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Chapter 2

Penulis: Peachy
The secure line clicked open after one ring.

"Well, well. Finally ready to ditch your precious Don?"

Nikolai Costa's voice came through. Low, dangerous, with a thick Russian accent. Dripping with a gritty, obsessed kind of madness.

The absolute Grim Reaper of the North American underworld. He had chased me for seven solid years.

If Cassius hadn't proposed three years ago, I might have gone to this dark-eyed man who always looked at me like he owned me.

"He doesn't give a damn if you live or die. Are you still keeping that pathetic vow for him?" Nikolai pushed, blunt as ever.

I gripped the phone, suddenly embarrassed.

"If you don't want to... forget it." I looked down, my voice shaking a bit. "Pretend I never called."

Smack!

The sharp, heavy thud of a solid gold lighter slamming against a desk echoed through the receiver.

"Camilla!" His voice spiked, then dropped into a deadly whisper. "What do you think I am? Some grunt you can mess with when you're bored and kick to the curb when you're done?"

My breath hitched. His chilling dominance leaked right through the phone.

"You made the call. This time, you chose me." His tone brooked zero arguments. "My love. Now that you've walked into my territory, don't even think about running."

"My divorce takes a month to finalize—" I tried to explain.

"I heard you." He cut me off. "One month. I'll give you one month to handle that piece of shit Cassius. When the time's up, I'm coming to claim what's mine. If you're still stuck in that cage, I'll start a nationwide mob war and burn his empire to the ground."

He hung up, leaving no room for debate.

I stared at the dark screen and let out a long breath.

Cassius never came back that night.

The next morning, as the sun streamed in, the door finally opened.

He walked in. His bespoke suit was a mess, his collar unbuttoned.

A sickly-sweet perfume instantly filled the air. Bianca's favorite.

I didn't look up. I kept sweeping all the expensive necklaces, diamond rings, and watches off my vanity into a black cardboard box.

Things he'd tossed me over the last three years. Now, they just felt dirty.

Cassius stopped, frowning down at me. "What crazy stunt is this now? Packing up your jewelry to throw a tantrum?"

I taped the box shut without missing a beat. My voice was dead calm.

"Not selling. Donating. To the Family's foundation. Good PR for you."

"Suit yourself." He scoffed. He clearly thought I was just playing hard to get, acting jealous for attention.

"Wow. Giving away your diamonds? How noble."

A sickeningly sweet voice chimed from the doorway.

Bianca strutted in on her stilettos like she owned the place. She was toying with a familiar cross pendant.

It was Cassius's lucky charm, the one he never took off. The one I dug out of the rubble under heavy gunfire for him.

Now, it was her little trophy to claim her territory.

She walked up to the fireplace in the living room. Her eyes flickered.

The next second, with a sudden "slip" of the wrist, she knocked my plain wedding band off the mantel right into the blazing fire.

"Oops," Bianca gasped, forcing tears into her eyes. "Camilla, I'm so sorry! It just slipped..."

Cassius's face fell. He crossed the rug in long strides and pulled Bianca into a tight embrace.

"Don't move, you'll burn yourself." He nervously cradled her hands, inspecting her flawless fingers. "Did a spark catch you?"

My wedding ring was burning.

He didn't even glance at it.

I didn't say a word. I just walked over, stuck my bare hand into the scorching ash, and pulled out the blackened ring.

The smell of burning flesh filled the air. Blisters bubbled up all over my palm.

Cassius finally turned his head. Seeing my bloody, burned hand, his pupils shrank. Shock and panic flashed in his eyes.

"What the hell are you doing?! Are you crazy?!"

I felt absolutely nothing.

Even God was helping me. The vow was ruined; this absurd marriage was meant to burn.

"It's fine." I looked into Bianca's fake eyes and gave her a shockingly forgiving smile. "Don't worry about it. If it's ruined, it's ruined."

Seeing me so calm, without a single scream or curse, deep resentment flashed in Bianca's eyes.

She immediately gripped Cassius's arm and shivered.

"Cassius, I'm so scared... Someone was following me yesterday. I'm not safe living alone out there."

Pushing her luck, she looked up with teary eyes. "Can I move in here? I only feel safe when I'm with you."

Cassius held her tighter without a second thought. "Of course. This penthouse is the safest place in the city. Move in today."

He stood up and finally looked at me. His eyes were conflicted, trying to hide the turbulence in his head, but he threw down the order like it was the most natural thing in the world.

"Your room has the highest security and the best view. She gets scared easily. You're brave, you don't mind. Give her the master bedroom. You take the guest room."
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