Chapter 5 Chapitre 5

Behind the imposing walls of Luca's house, everything seemed under control. But Amelie, in her icy reserve, knew she had a well-kept secret, a secret that no one, not even Luca, could imagine. That secret was a bond, a silent but powerful connection with an influential man, a relationship that eluded the surface of her life. And she protected that bond, not only for her own safety, but also to preserve what it represented: a protection, an escape from a world where she could trust no one, not even the man she was marrying.

As the days went by, Luca became more and more insistent in his attempts to push her to react. But what he didn't know was that he was playing a game of chess against someone of a completely different caliber. While he was lost in his own machinations, Amelie remained implacable, an ice statue, always polite, always ready to play her role as a devoted wife, all the while hiding her true intentions.

That evening, the house was strangely silent. Luca had spent the day working on important files, while Amelie had retired to the living room, as usual. He watched her from afar, his eyes scrutinizing every movement. She intrigued him not only by her cold beauty, but by what he could not understand. She seemed to have dark areas that escaped his control, areas that frightened him a little. This feeling of uncertainty, which he could not bear, obsessed him. It was in these moments of doubt that he had the impression that Amelie was not simply a docile woman, as he had initially thought. No, she was much more complex, much more dangerous than he imagined.

That night, as he headed to the kitchen to pour himself a glass of wine, he caught sight of her again, her gaze fixed on her cell phone, a state-of-the-art phone he had never seen in her hands before. Luca frowned, a slight unease creeping over him. Amelie wasn't the type to get lost in screens, unless something more serious was at stake. He had never seen her so absorbed in a private conversation.

He cleared his throat, a deliberately audible noise, but she didn't react. Her eyes remained fixed on the screen. Luca's curiosity got the better of him, and without really thinking about it, he slowly walked towards her, a forced smile on his lips.

- You seem to be concentrating on this message, he said lightly, trying to sound casual. Do you have an important meeting?

Amelie looked up at him, and for the first time in a long time, a flash of annoyance crossed her eyes. It wasn't outright anger, but rather a subtle warning, a silent message to him that he should respect her peace. She slipped the phone into her pocket with a speed that surprised him.

- No, nothing special, she answered calmly, before getting up. It's cold, don't you want to go to bed early tonight?

Luca didn't react immediately. He stared at her for a few seconds, his mind whirling. This wasn't the answer he was expecting. He expected a dodge, an attempt to divert his attention. But she was calm, almost too calm. Something was wrong. He had not stopped looking for flaws, clues, evidence, but each time, Amelie escaped, elusive.

A strange feeling invaded Luca. He couldn't help but think that something was beyond his control, something he couldn't understand. Amelie wasn't just a self-effacing, resigned woman, as he had believed. No, she had a secret, a secret that might well call into question everything he thought he knew.

Later that evening, while he was in his office, Luca heard a sound coming from the living room. A whisper, barely audible, but distinct enough to arouse his curiosity. He quickly got up and approached discreetly, his heart beating faster. The noise was coming from Amelie's phone conversation. She was alone in the living room, but she was speaking quietly, almost as if she was afraid of being overheard.

- Yes, I am here, she said in a soft voice. We must meet soon, I have crucial information to pass on to you. But it must remain between us.

Luca froze, his breath short, adrenaline taking over him. Who could she possibly be calling at this hour? Why such a secret? Who was this mysterious interlocutor she seemed to be listening to so attentively? He moved a little closer, but the sound of his breathing betrayed his presence. Amelie turned abruptly, her eyes falling directly on him.

- Luca, do you need anything? she asked, her voice calm, but the coldness in her gaze made him shiver.

She had heard everything. It was too late to hide. He could no longer pretend not to have noticed what he had just heard. The silence that followed was heavy, almost suffocating. Luca felt trapped. What he had overheard was not just a harmless conversation. No, it went much further. Something bigger, more dangerous was at play, and he was not even aware of it.

Amelie said nothing more. She walked away slowly, her face impassive, as if nothing had happened. Luca watched her leave, doubt creeping deeper into his mind. But he couldn't leave it there. He knew he had to know more, he had to understand. Why the hell had Amelie kept this secret? And more importantly, who was she conspiring with?

As night fell, Luca found himself alone in his office, his mind in torment. His eyes fell on the papers scattered on his desk, but his mind was elsewhere. The truth was hiding somewhere, and he had no choice: he had to find out what it all meant. The woman he thought he knew was not the woman he had married. There was much more beneath that cold surface than he had ever imagined.

A well-kept secret, yes, but for how much longer?