Chapter 5

Celeste's smile disappeared. "What did you just say? Who told you those papers are questionable?"

Serafina looked at the horse again, a dark bay pacing the sawdust ring under the chandeliers of the Castellano racing stables. "I'm not just saying it. The registration number doesn't match the bloodline record, the brand on his flank is slightly wrong, and there's a gap in the ownership record that shouldn't be there."

A Capo near the rail frowned. "You think the professional appraisal is wrong?"

"I think it deserves another check before anyone pays that kind of money."

Serafina laid out the inconsistencies calmly, one by one. The more she explained, the quieter the room got. Even the soldiers posted at the doors stopped shifting their weight.

Serafina didn't mention the most important fact. The real horse from that bloodline had already been secured years ago, by her own family. The Valentis kept their private stables far from auctions like this one, where half the bids were laundered tribute dressed up as sport.

Instead of taking her seriously, the room burst into laughter.

"Did she really just call that horse fake?"

"A girl from the slums thinks she knows more than professional appraisers? Read a few books and suddenly she's an expert."

The laughter grew louder, glasses clinking along with it. Celeste covered her mouth and giggled, then turned to Lucian. "You really should teach Sera a little about horses when you get the chance, Luca. It's fine here, but what if she embarrasses herself in front of your family one day?"

Serafina looked at Lucian. His expression had already darkened.

Instead of defending her, he took her hand and lowered his voice. "Sera, that's enough. If you're not sure about something, don't say it so confidently. You don't have to prove anything to anyone."

Her heart sank.

He knew enough about horses to understand exactly what Serafina had pointed out. Years around racing, breeding, the auctions the Family used to clean its money, there was no way he'd missed any of it.

He simply didn't believe Serafina could know it.

To him, Serafina was still the poor girl from the slums who had no place in his world. And yet he'd spent years chasing her, promising her a future, telling her she was the only woman he wanted.

Serafina pulled her hand away and said nothing.

In the end, Celeste won the horse for over a billion.

Serafina didn't care anymore.

Serafina left the VIP lounge and went to the powder room down the private corridor. She had barely finished washing her hands when Celeste walked in behind her and blocked the door, arms folded, smiling.

"How did it feel, trying to act like an expert out there? Embarrassing, wasn't it?"

Serafina looked at her in the mirror.

She kept going, enjoying herself. "Don't think reading a few books makes you an expert. Real knowledge comes from growing up around these things. You're from the slums, Sera. If you don't understand something, keep quiet instead of making Luca look bad in front of his own men."

Serafina didn't bother arguing. She stepped around her.

Celeste grabbed her arm and pulled Serafina back, leaning close to her ear, her voice dropping into a smug whisper. "You want to know something? I'm not just Lucian's childhood sweetheart. I've been with him countless times. I gave him three children."

Her eyes hardened.

"Yes. The children in your house right now. They're his."

Her grip tightened. "The Castellano Family doesn't think you're good enough for him. The old Don and Donna Livia wanted an heir of proper blood, so they pushed Lucian toward me, and he agreed. Do you understand what that means?"

Serafina stared at her.

Celeste smiled wider. "It means you're exactly what Lucian thinks you are. Someone he can keep hidden and spoil when he wants. A pretty little bird trapped in a cage." Her eyes gleamed. "He may love you, but he'll never marry you. He'll never give you his name or let you become the mother of his legitimate heirs. When it comes to marriage, he'll choose someone from his own world."

Every word hit a wound that was already bleeding.

Serafina said nothing. She pulled her arm free and turned to leave.

Then Serafina heard a sharp slap behind her.

Serafina stopped and turned around slowly.

Celeste was covering her cheek, tears already gathering, a bright red handprint on her skin.

Serafina hadn't even touched her.

Before Serafina could make sense of it, footsteps hurried in from the corridor. Lucian rushed into the powder room, a soldier at his shoulder, his expression changing the instant he saw Celeste. "What happened?"

Celeste looked at him with trembling eyes. "Luca. Sera hit me." She pointed at Serafina, tears spilling. "Maybe she's still angry you saved Matteo that day instead of her. She probably blames me for it, that's why she hit me. I didn't even provoke her."

Lucian stared at her, disbelief written across his face. "Sera, tell me the truth. Did you really hit her?"

Serafina looked at the suspicion in his eyes and something in her chest cracked. Once, it didn't matter who accused her or what had happened, Lucian would stand beside her first and ask questions later. He used to tell his Capos, "I'm here to protect Sera, not to play judge."

Now he couldn't even trust her.

"What if I told you I never touched her?" Serafina asked quietly. "What if Celeste staged this herself?"

His face hardened. "Sera, I already told you what happened with Matteo! You're still angry I chose my son when he was in danger, and now you're taking it out on Celeste. She just gave birth four months ago. She's still recovering, you know that. How could you hit her? Whatever happened between you two, you need to apologize."

Serafina stared at him, unable to believe what she was hearing. So this was it. Six years of loving him, six years of believing she was the one person he'd never doubt, and now she was standing in front of him like a stranger begging to be believed.

Was this really the man Serafina once thought she would grow old with?

Serafina shook her head. "I didn't hit her, Lucian. I won't apologize for something I didn't do."

Serafina turned to leave, but he caught her wrist, his grip hard enough to hurt. His thumb moved once over the Castellano signet on his other hand. "Sera, apologize. You're not walking away until you do."

The soldier in the doorway didn't move. Behind Lucian, Celeste lowered her eyes, hiding the satisfaction on her face.

Something in her finally went quiet. Serafina let out a soft laugh, though there was nothing happy in it. "Fine." Serafina looked straight at Celeste. "I'm sorry, Miss Celeste. I shouldn't have hit you. Is that what you wanted to hear?"

Each word tasted bitter as Serafina pulled her wrist free and walked out before either of them could see the tears burning in her eyes.

Serafina had spent six years pretending to be a helpless girl from the slums, but she was never helpless. She was Serafina Valenti, daughter of a man who could make entire families disappear with one order. She had only hidden that power because she wanted to know if Lucian could love her without her name, her wealth, without knowing who she really was.

Now Serafina had her answer.

Serafina nearly collided with a well dressed middle aged man outside the powder room. The moment he saw her face he froze, eyes widening, then lowered his head. "Principessa."

Before he could say more, Lucian stepped out behind her and frowned. "Principessa? What are you talking about? Sera, you know him?"

The man stiffened at the sight of Lucian. Before he could explain, someone called his name from across the auction floor. He glanced at her once more, gave a respectful nod, and hurried off.

Celeste slipped her arm through Lucian's, all innocence. "What principessa? Maybe he recognized me, he's connected to my father's business."

Lucian looked at her, then at her pale face, and believed her. He reached for her hand. "Sera, you apologized, let's forget this. Come back with us. I was harsh because you really crossed the line."

Serafina pulled her hand away. "I'm not going anywhere with you."

"Sera!" he called, following her outside.