The Red Roses Before the Grave

Luca’s patience snapped. His voice grew cold as he said, "Olivia, what’s your game? You always do this. When you’re upset, I try to calm you, but you stay silent, acting like you’ve lost your voice. Are you pretending to be mute now?"

He stood up abruptly, snatching the cigarette from her fingers with a look of disgust.

"Didn't I tell you to quit smoking? It reeks!"

Olivia was not a heavy smoker; she could not even finish a pack in half a year.

However, Giselle was different. She was far more addicted. Every time Luca saw her smoking, he would gently remind her, "Smoking’s bad for your health. You should take care of yourself, my sister."

Olivia did not react to Luca’s outburst. She simply lit another cigarette, a faint, enigmatic smile curling her lips.

"Luca, what I want is an explanation, an apology and atonement. I don’t want more of your lies."

She stood up, grabbing his chin firmly, forcing him to meet her eyes as she spoke, each word deliberate and piercing. "Luca, do you dare to swear you did not lie to me?"

Luca’s temper flared completely. He pulled away from her grip and raised his voice in frustration.

"I said I didn’t lie! You can believe whatever you want."

Olivia extinguished the cigarette and asked coolly, "What’s the matter? Are you avoiding my gaze because you're afraid to look me in the eye?"

Luca’s expression twisted into one of frustration. "Who’s afraid?"

Olivia raised an eyebrow and smiled softly. "Then leave. I can't stand liars."

Luca stood frozen, his mind momentarily blank. He thought there was something wrong with his ears.

Had she really just told him to leave?

During their worst arguments, no matter how heated things got, Olivia had never pushed him away like this.

A sudden tightness gripped Luca’s chest. "You... you’re really asking me to leave?"

Olivia nodded, her face serious as if there was no room for negotiation.

"This is my home. Why shouldn’t I ask you to leave?"

Without warning, Luca’s anger surged. He stormed forward, grabbed her and lifted her off the ground.

"Ah!"

Olivia did not expect Luca to take action all of a sudden and she was completely shocked.

With fiery anger, Luca carried her toward the bedroom.

He growled, his voice thick with fury, "How dare you ask me to leave?"

Luca threw Olivia onto the bed and pinned her down with a force that felt almost cruel.

Olivia’s stomach churned and she screamed, "Don’t touch me!"

"We’ve been together for more than four years, haven’t I touched you enough?" he snapped, irritation boiling over. He hadn’t expected Olivia to react this way.

Without another word, he lowered his head and kissed her fiercely.

The kiss was harsh, even a little bitter.

His lips were pressed against hers with an intensity that felt like punishment.

For some reason, the memory of Luca and Giselle hidden away on the boat, sharing a kiss on their 23rd birthday, flooded her mind.

Olivia's stomach turned as the nausea intensified. Driven by a surge of frustration, Olivia bit down hard on his lip, his lips parting as he hissed in surprise.

His eyes filled with a crimson rage.

"Olivia, how dare you… you weren’t like this before."

Their sharps gazes met, but before anything more could be said, a rapid ringing of a phone shattered the silence.

Luca glanced at his phone. The caller ID read Giselle.

Her voice crackled through the speaker, thick with panic and tears. "Luca, Buffy has been vomiting. I’m so scared. I don’t know what to do, please come back."

Instantly, Luca’s demeanor shifted, his concern overtaking his anger. "Don’t worry, Giselle, I’ll be there in a minute."

Without sparing another glance at Olivia, he stormed out of the room, his steps echoing as he rushed toward the door.