The weeks passed uneventfully after the tense showdown at the family estate. Life seemed to settle into a rhythm that Elena found comforting—work, home, and moments spent in quiet bliss with Luca. Yet, underneath the calm, Elena couldn't shake the feeling that something ominous was still brewing. Shanaya had been unusually quiet since that night, and although Elena desperately wanted to believe that Shanaya had finally given up, she knew better. Shanaya wasn't the type to back down so easily.

One afternoon, Elena sat at her desk, typing away on a project she needed to submit. The office was unusually quiet, with most of the team out for lunch. It was a rare moment of solitude, and she cherished it. But just as she was starting to lose herself in her work, her phone buzzed on the table, breaking the silence.

It was a message from Luca: We need to talk.

Her heart skipped a beat, the familiar pang of anxiety creeping up her spine. She knew Luca well enough to recognize when something was wrong. There was a coldness to the message, a seriousness that she hadn't felt from him in a while. Without hesitating, she grabbed her bag and headed toward his office.

Luca's office door was ajar when she arrived. She knocked softly before entering, finding him seated at his desk with a pensive expression. He looked up at her, his usual warmth missing from his gaze.

"Elena," he greeted, his voice quiet but strained.

"Luca, what's going on? You said we needed to talk," she asked, walking toward him cautiously. She felt her heart racing again, unsure of what awaited her in this conversation.

Luca sighed heavily, rubbing his temples. "There's something I found out, and I need you to hear it from me first," he began, his tone filled with regret.

Elena's chest tightened as she took a seat across from him, trying to steady her breath. "What is it?"

"It's about Shanaya," he said, the name hanging in the air like a dark cloud. "She's been causing more trouble than I thought."

Elena clenched her fists, already feeling the familiar tension knotting in her stomach. "What has she done now?"

Luca hesitated for a moment, as though weighing his words carefully. "She's been spreading rumors, Elena. About me. About us."

Elena frowned, her mind racing. "What kind of rumors?"

"She's telling people that we're... over. That I'm with her now, and that I'm planning to marry her." His voice was bitter, filled with frustration. "She's gone to my family, to some business associates, and even to the media, trying to manipulate the story."

Elena's eyes widened in shock. "What? That's insane! Why would anyone believe her?"

Luca stood up, pacing behind his desk. "Because she's making it look convincing. She's told my father that she's pregnant."

Elena's heart sank, the weight of those words hitting her like a ton of bricks. "Pregnant?" Her voice trembled as she tried to process what she'd just heard. "But Luca... that can't be true."

"It's not true," Luca assured her quickly, kneeling beside her chair and taking her hands in his. "I swear to you, Elena, it's a lie. She's desperate, and she's trying to trap me in any way she can."

Elena stared into his eyes, searching for any sign of doubt, but all she saw was sincerity. She believed him, but the gravity of the situation still weighed heavily on her. "What are we going to do?" she asked softly.

"I'm going to confront her," Luca replied firmly, his grip on her hands tightening. "I'm going to end this once and for all."

Later that evening, Luca arranged a meeting with Shanaya at a small café in town. He chose a public place, hoping to avoid any dramatic outbursts, but as he sat waiting for her to arrive, he knew that with Shanaya, nothing was ever predictable.

Shanaya walked in, dressed impeccably, her face painted with a coy smile as she spotted Luca. She walked over to him with the confidence of someone who believed they were already winning.

"Luca," she greeted, sliding into the seat across from him. "I knew you'd come."

"Cut the act, Shanaya," Luca said coldly. "We need to talk."

She raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. "Talk about what? Is this about the baby?"

Luca clenched his jaw, his patience wearing thin. "There is no baby, Shanaya. Stop lying."

Her smile didn't falter, but her eyes darkened. "Are you sure about that, Luca? You've been so... forgetful lately. Maybe you don't remember."

"I remember everything," he shot back. "And I know for a fact that you're lying. I'm not going to let you manipulate me or my family anymore."

Shanaya's expression shifted, her playful demeanor dropping as a wave of frustration and desperation washed over her. "Why can't you just see that we're meant to be together? We've always had something special, Luca. We can have that again."

"There was never anything special between us, Shanaya," Luca said, his voice steely. "Not like what I have with Elena."

Shanaya's face twisted with anger, her hands curling into fists. "Elena? Elena?" she spat, her voice rising. "She doesn't deserve you! I've been there for you through everything, Luca. I've been patient, I've waited, and I'm not going to lose you to her!"

"You already have," Luca said, standing up from the table. "I love Elena. And no matter what lies you spread or how desperate you get, that's never going to change."

Shanaya stood as well, her body trembling with rage. "This isn't over, Luca. I'm not giving up."

Luca stared at her, his heart heavy with the realization that Shanaya had truly lost her grip on reality. "Yes, Shanaya, it is over," he said softly but firmly. "It's been over for a long time."

With that, he turned and walked out of the café, leaving Shanaya standing there, her world crumbling around her.

Back at home, Elena waited anxiously for Luca's return. When the door finally opened and she saw him walk in, a mix of relief and worry washed over her. He looked tired, drained from the confrontation.

"How did it go?" she asked quietly as he sat down beside her.

"It's over," Luca said, taking her hand in his. "She's not going to stop, but I've made it clear. I'm done with her."

Elena nodded, resting her head on his shoulder. "Thank you for standing by me."

Luca kissed the top of her head, pulling her closer. "There's no one else I'd rather stand by, Elena."

But as they sat there in the quiet of the night, both of them knew that the storm wasn't over yet. Shanaya's obsession had reached dangerous new heights, and though Luca had tried to end things peacefully, they both sensed that Shanaya wasn't finished. Not by a long shot.