Chapter 3

“Elysia, I’ll have Caspian come home to be with you tonight. He owes you a proper wedding night.”

After the ceremony ended, Donna Isabella held my hand, her gaze filled with approval.

“You impressed me today, child,” she said, patting the back of my hand gently. “I believe you’ll be the most outstanding daughter-in-law this family has ever had.”

Isabella was demanding of everyone in the family. However, as long as you followed her rules, earning her recognition wasn’t impossible. That was the survival lesson I learned in my previous life.

I lowered my head respectfully and said, “Thank you for your approval, Mamma Isabella. I’ll do my best not to disappoint you.”

That night, at exactly eleven o'clock, Caspian returned. The moment he pushed open the bedroom door, the sharp scent of gunpowder hit my nose, mixed faintly with the smell of blood.

“Are you hurt?” I asked as I walked over, already pouring him a glass of whiskey.

“No.” He took the glass and downed it in one go. “Just dealt with a few idiots who didn’t know their place.”

I nodded and didn’t press further. In this family, knowing too much was never a good thing. A smart woman should understand when to ask questions and when to stay silent.

“You should take a shower,” I said calmly. “I’ll get you some clean sleepwear.”

I walked to the wardrobe and took out a silk pajama set.

Caspian looked at me deeply. For a brief moment, something unreadable flashed through his dark eyes. Then, without a word, he turned and headed into the bathroom.

Taking the opportunity, I tidied the bed before picking up a blanket and pillow and moving toward the sofa in the living area. Since this was a strategic marriage, clear boundaries were necessary, and distance would be good for both of us.

Ten minutes later, Caspian came out, a towel wrapped loosely around his waist. Water droplets slid down his broad chest, catching the light. When he saw me spreading the blanket on the sofa, his expression instantly turned strange.

“Elysia,” he said in a low voice, “are you trying to play hard to get? Or do you think you’re too noble to share a bed with me?”

“Neither,” I replied, turning to face him calmly. “I think we need to talk honestly about our relationship.”

“Talk about what?” He stepped closer, a heavy presence radiating from him.

“Our marriage.” I kept my voice steady. “This is a strategic marriage. We both know that. I won’t harbor any unrealistic expectations, and I hope we can coexist peacefully.”

His eyes darkened. “Go on.”

“In public, I’ll be your loyal wife,” I continued calmly. “I’ll support you fully and help solidify your position within the family. In private, we live our own lives. There’ll be no interference and no restraints.”

He listened quietly, his expression unreadable.

“I married you for the family’s protection and resources,” I added. “As for anything else, I neither expect it nor believe in it.”

The room fell into silence. Only the distant sound of passing cars could be heard.

Caspian studied me, those deep eyes seemingly looking straight through me. After a long moment, the corner of his lips curled into a faint smile.

“You’re very smart, Elysia,” he said, a hint of approval in his voice. “I accept your proposal.”

I quietly let out a breath of relief. That arrangement would allow me to avoid provoking a man rumored to be temperamental and ruthless while still gaining the protection and resources I needed.

Caspian walked over to the liquor cabinet and poured himself another glass of whiskey.

“Then, Mrs. Elysia,” he said, raising his glass toward me, his eyes glinting with something I couldn’t read, “here’s to a successful partnership.”

I lifted the glass of water in my hand and clinked it lightly against his.

“Here’s to a successful partnership, Mr. Caspian.”

Moonlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, stretching our shadows across the room. Each of us stood in our own corner, like two polite strangers sharing the same space.

Outside, the city glowed brightly in the night. Only then did I truly feel that I had been given a second life. In this life, I only wanted one thing: to use the Falcone family’s resources to earn enough money to stand on my own and then walk away from all of this for good.