Chapter 2

That night, I sent the divorce agreement to my lawyer.

I also hired someone to sell my shares and turn everything Charles had given me over the years into cash.

Charles didn't come home that night either.

I worked through the night, and by dawn I'd finally sorted out all my assets and cash.

When I checked my phone, I came across a post Susie had shared on social media.

She and Charles were in a private box at the racing club.

She stood in front of the big screen, her fingers laced with Charles's. He had his phone in his other hand, taking care of business, but his gaze stayed on her face, fond and indulgent.

The caption read, "Someone lost a horse racing bet to me, so now he owes me."

I recognized the private box in the background. Charles and I used to go there. When I told him I liked it, he reserved it for us alone.

That box was only ever supposed to be open to us.

Now he'd taken Susie there.

I studied the photo. Before I could close the app, a call came in from Charles's right-hand man, Nico.

"Donna, the car is ready and waiting for you out front. I'm here to take you to the jewelry auction. The Don mentioned yesterday that you needed some new jewelry.

"I'll be waiting for you at the door. Take your time getting ready."

Nico's tone was gentle.

I took a deep breath.

Nico and I had known each other for years. He'd even taken a bullet for me during a shootout at the docks.

If I didn't go, he'd probably have a hard time explaining it to Charles.

I changed and went downstairs. Nico had already put the catalog in the car for me.

When I opened it to the first page, I froze for a moment.

It showed a beautifully cut pink diamond from the southern mines.

I remembered how, just after I agreed to marry Charles, he'd flown south to choose a set of top-quality pink diamonds. He had them made into jewelry so I could make a grand entrance at a party.

Transporting the jewelry under guard had cost a great deal of money and manpower. When it was finally in my hands, I was so moved that I cried.

Seeing a similar diamond now brought that memory back.

But I felt nothing at all.

When we arrived at the auction, the wives and daughters of Sicily's most prominent families were already there. Charles was nowhere in sight.

I tried calling him, but no one picked up.

I walked toward the auction floor. A piece of jewelry had just sold for a nine-figure sum, and the screen showed the same pink diamond I'd seen in the catalog.

The auctioneer smiled as he put the jewelry in its box.

"Congratulations, Mr. Romano. You're so good to your wife."

I looked over. Of course, I knew the auctioneer wasn't talking about me.

Back when Charles and I first got together, his position in the family was still shaky. To keep me safe, we'd kept our marriage a secret.

I'd never appeared in public as his wife.

Charles smiled as he signed the contract, then turned to hand the jewelry to Susie.

Susie eyed the jewelry. "This isn't enough to make it up to me. I want another set."

Charles stroked her hair and laughed. "Sure. Buy as many as you want. You can have them all."

I stopped a few steps behind them.

Susie stared at him in surprise. "Are you serious?"

Charles raised an eyebrow, then summoned his assistant. "Take care of it. End the auction. Buy everything."

"You're so good to me!" Susie threw herself into his arms.

Charles's expression softened even more.

I didn't move. When Charles caught sight of me out of the corner of his eye, he froze, and the tenderness slowly faded from his face.

"Serena, why didn't you tell me you were coming?"

I looked at him. "You didn't answer your phone."

Only then did he remember the phone in his pocket. He'd been so caught up in the auction that he hadn't checked it.

Susie frowned. "Who is she?"

"I'm..."

Charles suddenly stared at me, looking tense.

"His sister," I said softly, then lowered my head with a bitter little laugh. Once the words were out, the tension drained out of me.

Charles relaxed too. As he looked at me, the crease between his brows smoothed out.

Throughout our marriage, he'd insisted the secrecy was for my protection. He'd never let me reveal who I was in public, and I never had.

All the items had been taken off the auction floor. Susie led Charles backstage to collect them. As they passed me, she smiled and handed me the pink diamond she'd just won. "A little gift to mark our first meeting, sis."

Charles looked at me, his eyes gentle. "Take it for now."

I took it without a word and watched them walk away arm in arm. I felt nothing.