Stars Watch Quietly As We Unlearn Fear by Kain Arden 3

— Chapter 3 Tears streamed down my face. | couldn’t stop them. | came to this shithole because | was worried about her. | was afraid someone would hurt her. But she was the one betraying me. The thought ripped my heart to shreds. Luciano’s hands were still all over Maya, his lips on her neck. In the next second, he lifted her into his arms and carried her into a VIP room behind them. | could imagine exactly what they were about to do. Use that bondage gear. Have wild, rough sex like the most intimate of lovers. | remembered what Luciano once told me. “| hate betrayal more than anything.

My mother betrayed the family, betrayed my father. So she died. | will never make the same mistake.” | remembered his loving gaze. “Catherine, you’re my light. The only pure thing in my dark world.” —- | remembered him holding me tight at night. “I’ll protect you. Always.” Even though our worlds were miles apart, | was willing to embrace his. When Luciano proposed, my parents were dead set against it. “His family is too dangerous, baby. You’re our princess. We don’t want you to get hurt.” But | said yes anyway. Without a second thought. He built a castle for me.

An estate full of white roses, just because | love them. He fired loyal men just because they muttered that | was a useless good girl, a warning to anyone who disrespected me. He got shot in an attack from a rival family right before my birthday, but he dragged himself out of bed, bleeding through his bandages, and stood over his personal chef all night to make sure my birthday cake was perfect. I cried as | ate it, telling him he was crazy for doing —- all this for me. He just said, “Catherine, you’re my most precious gift. My princess.

Anything | do for you is worth it.” Every single memory was a new knife twisting in my heart. How could | have been so stupid? | thought my love could save him. Thought my light could warm his darkness. | wasn’t his light. | was just a prop in their twisted game. Before | knew it, | had walked closer. | could see the shadows moving in the VIP room through a small glass panel. I turned to run, but my phone vibrated. The ringtone was so loud in the middle of all this noise. | looked down. Caller ID: Luciano —- My hands started shaking.

Through the glass, | could see Luciano inside the room, still kissing Maya, lost in their passion. But his phone was calling me. Whose sick idea was this? Maya’s? His? With a trembling finger, | answered. “Baby.” Luciano’s gentle voice came through the phone, just like every night when he’d call to say goodnight. “Thinking of me? | was busy, couldn’t text you back.” | opened my mouth, a tremor running through me, but no words came out. And | heard a sound from the room in front of me. Awoman’s voice. Hoarse, sexy, familiar. Maya’s unmistakable moans. “Ah…

harder…” Luciano covered her mouth, he was worried that the —- voice would reach the phone.. “Catherine? Baby, are you there? | saw your text. Don’t worry about her, she knows her way around. Right now, you just need to eat something good and be happy. You’re going to be my wife soon, you know that?” Luciano’s voice was still so gentle, so caring. My knuckles turned white. | squeezed the phone so hard | thought the plastic would crack. Tears blurred my vision. Maya was grabbing his hair, her eyes squeezed shut, enjoying every second. “Catherine, you’re not talking.

You’re worrying me.” The Luciano on the phone kept acting. “You know | love you, right?” Love me? Is this what love is? Fucking my best friend while | watch? Does a man who loves me call me while he’s inside —- another woman? “| miss you,” his voice grew even softer. “I’ll come find you as soon as I’m done here.” Done? Done fucking my best friend while you have me on the other line? | wanted to hang up. | wanted to smash this goddamn phone. But | was frozen to the spot, like | was cursed. “Luciano…” | finally found my voice. “Yeah? Baby?” “Did you…” My voice was shaking.

“Did you ever really love me?”