Chapter 316: We’ll Talk After!

Alani, who had remained quiet throughout the conversation, finally spoke up.

She had no particular desire to attend Luca’s family gathering.

If he explicitly invited her, she wouldn’t turn him down. Still, they were only friends, and she was about to take up a position at one of his businesses. That made things a little more complicated.

Attending a family dinner surrounded by people she barely knew would be awkward enough on its own.

She didn’t want to intrude on his personal life, especially when everyone else seemed so comfortable with one another, sharing a closeness that made her feel like an outsider.

Luca understood her concerns immediately.

He didn’t mind bringing her along, but there was no reason to make her uncomfortable simply because she had accompanied him to San Fierro.

After a moment’s thought, he offered an alternative.

"How about staying at the San Fierro Grand Hotel for now? I’ll arrange for someone to bring you meals and make sure you have everything you need."

He paused before adding, "Stephanie’s injuries should be nearly healed by now. We can arrange for her to stay here as well."

Then he turned toward the driver.

"Prepare two additional rooms for their bodyguards, too. Make sure everyone is comfortable."

"Understood, sir."

Alani visibly relaxed.

"All right. Thank you, Luca."

He waved off her gratitude with a casual smile.

Another thought suddenly occurred to him.

Amelia was pregnant, too. Since everyone was gathering for a family dinner, this would be an excellent opportunity to introduce her to the others.

He pulled out his phone and opened their chat.

Knowing Amelia, he wouldn’t have to wait long for a response. She was practically glued to her phone.

He sent her a message inviting her to join them at the hotel.

As expected, her reply arrived almost instantly.

She would be there.

Luca chuckled to himself before putting his phone away.

...

When they arrived at the San Fierro Grand Hotel, Luca arranged for a staff member to escort Alani to her room and take care of the necessary arrangements for her accommodation, meals, and transportation.

He wanted her to have everything she needed while settling into her new life in San Fierro. There was no point in offering her an opportunity only to leave her struggling with the practical details.

Once that was taken care of, Vivienne stepped forward and slipped her arm through his.

"Let’s go."

Luca smiled and walked beside her.

A few steps behind them, Rachel watched the pair with undisguised envy.

They looked so natural together, walking arm in arm as though they had always belonged by each other’s side.

Her gaze drifted toward Luca’s free hand.

’Should I... hold it?’

The thought alone made her nervous.

She wanted to be closer to him. She wanted to do something, anything, that would make her feel less like an outsider whenever he was with the other women.

Yet every time she had an opportunity to take the initiative, she found herself hesitating.

Trish noticed immediately.

She leaned toward Rachel and whispered into her ear.

"Go on! What are you waiting for?"

Rachel nearly jumped.

"Really?"

She bit her lip, uncertainty written all over her face.

Trish stared at her in disbelief.

’Why is my best friend so timid when it comes to my brother?’

The previous night had been a perfectly good opportunity to get closer to Luca, yet Rachel had spent most of it playing games with him.

And now she was doing the same thing again.

If she continued at this rate, who knew how long it would take her to make any progress?

"Just go!" Trish urged quietly.

Rachel took a deep breath.

"Okay. I’ll try."

Finally, she stepped forward, slowly closing the distance between herself and Luca.

Trish watched her with a relieved smile.

For a moment, it felt almost like watching a mother encourage her child to take her first steps.

Rachel reached out.

Her hand moved toward Luca’s, and she was just about to brush her fingertips against his when a familiar, pleasant voice called out.

"Rachel."

She snatched her hand back as though she had touched something hot.

There was no need to look up. She recognized that voice immediately.

"Sis..."

Rachel lowered her head, standing stiffly before the woman who had called her name.

Sophie.

Her older sister.

For a moment, Rachel felt like a child who had been caught doing something she knew she shouldn’t.

It wasn’t that she was afraid of Sophie.

She simply felt guilty.

She had fallen in love with her sister’s boyfriend. Worse, she had allowed those feelings to grow into something neither she nor Luca could easily dismiss.

They had embraced, kissed, and even spent nights together.

No matter how hard she tried to justify her feelings, she knew she had crossed a line.

And now, standing in front of Sophie, she couldn’t help feeling as though her sister could see every secret she had tried so desperately to hide.

"Luca..."

Noticing Rachel’s discomfort, Luca stepped forward, intending to ease the tension before things became more awkward.

However, Sophie moved first.

She walked straight up to him, slipped into his embrace, and affectionately rubbed her cheek against his chest.

Luca paused, momentarily surprised by her sudden display of affection.

Sophie didn’t seem to notice his reaction. Or perhaps she simply didn’t care who was watching.

"Let’s head to the private room first," she said with a smile. "The food should be served soon."

Then she turned toward Rachel.

"We have a lot to talk about, don’t we? But let’s eat first. We can talk afterward, all right?"

Rachel stared at her sister, momentarily unable to respond.

Then she nodded vigorously.

"Okay."

Only then did the realization fully sink in.

Sophie had known about her feelings all along.

She hadn’t hidden them nearly as well as she had imagined.

Before Rachel could dwell on that uncomfortable truth, Sophie reached out, took her hand, and gently led her toward the private dining room.