared into another room, leaving Luca and Ben standing in silence.
Ben rubbed a hand over his face. "You're not handling this well, Luca."
Luca sneered. "I'm handling this the only way I know how. She's gone too far, and I'm done playing nice."
A moment later, Karen returned, her face strained. "She's upstairs. She'll be down in a minute."
Luca didn't wait. He stormed past them, heading toward the staircase. "I'll deal with her myself."
Raymond called after him, but Luca ignored him, his footsteps heavy as he ascended the stairs.
When he reached the landing, he heard a door open, and there she was, Annabelle, standing at the top of the stairs, her arms crossed, and she had a smug expression on her face.
"Well, well, well," she said sarcastically. "Look who finally decided to show up."
Luca's fists clenched at his sides as he took a step toward her. "You've crossed the line, Annabelle. I came here to tell you to stop whatever game you think you're playing. It ends now."
Annabelle tilted her head, feigning innocence. "Game? Oh, Luca, this isn't a game. This is my life. Our life. And you're not going to silence me."
Luca's temper flared, but before he could respond, Ben and Karen appeared at the bottom of the stairs, looking up anxiously.
"Annabelle," Karen said softly, "just talk to him. Work this out."
Annabelle rolled her eyes, her lips curling into a mocking smile.
"But Luca wasn't listening. He never does." She folded her arms, stepping down a couple of stairs. "You think you can just come here, yell a little, and make everything go away? It's not that simple."
Luca took a deep breath. "What do you want, Annabelle? Attention? Money? Because that's what this all feels like. You go on those blogs, you spread your lies, and for what? To make yourself look like a victim?"
Annabelle scoffed. "Lies? You really think I'm lying? Let me remind you, Luca, you left me. You walked out."
Luca felt the sting of her words, but he wasn't going to let her manipulate him again. "You broke the contract, remember, and treated me like trash when I asked for help."
"Annabelle! You made my life a living hell. You used me. All you care about is how things look on the outside. You never cared about me," Luca said.
"That's not true!" Annabelle shouted back, her voice rising. "I care for you, Luca. I still do! But you're the one who couldn't handle it. You can't handle a real relationship. You just wanted control."
"Control?" Luca's laugh was sharp and bitter. "This isn't about control. This is about the fact that you're trying so hard to get with me because I am finally the owner of La Russo empire. You don't care about me. You're just hungry."
Ben stepped in at that moment. "Both of you, enough. This isn't solving anything. We should sit down and talk like adults."
Luca shot him a withering glare. "I'm not sitting down with her. Not after everything she's done."
"You're damn right, it's a plan, Luca. And I won't stop until everyone knows what kind of man you really are." Annabelle's eyes gleamed.
"Which is what, exactly?" Luca asked. "What do you think you're exposing? That I didn't want to be trapped in a contract which you ended? Please, go ahead, tell the world."
Annabelle changed for a second but quickly regained her composure. "You're a coward, Luca. You always have been. You couldn't handle the pressure of being with me, of being part of this family, so you ran. That's what I am going to tell the world."
"Do you think you can scare me into submission with threats? I've faced worse than you, Annabelle. So if you want to keep playing this game, fine. But I promise you, this is a fight you won't win."
"I'll ruin you, Luca! You'll regret the day you walked away from me!" Annabelle's face twisted with fury, as she lashed out.
Before Luca could respond, Karen stepped forward, her hands raised as she slapped Luca.
"You're still the poor boy that begged us for money." She snarled. "If you have forgotten, I'm here to remind you.
"Please, both of you, stop this. This isn't how we solve things. Annabelle, you need to calm down. And Luca, this anger isn't helping anyone." Karen stepped in between them.
Luca shot Karen a cold look. "This is none of your business. You've spoiled her for years, and look where it's gotten you."
"That's enough, Luca. You're in our home, and we will not tolerate disrespect." Ben stepped in.
Luca turned his back to them, walking toward the front door. "I've had enough of this circus. You can't manipulate me anymore. This is the last time I'll deal with any of you. If Annabelle continues, I'll take her to court. And I'll win."
"Both of you, enough. This isn't solving anything. We should sit down and talk like adults." Karen said once again.
"Stop trying to act like you're not part of her plan," Luca snapped.
Luca walked to the door and reached for the doorknob. During that moment Annabelle spoke up.
"You'll regret this, Luca. Mark my words. You're not going to get rid of me that easily."
Luca paused, with his hand still on the door. Without turning around, he said, "I already have."