Chapter 2

Anna’s POV

Silas lay back on the small sofa, with me tucked in his arms.

Through the door, the muffled voices of our guests drifted in. “Isn’t it a little rude for us, the hosts, to hide here all night and leave everyone downstairs?”

Silas raised a brow. “Who cares about them? Having you all to myself is enough for me.”

I pouted and poked his chest. “Where have you been these past few days?”

That was not the only question I wanted to ask.

I loved Silas. I loved our secret nights. But sometimes, I wanted him to show even a little warmth to me in public.

I had heard the other Donnas whispering. They wondered if Silas and I were only a fake couple. Otherwise, why would he treat me like a stranger whenever we were around other people?

Silas took my hand and held it in his palm.

“Something came up at the casino,” he said. “You know how those negotiations are. We had to go under and cut off all contact.”

Every time I asked why he disappeared, he gave me the same excuse.

I used to accept it because, honestly, I had not cared that much before.

But now it was different.

Silas and I were close now. Intimate. Almost inseparable.

But the moment the sun rose, we went back to being distant and polite.

It was driving me crazy.

“You could have called me before you cut off contact.” I turned in his arms and faced him. “I called you four times. You never called me back.”

Something flickered through his eyes. Before I could read it, he was already patting my head. “Alright. I’ll remember next time.”

Then he leaned in and started kissed me again.

I could feel his desire stirring again as he lifted me onto his lap, letting me straddle him.

This time, I was not trapped between him and a wall. I was sitting on him, facing the balcony, where anyone could look up and see us.

Silas did not seem to care about my little rebellion. He was too busy kissing my neck.

“Mmm…” My body softened helplessly under his teasing mouth.

But just as I was about to give in, I caught sight of a man walking into the yard.

The room was on the second floor, so I could see him clearly as he moved from the gate toward the main building.

My breath caught.

Because the moment I saw that man’s face, I realized he looked exactly like my husband, Silas. The same Silas who was holding me in his arms right now.

My mind went blank. It felt as if all the blood in my body had frozen.

Outside, the man was stopped by a few guests, exchanging polite words with them as if nothing was wrong.

Silas noticed I had gone still. He sat up and followed my gaze.

I searched his eyes, desperate for an answer.

But he only lifted the corner of his mouth in a faint, mocking smile.

“Oops,” he said. “I thought it would take you at least another month to figure it out.”

“Who are—”

I did not even get to finish.

Because Silas—no, whoever this man was—had already shattered every thought in my head.

“Let’s keep this between us, okay, babe?” He winked at me. “I don’t think my brother would be happy to know his new wife has been spending her nights with his twin.”

At that exact moment, the man below—the real Silas—looked up.

Our eyes met across the yard.

That same cold, distant look in his eyes was painfully familiar.

My heart almost leapt out of my throat.

“By the way,” the man in front of me added, “now that you know, don’t call me Silas anymore. My name is Eric.”

Eric did not look guilty. He did not even look worried.

He glanced down at Silas in the yard and gave a soft, mocking laugh. “My brother really knows how to ruin someone else’s fun.”

I shoved at Eric, trying to climb off his lap. But I had overestimated myself. My legs were still weak, and I could barely stand.

Eric’s hand clamped firmly around my waist and pulled me back.

I fell against him again, my breath catching.

I frowned and struggled once more, but he only leaned closer.

“Don’t make too much noise, love,” he murmured. “You don’t want Silas to come upstairs and find you like this, do you?”

His thumb brushed over my mouth, wiping away my smeared lipstick. “Especially when your lipstick clearly looks like I ruined it.”

Anger burned through me, sharp and humiliating.

The man I thought was my husband…The man I had let myself fall for…Had never been the man I thought he was.

And seeing Eric act so lightly about it, as if this was all some amusing little game, made me feel sick.

But Eric did not seem bothered by my reaction. If anything, it seemed to interest him more.

He suddenly gripped my chin and forced me to look down at Silas, who was still speaking with the guests in the yard.

Something dark flickered in Eric’s eyes, and his voice turned cold. “Or would you rather I call him up here right now?”

The teasing question terrified me.

I shook my head almost instinctively.

I couldn’t help looking toward Silas again, wondering if he had already noticed something wrong. The balcony had been built high for privacy, but I still felt as if the man in the yard could see every movement I made.

Including the fact that I was straddling another man’s lap.

“Don’t you dare,” I whispered, my voice trembling.

Eric only smiled, as if he enjoyed watching me fall apart.

Then he loosened his grip and gave me an amused look. “Coward.”

With that, he scooped me up and carried me to the other side of the room, far away from the balcony and any chance of Silas seeing me again.

“Get your hands off me,” I snapped, still keeping my voice low so no one outside would hear.

Eric finally set me down, but he did not move away. His chest stayed pressed against mine.

“So cold so fast?” he murmured. “Mi amor, have you forgotten how close we were?”

He lowered his head until his eyes were level with mine.

The next second, he kissed me—harder and more fiercely than before.

“Mmm.” I shoved both hands against his chest, trying to push him away.

Then Silas’s voice rang out from the other side of the door. “Anna?”

The door handle turned.

My heart nearly stopped.

But Eric had clearly thought of everything. He had locked the door earlier, so Silas could not get in.

“Anna?” Silas called again. “Are you in there?”

I forced myself to breathe.

“Yeah,” I finally answered. “I’m here.”

“Open the door.”

His tone was cold and firm, leaving no room for argument.

I instinctively looked at Eric for help.