Chapter 3

He wanted me jealous. He wanted me angry. He wanted me to ask him why he was touching another woman, why he brought her into our home, and why he was treating her like his wife.

But I didn't care anymore.

I just wanted the divorce papers signed.

Once that was done, I was leaving this place for good.

After a few minutes, I stood up. “She's had her massage. I'm going upstairs.”

I picked up my drink.

Caleb suddenly followed me and caught my arm before I reached the stairs. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

I looked down at his hand. “Nothing.”

“You've been saying that all night.”

“And?”

His face darkened. “You think I can't tell what you're doing? You're pretending not to care because you're pissed off.”

I calmly pulled my arm free. “I'm not pretending.”

He stared at me before reaching out and touching my cheek.

I turned my face away.

His hand stopped in midair.

“Don't be jealous,” he said, his voice softer now. “You know how this works. I'm just having some fun.”

I said nothing.

He stepped closer. “Once I'm done with Trixa, I'll come back. You're still my wife, Jasmine. That isn't changing.”

Pff! His what?

Looking into Caleb's dark eyes, I suddenly remembered something from years ago. He'd held me close and whispered, “Jasmine, you're the only woman I want in this life. No matter what happens, it'll always be you.”

I'd believed those words once.

Only once.

Caleb must've taken my silence as surrender because he leaned closer, trying to kiss me. “Come upstairs with me,” he murmured. “It's our anniversary. Forget everything else tonight and just stay with me.”

I turned my face away. “I'm not in the mood.”

His expression darkened. His fingers brushed my ear as he lowered his voice. “You forgot what today is? You told me this is usually when you want me the most. You used to be the one begging me to stay in bed with you.”

My body went stiff for a second. Those words used to make me blush. Now they only made me uncomfortable. Why was he bringing up things from the past? Did he really think reminding me of our old intimacy would make me fall back into his arms?

Before I could answer, Trixa's voice came from the living room. “Caleb, I don't feel very well. Can you come here for a minute?”

I immediately pushed Caleb away. “Go check on her. Don't ignore it if she's feeling sick.”

His face changed, but instead of listening, he suddenly scooped me into his arms. “Fuck that. I'm not going anywhere tonight.”

I frowned and struggled slightly against him. “Caleb, put me down!”

He carried me toward the master bedroom without listening. “Tonight is our anniversary, Jasmine. I want my wife with me! I'm not letting you run away just because you're angry.”

He carried me into the bathroom and set me down before looking at me. “Take a shower. I'll wait for you in bed. We can talk after that.”

Before I could respond, he walked out and shut the door.

I stood there for a moment, unable to shake the strange feeling in my chest. Something felt wrong.

I opened the bathroom door and stepped into the hallway. Through the crack in the master bedroom door, I saw Caleb walking out. He didn't come back toward me. Instead, he walked straight into Trixa's guest room next door.

I watched him disappear inside.

I didn't follow.

I simply walked back into the master bedroom, shut the door, and locked it. Caleb didn't return that night, and for the first time, I didn't wait for him.

...

The next morning, I woke up to voices downstairs. When I opened the bedroom door, several of Caleb's capos and trusted soldiers were gathered around the living room, passing something between them while Caleb stood in the middle of them.

One of the men suddenly whistled. “Don, what the hell is that?”

Caleb took the invitation from him and looked it over. It was made from nearly a kilogram of pure gold.

Another capo leaned over to get a better look. “You're kidding me. That's a solid gold invitation?”

Someone laughed. “Don, you've really made it. Getting invited to the Graves family's birthday banquet is already a huge deal, but this one is the VVIP invitation. They don't make these for just anyone.”

The men started talking over one another, their voices filling the room. I stood at the top of the stairs and looked at the invitation, my fingers tightening slightly around the railing.

Armando Graves.

My biological father.

The invitation wasn't really meant for Caleb.

It was his way of reaching me.

The Graves family had once ruled the capital's underworld, and even powerful families like the Partridges had relied on them for protection. Years ago, the Graves family cleaned up their business and moved into legitimate industries, but their influence never disappeared. Now they were one of the biggest families in the capital.

And my father was about to turn sixty.

He'd told me he wanted to see me before publicly acknowledging me as his daughter. Apparently, he'd found another way to get me there.

One of Caleb's capos grinned as he looked at the invitation. “Don, Grand Don Armando must really respect you. He doesn't send invitations like this unless he considers someone important.”

Another man laughed. “Remember that deal we closed with the Graves family? You helped them out, and now the old man is returning the favor.”

Someone else leaned back with a grin. “I heard Grand Don Armando is announcing that he's found his missing daughter at the banquet. Don, if you weren't already married, he might've tried to make you his son-in-law.”

The room erupted in laughter.

I stood quietly at the top of the stairs, watching them. Caleb's eyes eventually found mine, and he studied my face, clearly looking for a reaction.

Instead, I walked downstairs.

One of the capos noticed me and immediately went quiet. Caleb kept watching me as he asked, “What do you think, Jasmine? Wouldn't you say the Graves family is treating me pretty well?”

I looked at the golden invitation in his hand. “Maybe.” I picked up my glass of liquor from the table and took a small sip before adding, “Maybe Grand Don Armando really does see you as a potential son-in-law.”

The room went quiet.

It sounded like a compliment, but Caleb's expression immediately hardened. He looked almost annoyed as his fist tightened around the invitation.

“Don't get ideas,” he said coldly. “I've got enough women around me already. I don't need another one, and I'm not interested in becoming anyone's son-in-law.”

I smiled faintly. “Good for you.”

His eyes narrowed, but I didn't explain myself. I simply turned around and walked back upstairs.