Chapter 2

I woke up to find myself lying alone in the middle of a massive bed big enough for four people.

I reached out; the sheets on the other side were crisp and cool, as immaculately made as they had been last night.

I pushed myself up, my heavily bandaged wrists throbbing with a dull ache, and made my way downstairs.

The penthouse lobby was suffocatingly silent, broken only by the heavy footsteps of armed guards pacing the perimeter.

I found Caspian sitting at the head of a long dining table.

Flanked by silent enforcers, his deep, intense gaze was locked on a syndicate ledger.

He didn't look up at me when I walked in.

The estate's Capo, an older man in a crisp suit, stepped forward with a stiff, formal demeanor.

"Good morning, ma'am."

"Sit down and eat," Caspian ordered, his tone flat and authoritative.

I sat at the absolute furthest end of the table, putting as much distance between us as possible.

The Capo placed a heavy crystal bowl in front of me.

It was a specialty mango dessert, its sweet aroma so rich it was almost nauseating.

"Miss Elena had this sent over first thing this morning," the Capo announced, his voice sharp enough to carry across the room. "It is Miss Elena's favorite."

The smell, coupled with the nakedly insulting gesture, sent a wave of nausea through me.

I shoved the crystal bowl away, the glass screeching harshly against the tabletop.

"Take it away."

Caspian finally looked up from his ledger.

His deep eyes narrowed, his gaze so piercing it felt as if he were trying to pin me to my chair.

"Know your place, Sienna. Eat your food."

I met his murderous glare without flinching, my resolve only hardening.

"I have no right to eat the leftovers of another woman's favorite dessert in my own home."

I didn't know what my relationship with Caspian was like during the five years I couldn't remember. But we were supposedly husband and wife, yet he didn't even know I was allergic to mangoes.

The guards around the room shifted uneasily, the rising tension in the air becoming almost thick enough to choke on.

Caspian slammed his pen down, the sharp crack echoing like breaking bone.

"Throwing this ridiculous, childish tantrum over a gift-stop embarrassing yourself."

Before I could answer, the heavy double doors of the dining room were pushed open.

The guards immediately parted, bowing their heads slightly in a show of deep respect.

Elena glided into the room.

She wore a designer dress that perfectly accentuated her figure, her smile stiff and insincere.

The Capo rushed forward, hurriedly pulling out a chair and placing it right next to Caspian.

"Good morning, Miss Elena."

Elena rested a slender hand on Caspian's broad shoulder before looking across the table at me.

Her gaze slowly drifted down to my bandaged wrists.

"Sienna, I was so worried. How are your little scratches healing?"

I didn't lower my head, nor did I cry.

I leaned back in my chair and looked at her.

"Did you come all this way just to show off? Or do you always enjoy crashing a married couple's breakfast uninvited?"

Elena's fake smile vanished, replaced by a look of outright hostility.

An angry flush crept up her neck.

She instantly turned to Caspian, her eyes widening to look incredibly vulnerable.

"Caspian, I just came to check on her. I don't know why she's being so cruel to me."

Caspian slammed his hand against the table.

The sound echoed in the high-ceilinged room like a gunshot.

"Enough."

At the Don's command, the entire room fell dead silent.

He glared at me, his face radiating absolute, unquestionable authority.

"Sienna, your unreasonableness is exhausting. Elena is my guest and is under my protection. You will treat her with respect."

I looked at the man who was supposed to be my husband.

He was actively protecting the woman who had openly humiliated me in my own dining room.

Elena appeared exceedingly gentle: "Don't be angry, Caspian. I came specifically to invite you to my celebration banquet..."

After saying that, she seemed to suddenly realize I was standing right there, and it would look bad not to invite me. She had no choice but to say to me, "Will Miss Sienna be joining us as well?"

I originally had no desire to attend, but seeing the smug triumph in Elena's eyes, I changed my mind.

A rebellious sneer graced my lips.

I stood up, pushing my chair back with a harsh scrape of wood against stone.

"Of course. I will respect her immensely. I assume we're all attending her Syndicate's dinner tonight? I wouldn't miss it for the world."