Chapter 3

Vincent came back that evening. This time, he was calm and composed.

He stood in the doorway holding a velvet box, his eyes full of what seemed like genuine love for me.

"Cecilia," he said, his voice rough. "I know I've put you through a lot lately."

He opened the box. Inside lay a necklace.

The pink diamond on it sparkled under the lights. It was my favorite—the Star of Hope.

Looking at the diamond, I found the whole thing ridiculous.

Three years earlier, I had been hospitalized after getting hurt in a fight over a territory. The doctors had warned that my life was in danger.

As I lay in my hospital bed, I watched a live stream of the auction featuring that pink diamond. Half-jokingly, I had told Vincent to buy it for me as a gift if I survived.

But he had said then, "Cecilia, you know the family is short on money right now. Be reasonable. I'll buy it for you someday."

Back then, I had felt bad for making such a joke at the wrong time.

But the next day, I saw a photo on Lilith's social media. She was wearing an expensive sapphire necklace, with Vincent's private yacht in the background.

I had told myself that Lilith was the younger sister of the man who had saved Vincent's life. She was young and didn't know better.

I convinced myself that Vincent was only trying to make her happy, and I should be gracious enough not to make an issue of it.

But now, something I couldn't obtain even at the cost of my life had become a cheap bargaining chip he used to get me to clean up his mess.

"The family is holding a banquet tomorrow night to reassure everyone," he said.

Vincent stepped closer and carefully fastened the necklace around my neck.

"All you have to do is show up and keep everyone in line. Once this crisis is over, I'll—"

I raised a hand to cut him off.

The cold diamond rested against my skin, but I felt nothing.

I looked in the mirror and gave him a perfect little smile. "Fine. I'll help you."

Vincent let out a sigh of relief. He thought a necklace was all it took to win me back.

…

The Salvi family spared no expense on the banquet.

I put on a black velvet evening gown and wore the Star of Hope, then appeared before everyone once again as the donna.

The moment I appeared, the tension and unease in the ballroom faded.

The rival family heads, who had been itching to make a move, saw my calm smile and kept their suspicion and greed in check.

The elders gathered around me and greeted me with respect, as if the strike at the port a few days earlier had never happened.

Holding a glass of champagne, I moved through the crowd and exchanged polite words with everyone.

Vincent stood in the shadows on the second floor with a drink in hand. He watched admiringly as I held his empire together.

I could feel the affection in his gaze.

In his eyes, I was the woman who stood at his side as an equal.

He was certain our marriage was unbreakable.

He thought the little trouble Lilith had caused between us would blow over if he put in a little effort to make it up to me.

So he had no idea that everything I did that night was preparation for what I planned to do next.

By late night, the guests had left, and the noise had died down.

Vincent was tipsy. He loosened his tie and sank onto the couch.

He caught my wrist. Emboldened by the alcohol, he pulled me toward him.

"Cecilia, you look stunning tonight."

He kissed the back of my hand, his voice full of tenderness.

"Once we finish sorting out the shipping route handover tomorrow, I'll take you on a vacation to Belloria. We can spend a month in the little town you've always wanted to visit. How does that sound?"

I removed my hand from his grasp.

I had told him countless times that I wanted to visit that Bellorian town that was full of flowers.

He always said he was too busy.

Yet, I had seen a photo on Lilith's social media of her and Vincent watching the auroras in another country together.

Now that he needed me, he suddenly had time.

I stood up and picked up the thick stack of documents I had prepared in advance from my desk.