Becoming Mrs DeLuca novel Chapter 90

**TITLE: Through Shadows We Painted Our Forever by Erynn Vel Coren**

**Chapter 90**

**ADRIAN**

The moment the car rolled to a halt, I flung open the door and leaped out into the night.

The tires crunched on the gravel driveway, the headlights slicing through the darkness as the driver brought the vehicle to a stop in the circular entrance. My phone still radiated warmth in my palm, a remnant of the call that had yanked me from a meeting room halfway across the globe and thrust me onto a jet. The details of the flight were a blur, but Elia’s urgent voice echoed in my mind.

“Sir… you need to come home… it’s your wives.”

Wives. Just the sound of that word, uttered four agonizing hours ago, sent a chill coursing through me.

As the plane soared through the clouds, I had tried to conjure up scenarios, desperate to prepare myself for what awaited me. Yet, deep down, I sensed that the reality would be far more harrowing than anything my imagination could conjure.

The front doors of the house stood ajar, spilling light into the inky darkness like a beacon—or perhaps a warning.

With a heavy heart, I stepped inside.

The metallic scent of blood assaulted my senses, a smell I had become all too familiar with, though I wished I could forget it.

Before boarding the plane, I had reached out to both Damien and my father. As anticipated, my father was already in the foyer, sleeves rolled up, his expression as unyielding as granite. Beside him, Damien donned gloves, shaking his head in disbelief.

At the base of the staircase, the horror lay sprawled out before me.

Serena’s lifeless body was there, twisted and contorted in a way that felt grotesque. One leg lay at an unnatural angle, and a dark smear of crimson stained the marble floor beneath her hair.

My gaze followed the trail of blood that led up the stairs. A glint caught my eye—the knife. My heart raced.

Valentina. Had she been harmed? My legs propelled me forward, instinct kicking in as I rushed halfway up the stairs, where I found her staring at the body, her eyes unblinking and vacant.

Her right hand pressed against a wound on her left, and her shirt was soaked with blood, a stark contrast against her pale skin.

“Valentina?” I called softly, extending a hand toward her, hoping to break the spell that seemed to bind her.

She remained unmoved, her gaze fixed on Serena’s shattered form as if it were a painting she couldn’t tear her eyes away from.

My heart clenched painfully in my throat. I took a step back, retreating down the stairs. I couldn’t afford to crumble now; clarity was paramount if I was to navigate this nightmare.

“Elia?” I called out, my voice steady despite the chaos swirling within me.

“Yes, boss,” he replied, his tone respectful yet tinged with concern.

“Where are the kids?”

“In their rooms. I locked the doors to ensure they wouldn’t wander out if they woke up,” he explained, and I nodded in appreciation.

Now, standing at the foot of the staircase, I was directly in front of Serena’s body.

“Take Valentina upstairs,” I instructed, my voice firm.

Damien shook his head, worry etched on his face. “This is bad. This is really bad.”

My father stepped closer, tension radiating from him. “Son… if anyone outside this room discovers what has happened—”

“I know,” I snapped, cutting him off.

“If this word reaches Rico, you understand the implications for us,” he warned, his voice low and grave.

“I know!” I barked back, frustration boiling over.

I didn’t need to be reminded. I was all too aware of our Don’s merciless nature. If he learned that I had concealed my wife’s death and then dared to marry his niece, the repercussions would be immediate and fatal.

My throat tightened at the thought.

I raked a hand through my hair, forcing myself to breathe deeply. “What do we know?”

Damien replied, “According to Domenico, they arrived just as Serena fell down the stairs. She had attacked Valentina with a knife. If Valentina hadn’t dodged, we’d be facing a different tragedy right now.”

A cold wave of dread washed over me, paralyzing my thoughts.

My father continued, “The guards only heard the dog barking and the women shouting before the fall. They witnessed nothing else.”

I nodded once, resolute. “Damien, handle the body… discreetly.”

Without hesitation, Damien signaled Domenico, who returned with a tarp. Heavy footsteps echoed in the foyer as they worked quickly, wrapping the body with grim efficiency.

“Wait,” I said softly, my voice barely a whisper.

Damien paused, looking back at me expectantly.

**KD**

**18:37 Fri, Nov 21**

**Chapter 90**

My father cast a glance at me, his brows knitting together in irritation.

I took a step closer to Serena’s body, each movement twisting my stomach into tighter knots.

Her face was turned toward me, eyes wide open, and her mouth slightly parted as if she were about to utter a final word.

“You can’t know that.”

“I do,” I snapped, my voice rising in defiance. “Because she’s my wife.”

Silence fell between us, thick and suffocating.

Damien glanced between us, his movements steady as he continued his grim task. The dull thud of Serena’s body being wrapped punctuated the air, a reminder of the reality we faced.

My father exhaled slowly, a mixture of frustration and resignation. “You’re truly willing to gamble everything for a woman?”

“Everything,” I replied without hesitation, my resolve unshakeable.

He studied me for a long moment, then nodded once, acceptance mingling with concern.

“Then God help you if you’re wrong.”

I remained silent, the weight of his words hanging in the air. Damien and Domenico finally maneuvered the body into the trunk of the car and drove off, leaving an eerie silence in their wake. My father made his way to his own vehicle, shaking his head at what I could only assume he deemed foolishness.

With a heavy heart, I ascended the stairs, my arm brushing against the railing stained with Valentina’s blood. I would need to cleanse the house thoroughly before the children awoke. My heartbeat quickened with every step—not from anger or the chaos below, but from an overwhelming sense of dread.

At the top of the landing, Elia stood outside the bedroom door, his face pale and drawn.

“Sir,” he said softly. “She went into the bathroom.”

My chest tightened once more, dread pooling in my stomach.

“Is she still bleeding?” I inquired, urgency creeping into my voice.

“A little. I cleaned what I could,” Elia replied, bowing his head in shame. “I’m sorry, sir. We failed you tonight.”

“No,” I said firmly, cutting through his self-reproach. “You protected her. That’s all that matters. You can head home now. I’ll call for you.”

He swallowed hard, bowing once more before descending the stairs.

I pushed the bathroom door open, and my heart shattered at the sight before me. My poor wife sat in the tub, the water painted a vivid red with her blood, her arms wrapped tightly around her knees.

**18:38 Fri, Nov 21**

**Chapter 90**

In that moment, I realized I had long ceased to view Valentina as the twenty-one-year-old bride I had married. Over the past two years, she had blossomed into someone strong and resilient.

But now, witnessing her in this vulnerable state, I was painfully reminded of her youth.

All I could do was pray that I hadn’t sealed our fates with my choices.