Chapter 3

That night, I tossed the supermarket photos onto the coffee table.

Cassius was quiet for a moment, then he closed his eyes. "I'm sorry… I just thought, she got hurt because she was distracted after I fired her. I felt responsible…"

I didn't hide the sarcasm in my voice. "I didn't realize the great Don had such a soft spot."

Cassius sighed. "I just… she reminds me of you, from before. So innocent."

My eyes fixed on the blush on Lily's cheek in the photo. "So you're using her to chase a ghost of who I used to be. Is that it?"

"I'm sorry. I'll handle it. I never, ever thought about betraying you. Not for a second. I just…"

"Of course you didn't. I believe you," I cut him off.

All the Family's legitimate assets were in my name. We had two children. I knew every dirty secret that had made him Don.

He was just bored.

He wasn't trying to end our marriage.

"But she's fallen for you, Cassius. Can't you see that?"

"Or do you enjoy it? The way she looks up to you. The worship of a young girl?"

His face went pale.

After a long silence, he promised me, his voice grave.

"I was wrong, Scarlett. It won't happen again."

"I'll make it clear to her. She won't interfere in our lives again."

"About her… I'm sorry."

I laughed.

"She's not wrong. I am getting older. That's a fact. You're climbing higher, and there are more temptations. I understand your mind might wander for a moment. But I don't accept it."

"You promised me a lifetime of loyalty. Or have you forgotten?"

"Yes… I'm sorry." His lips were even paler, his eyelashes trembling as he shut his eyes. "I promise. It will never happen again."

I looked at him, and a thought struck me: He's in pain.

Loving me… was causing him pain.

Why?

As I was trying to process that, Cassius broke the silence. "I'm going to check on our daughter."

He walked over, leaned in, and kissed my ear. "Go take a shower. Wait for me."

He was back to his old, confident self.

As if my thought had been nothing more than a strange, passing illusion.

Was it?

I don't know what Cassius said to Lily, but my people told me she left the city.

The new maid was professional and respectful.

Cassius started coming home earlier and more often. He acted like a man who had truly repented, treating me so well it felt cloying.

We were even like we were in our youth, tangled up in bed all night. His passion was the same as ever, maybe even more intense, holding me tighter, as if he were afraid to lose me.

It was like none of it had ever happened.

At a Family banquet, all the jewel-draped wives gathered around me, their voices dripping with envy.

"The Don is so good to you. Eight years and it's still like a honeymoon."

In these families, it was common for a Don to have a girl on the side.

Many wives, for the good of the Family, chose to look the other way.

Only Cassius was different.

From the beginning, I was the Don's wife everyone envied.

Even when he was at his most lenient with Lily, that part never changed.

I should have been happy.

But something felt… off.

Cassius was too good to me. So good, it felt like a performance.

I didn't understand why I felt that way, until Lily cornered my car on a city street.

Her eyes were red and swollen from crying. She screamed at me, her voice full of hate.

"The Don doesn't love you anymore! He's only being so nice because he's repaying a debt—for you saving his ass!"

"What right do you have to cling to him? He doesn't love you! Being with you is torture for him!"

"You just got lucky! If I had met him before you, I'd be the Don's wife today, not you!"