THE UNRAVELING TRUTH

After ending the call with Stephanie, Luc dialed Andrew's number. Andrew was surprised to hear from Luc so late but listened intently as Luc explained the situation and his decision to marry Stephanie.

"Wow, Luc, that's a lot to take in," Andrew responded, his voice filled with concern. "Are you sure about this? Marrying someone you don't love, just for the sake of the child?"

"I know it's not ideal, Andrew," Luc replied, his voice heavy with resignation. "But I can't let my child suffer because of my mistakes. I want to do the right thing, even if it means sacrificing my own happiness."

Andrew sighed, understanding the gravity of the situation. "I'll be there, Luc," he said finally. "I'll support you, no matter what. Just know that I'm here for you, okay?"

"Thanks, Andrew," Luc said gratefully. "I'll see you tomorrow evening at the little Church in town."

With that, Luc ended the call, feeling a mix of emotions. He knew that the road ahead would be difficult, but he was determined to do whatever it took to ensure his child's well-being.

Stephanie quickly dialed Nick's number, her heart pounding with excitement. She couldn't wait to share her progress with him. After a few rings, Nick answered, his voice low and smooth.

"Hey, Nick, it's Stephanie," she said, trying to contain her excitement.

"Hey, Steph, what's up?" Nick replied, his tone casual.

"I've made some progress with our plan," Stephanie said, a hint of triumph in her voice. "I've convinced Luc to marry me."

Nick's silence on the other end was deafening. Stephanie could almost hear the gears turning in his head. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, he spoke.

"Are you serious? That's fantastic news!" Nick exclaimed, his voice filled with genuine excitement.

"Yes, I'm serious," Stephanie replied, unable to hide her grin. "And not only that, but I've also found a potential buyer for the ring. We could be looking at a huge payday here."

Nick's excitement was palpable. "That's incredible, Steph! You've really outdone yourself this time. I'll look into the buyer and make sure everything goes smoothly. This could be the big break we've been waiting for."

Stephanie smiled, feeling a sense of accomplishment. Everything was falling into place, just as she had planned. With Nick's help, she was one step closer to getting what she wanted.

As the sun began to set luc stood at the terrace of his room, overlooking the entrance of the villa. Thinking about his new life that'll begin the next day, when his eyes caught a glimpse a familiar figure. Sophie, her elegant petite statue standing at the gates with her suitcase. He remembered that suitcase, he had helped her with it the first day they'd met. His heart gave a leap in his chest. He was surprised, confused, feeling a mix of emotions all at once. He hurriedly entered his room. He didn't know why he was hiding. He felt guilty. He didn't know why either. She had left him, but he still loved her. But now he's getting married to someone else.

Luc's heart raced as he watched Sophie standing at the gates, her silhouette illuminated by the setting sun. He felt a surge of emotions—joy, confusion, guilt. He had thought he had moved on, that his decision to marry Stephanie was the right one for his child. But seeing Sophie again stirred up feelings he thought he had buried deep inside.

He paced his room, unsure of what to do. Should he go down and talk to her? What would he even say? How could he explain his impending marriage to someone he still loved? The weight of his decision pressed down on him, and he felt trapped between his sense of duty and his heart's desires.

After a moment of hesitation, he made up his mind. He couldn't let Sophie leave without talking to her, without explaining everything. He rushed out of his room, his heart pounding in his chest. He had to see her, had to tell her the truth, even if it meant risking everything he had built with Stephanie.

As he made his way down the stairs, he met another familiar figure running up the stairs, heading towards the opposite direction of where his room was. He stopped. He knew who that man was. He couldn't remember his name, but he knew who it was. He turned around and followed the familiar figure, few places behind, to avoid been seen.

As Luc followed the man, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. He racked his brain, trying to remember where he had seen the man before. As they reached a secluded corner of the villa, the man stopped and glanced around, checking for any unwanted observers. Luc ducked behind a pillar, careful not to be seen.

The man pulled out a phone and dialed a number. "It's me," he said in a hushed voice. "Have got the ring. Meet me at the rendezvous point in an hour."

Luc's heart skipped a beat. The ring? What ring was he talking about? And who was he meeting? Luc strained to listen, but the man had already ended the call and was heading back the way he came.

Luc waited for a moment before cautiously following him. He needed to find out more about this mysterious meeting and what it could mean.

As Luc trailed the man through the villa, he realized where he had seen him before. He was one of Stephanie's acquaintances, someone he had met....he paused. It was he. The bastard he had found in Stephanie's bedroom. The bastard he had caught her in bed with. His legs began to weaken. Why was he here? why was he talking about a ring, and what did it have to do with Stephanie?

Luc quickened his pace, staying a safe distance behind. He needed to find out more about this rendezvous and its connection to Stephanie. Perhaps this was the missing piece of the puzzle, the key to understanding the mystery behind his marriage.