You love her?

She kissed me back, our lips moved in sync. Just then, my phone buzzed. I broke away from the kiss and looked at the screen of my phone “SERAPHINA”

I ended the call, “let's go home, so you can shower and change into fresh clothes” I smiled faintly at Emily, she looked really tired. 

The ride home was quiet, Emily had slept off immediately I began driving. 

I was engrossed in my own thoughts, Seraphina, what was I going to do about her? 

I pulled into the car pack and came out, I tossed the car key to Jonathan and opened the other side door. I carried Emily out of the car gently trying not to wake her up. 

She snuggled closer the moment I lifted her up, I liked it. I smiled as I made my way into the house. 

I laid her on the bed and removed her clothes, helped her into her night dress and tucked her in bed. 

She opened her eyes twice throughout the entire process. I took one last look at her sleeping peacefully before turning towards the door and left the house. 

I told the driver to reroute. I didn’t say where, but he knew. I only went one place this late when I was this quiet.

Seraphina’s penthouse.

The elevator brought me straight to her door. I barely raised my hand to knock when it opened.

She was already waiting for me in a silk robe, bare feet. That same smug expression she always wore when she thought she had the upper hand.

“You’re late,” she said, stepping aside to let me in. “I was beginning to think you forgot how to find your way here.”

I walked in but didn’t sit. 

“You don’t look like someone who came for a good time,” she added, circling me slowly. “So tell me, Marco. Did you finally get bored of playing husband? Or are you just here to remind yourself what a real woman feels like?”

I turned toward her, “And you're the real woman? This ends tonight.” I smiled, if only she knew how good Emily was in bed, she wouldn't say that. 

She blinked, then smiled like I’d just told a joke. “What ends?”

“Whatever this was.”

The smile on her lips dropped. 

“You’re serious,” she said.

“I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t.”

Her gaze sharpened, the softness draining from her face. “You’re throwing me away for her? For that girl? You said it yourself, your marriage is a deal. An obligation. She’s just a name that keeps the Council off your back.”

“It was,” I said. “But things have changed.”

Seraphina stepped closer. “Don’t be stupid, Marco. You and I were fire before she ever showed up. You don’t just walk away from someone like me.”

“I just did.” Seraphina had always been full of herself. 

But I had warned her that this could end anytime, and I knew I wasn't the only man she was fucking. 

She scoffed, shaking her head. “You think this ends with a conversation? My father risked his name to protect you. And you think you can cut ties without consequences?”

“I didn’t come here to argue,” I said quietly. “I came to close the door. Besides Seraphina, I know I'm not the only one screwing you, so stop the victim act.”

She looked taken aback, but quickly covered it with a laugh “Close the door? That door’s chained to your past, Marco. And the moment the others find out you’ve severed ties with the Marchesi, they’ll smell blood. You’ve made enemies for less.”

“I’ve survived worse.”

She walked past me and poured herself a drink. Her hands were steady. Her face unreadable. “So what is it about her?” she asked. “The innocence? The fear? Is that what turns you on, pretending you’re still a man she can trust?”

“This has nothing to do with you.”

She turned back to me, eyes glinting. “You love her.”

I didn’t say anything.

“You fucking love her,” she hissed. “You’re weak for her. She’s going to be the end of you, Marco. And when it happens, when she betrays you, when she runs her mouth and drags your empire down with her, I’ll be watching.”

I took a step forward. “If anything happens