He Was the Perfect Husband. Did I Kill Him？

It was an ordinary late-summer weekend.

Silas had been dealing with Family business the night before, so he slept in a bit.

At 10:00 AM, draped in a silk robe, he was finally sitting at the long table drinking black coffee.

At 10:05, April begged him for a hug for the eighth time.

As I crouched in the foyer fixing April's dress, she made a face at her father.

"Daddy is a sleepyhead. The sun is already way up and you're just waking up. Shame on you."

Silas let out a low chuckle, scooping her into his arms and rubbing his stubble against her cheek.

"Alright, I'll learn from April. No more sleeping in."

I slipped into a comfortable yet elegant maxi dress, clasped on my jewelry, and got ready to take April down to meet the wives.

As I opened the front door, I remembered something and turned back with a smile.

"Honey, April and I want to use the thermal pool today."

"Start the water for us, would you? That way we can jump right in when we get back."

The indoor pool filled slowly; it always took about twenty minutes.

Silas put down his coffee cup and walked over, wrapping his arms around my waist.

He leaned down, his lips—tasting of dark roast—pressing hard against mine, his tongue teasing the seam of my lips.

"Your wish is my command, my queen."

I pushed against his solid chest, my cheeks flushing warm.

"I'm heading down!"

The back garden was just below the main house, the liveliest spot on the estate.

Kids ran across the lawn while the mafia wives gathered under parasols, sipping tea and gossiping.

After sitting with a few close friends for a while, I patted my pocket and realized I didn't have my phone.

I turned to Mrs. Harrison next to me.

"What time is it? I left my phone inside."

Victoria ostentatiously raised her wrist, flashing a limited-edition watch encrusted with diamonds.

"10:40," she said loudly.

Just then, the French doors on the second-floor balcony opened.

Silas, still in his robe with his chest half-exposed, leaned out and smiled.

"Leonora, the water's running. Stay and play a little longer!"

I looked over at April, who was flushed from chasing butterflies, and flashed him a thumbs-up.

"Got it!"

Silas raised his glass politely to the wives before closing the doors.

The women immediately started swooning.

"Your man really is the perfect husband. Handsome, ruthless... I heard he completely took over the East Side this year? He must be pulling in millions."

"Millions? Way more than that. A Don at Silas's level has unimaginable wealth! Leonora, you are set for life."

"He even draws your bathwater himself. You guys are so in love."

"He's so cold-blooded out on the streets, but so gentle with you at home. Playing with the kid on weekends, always smiling. Compared to my bastard of a husband who only knows how to chase skirts... ugh, it's night and day."

"I don't envy the money, I envy your bond. I mean, during that ambush six months ago, he literally took a bullet for you!"

The wives nodded, sighing in admiration.

Six months ago, on our way home from a gala, our convoy was ambushed by a rival family.

Under a hail of bullets, the car windows shattered instantly.

With lightning reflexes, he tackled me to the floorboards of the backseat.

As the crossfire intensified, the bodyguards tried to pull Silas back to retreat.

But Silas fought like a madman, pinning me beneath him to shield me. His abdomen was shot, bleeding profusely, but he just screamed, "Protect Leonora! You have to protect her!"

Less than five seconds after he desperately covered my escape from the vehicle, the car exploded.

That shootout sent shockwaves through the underworld.

Everyone said I must be God's favorite to have found such a devoted Don.

Thinking of that day, my eyes reddened slightly.

Silas usually seemed so cold and brutal; I never expected him to be so selfless when it counted.

He was left with a jagged scar across his abdomen that ached on rainy days. It brought me to tears.

He would just kiss my collarbone and smile.

"It's fine. I rule the Family with my brain anyway. A couple of scars won't stop me from loving you."

Now, surrounded by the wives' sighs, I nodded honestly.

"Yes. He really is a perfect lover."