"Hi. Thanks for coming," I said. "Most of the things are out the back in the yard." I showed the staff through the house. "Are you guys okay to handle this?"
Happy that they could sort it all out, I went back inside and settled in the living room to nurse the headache that lingered.
Chapter Fifty Nine
Stefan
When Mom had told me that Luc and Mia were engaged something inside of me snapped. Luc was never happy unless he destroyed things entirely. What the hell had Mia thought when she accepted such an idiotic proposal?
Mom had been utterly ecstatic with the news. She was insistent that I tried to patch things up with Luc so that it could be a family wedding but that wouldn't happen. Not only because Luc had made his stance on me completely clear but because as long as I was around there wouldn't be a wedding.
I’d watched Mia carefully ever since my mother had told me. Mia wasn't attached to Dominic anymore. Luc didn't feel the need to have her watched so closely anymore because they knew exactly who she was. She was no longer deemed a plaything that was disposable. Mia had been given value along with that ring. They knew what had happened to Marco Bianchi. It made it easier to get close to her but never too close. I had to pick my moment. That was what had led me to Luc's place that morning after the engagement party.
I hadn't crashed the party. I wasn't stupid. There would have been enough firearms there to take me out before I even opened my mouth. I wouldn’t have put it past Luc to give that order on sight. No. I needed to see her on my own. I needed to convince her when no one else was there to turn her head.
Mia had let cleaning people into the house, and I took a deep breath. This was it. I walked up the steps and pushed open the door. Men were walking back through the house with the remnants of last night's bash.
"Thanks," I said. "Just make sure everything is cleaned out properly."
They gave me a nod and I watched as they worked to empty the yard. When they'd left, I took slow, measured steps down the hallways and that was when I caught sight of Mia in the living room. She sat with her legs stretched out on the couch, in a shirt that didn’t fit and shorts that made up her pajamas. Her hair was piled up on top of her head in a bun and she looked a little fragile from what I assumed was a night of drinking. Mia was engrossed in her phone and I was engrossed in Mia.
My Mia.
I stepped into the room properly and closed the door with a gentle click. Mia's head snapped up and her eyes widened when she saw me.
"Stef?" Mia asked. "What are you doing here?" She got up from her seat.
"You didn't invite me to your engagement party," I said to her.
"You aren't welcome here, Stefan." Mia studied my face and I took a few steps closer to her, but she backed away.
"I've healed pretty well, right?" I asked her.
"Yeah..."
"Mia, why are you so nervous?"
She fiddled with the phone in her hands. "Stefan, I think you should leave. Luc is going to hit the roof if he finds out you were here."
"What about you? Do you want me to leave?"
"Yes," Mia told me shortly.
My brow furrowed and I moved towards her again. She started to tap at her phone. "I just want you to listen to me, Mia," I told her. "I know you must feel something for me. If Luc hadn't come back, then this could have been us."
"No, Stefan," Mia said. "I love Luc. I'm marrying your brother."
"Let me kiss you, Mia."
She looked at me as if I were crazy, but I believed I could convince her. I’d never had the chance with Isa, but I wouldn't lose Mia. Mia was my second chance.
"Get out, Stefan," Mia told me.
If Mia wanted someone dominant, then I could be dominant. I strode towards her as she lifted her phone to her ear.
"Luc? You need to come home. Stef..."
I ripped the phone from her hand and threw it out of reach. Mia dashed across the room to get to the door, but I was quick to follow after her and just as Mia opened the door, I slammed it shut. Mia pulled at the handle, but it wouldn't budge.
