Chapter 2

"All right," her father said. His voice carried down the line with the same unhurried weight it carried in every room he had ever ruled. "Your mother and I will arrange everything."

When Serafina got back to the villa, she quietly started packing. She didn't take much, just a few clothes, some personal things, and everything she actually cared about. As for the gifts Lucian had given her over the years, she didn't want any of them.

The expensive jewelry went into the trash first, the velvet boxes still stamped with the name of the jeweler on Mulberry Street who did business only with the Castellanos. Then came the limited-edition bags, and the little handmade things he'd made for her himself. One after another, Serafina threw them away without looking back. She had just dropped the last gift inside when the door lock beeped.

Serafina froze.

The door opened, and Lucian walked in. Two of his soldiers stayed posted on the front steps, and through the gap Serafina saw them straighten as Celeste followed behind him with their children.

Her chest tightened.

So this was the family he'd hidden from her. His future Donna. His twin sons. His baby daughter. And now he was bringing them into their home.

Wasn't hearing about them once enough? Did Serafina really have to see them too?

"Sera, this is Celeste Albanese. We grew up together, and she's just come back from abroad with the kids. They haven't found a proper place to stay yet, so they'll stay here for a few days."

Celeste smiled at Serafina. She looked gentle and polite, but Serafina could see the hatred hiding behind her eyes.

"Celeste, this is Sera Lane, my girlfriend."

One of the twins looked up at her. His face looked so much like Lucian's that her stomach twisted. He stared at her from head to toe, then sneered.

"Daddy, she's your girlfriend? I thought she was your maid. Pff! Why does she dress like that? She looks poor enough to sleep in the trash."

His brother glanced at him first, then giggled. "Maybe she really is a maid! She looks ugly too. Daddy, did you pick her up from the street because you felt sorry for her?"

Celeste immediately pretended to scold them. "Don't say things like that, tesoro. That's rude." She turned to Serafina with a sweet smile. "I'm sorry, Sera. They're still young and don't know what they're saying. Please don't take it personally… This is actually my first time here, and I'm not familiar with everything yet. Could you show me where we'll be staying?"

Serafina was about to answer when Lucian spoke. His thumb was already turning the heavy Castellano signet on his finger. "Sera, help them get settled, okay? I've got a sit-down on a secure line later. The docks can't wait, so I need to prepare."

Her heart hurt, but her face stayed calm.

"Okay."

Serafina turned around and led Celeste and the children down the hall to the guest room.

The moment the door closed, Celeste's sweet smile lingered half a second, then curdled and disappeared. "These sheets aren't soft enough! And can you get me new towels and toiletries? These don't look very clean!"

Serafina glanced at her.

Celeste was already behaving as though Serafina's home belonged to her.

Serafina could have reminded Celeste that she was a guest beneath this roof, with all the obligations that carried in their world. She could have revealed her own name and let the Valenti reputation answer the insults. But there was no point in fighting for a place she had already decided to leave.

So Serafina swallowed everything and quietly replaced the sheets and towels.

Celeste kept finding things to complain about, and Serafina kept fixing them.

"Is there anything else?"

Celeste smiled. "Actually, there is."

She opened her suitcase and pulled out a pile of clothes, then shoved them into Serafina's arms. "Here you go. I'm sorry for causing you so much trouble by staying here. I don't really have anything to give you, but I don't wear these ugly clothes anymore. You can have them."

Serafina looked down.

Designer clothes. Old ones. Some were clearly worn, and a few looked several seasons out of date.

Celeste smiled sweetly. "You're Luca's girlfriend, but you always dress so plainly and boring as fuck. Honestly, it makes him look bad in front of his men. I heard your family isn't doing very well financially, so don't be embarrassed. These are used, but they're still designer pieces. You can wear them for a long time."

Serafina stared at the clothes in her arms, then looked at her.

For a second, Serafina almost laughed.

Celeste was offering her castoffs as charity and expecting gratitude in return.

Did she really think Serafina needed them?

"That's very generous of you, but you should keep them. Second-hand goods are better suited to the person who already owns them."

Celeste's face changed instantly. She clearly hadn't expected Serafina to answer.

"Thanks anyway."

Then Serafina walked straight past her and left the room.

* * *

When Serafina got back to the bedroom, Lucian returned not long after finishing his call with his Capos.

The moment he walked in, he came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his chin against her shoulder. "Sera, don't move for a while. Let me stay like this and recharge. I'm seriously exhausted after all those meetings today."

In the past, Serafina would've melted whenever he acted like this. The ruthless Lucian Castellano, the man grown men stepped aside for in the street, only showed this clingy, almost childish side when he was with her. He used to joke that she was his personal power bank, his safe place, and the one person he could never live without.

Back then, those words made her feel loved.

Now, they only sounded ridiculous.

He couldn't live without her? Then how did he manage to build a whole family with Celeste?

Serafina forced herself to stay calm, but her body had already gone stiff. Lucian noticed.

"What's wrong? Are you upset because I brought Celeste and the kids here?" He stroked her cheek with his thumb. "Celeste and I grew up together. Our families have done business for years, and she came back from abroad with three children. Bringing the kids here was the least I could do. She shouldn't have to struggle alone after traveling all this way." He leaned closer. "So don't overthink it, okay? You're the one I care about. Nothing has changed between us."

Then he lowered his head and tried to kiss her. Serafina instinctively turned away and pushed against his chest.

Before Serafina could say anything, someone knocked on the door.

"Luca!" Celeste's voice came from outside. "The baby won't stop crying! I've tried everything, but she just keeps crying. Can you please come and help me?"

Lucian frowned slightly. "I'll go check on her. I'll be right back."

He released her and walked toward the door.