Chapter 203

A few days later, the world outside the limousine blurs past in a haze of color and noise. Inside, a heavy silence envelops us. I hold Daisy tightly in my arms, her small frame trembling slightly, while Leo sits beside me, his eyes wide with uncertainty. He hasn’t said much in the past few days as his entire life has fallen apart and my heart aches, desperate to fix things for him. I reach out a hand, stroking it over my son’s dark head, wishing he were smaller like Daisy.

Because then – just maybe – he wouldn’t remember this.

Wouldn’t remember the man who came and killed his father. Wouldn’t remember the day his world fell completely apart.

The towering buildings of the city loom outside the window, but they feel more like a prison than a homecoming.

Nico sits up front with the driver, but Christian sits on the long bench seat adjacent to us, his demeanor cold and distant, his jaw set in a hard line. He hasn’t been any warmer to any of us the entire length of the trip. I scowl a little, inwardly, thinking that for someone who wanted these two children so badly he was willing to destroy our lives to get them that he sure as hell isn’t trying very hard to get on their good side.

Eventually the limo begins to turn some familiar corners and I sigh as we pull up to the gates of the sprawling estate. Christian glances at me, slipping his phone into his pocket and then looks down at the children, considering them. I watch him as he watches Leo, wondering…what he’s put together.

Because, I mean, to me and I’m sure to everyone else it’s very obvious who Leo’s father is. Leo is every inch Christian’s child – the same dark hair, the same shape to his face and jaw, even his distinct blue eyes, which are rare in this mafia family.

But Christian hasn’t said a single word to acknowledge him as his son and heir.

At least, not yet.

“Here we are,” Christian murmurs once the car has stopped, moving for the door and pushing it open. “Home again.”

“Mommy,” Leo whispers as Christian steps out of the car, looking up at the mansion that’s larger than any home he’s ever seen in his little country life. “Is this really our new home?” His voice is small and hesitant and he glances at me with concern. Daisy clings to me, her eyes darting around as if sensing the danger that looms in the air.

I take a deep breath, forcing a smile that feels more like a mask. “Yes, baby.” I say, giving a happy sigh. “Isn’t it nice to have such a big house? We’re going to be so happy here.”

Daisy and Leo just stare at me, smart enough not to buy it completely, but they nod, going along with it all. I want to shield them from this reality, but all I can do is help them out of the car, the weight of Christian’s unforgiving gaze heavy upon us. Once we emerge he gives us a single steady nod and then leads us up the stairs to the house.

As we step through the door and into the vast foyer of Christian’s estate, the weight of our new reality crashes down around me. The marble floors gleam under the soft lighting, and the opulent décor surrounds me like a gilded cage. I walk beside Christian, acutely aware of his presence—both protective and suffocating. His silence is palpable, thick with unspoken anger that wraps around us like a shroud.

My heart races as I scan the entryway, searching for familiarity, but it feels foreign now. I’m back in a world I thought I had escaped.

“Ah, the Queen has returned,” a voice calls out, smooth and biting. I turn to see Bianca sauntering into the room, her dark done up in an elaborate bun even though she’s wearing a pink velour tracksuit. She grins at me, cunning and cold as ever, and my face collapses when I see her because…

God damn it. Bianca. I…I have to admit, I don’t hate seeing her, even if I hate the circumstances.

“Hey, Bianca,” I say on a sigh, my children’s hands clutched in my own. “It’s… good to see you.”

She smirks at me for a moment, shaking her head, before she comes close and stands on her toes, giving Christian a kiss, performing obeisance to the returning king. Christian murmurs his hello, returning the passive kiss, before turning to Nico who comes through the door, clearly giving him some instructions.

Bianca’s entire expression shifts to joy as she goes to her knees in front of my kids.

“And who is this!?” Bianca gasps, delighted as she looks between their faces. “A beautiful girl and a handsome boy!? Oh, I’m so excited to meet you! What are your names.”

“I’m Leo,” my brave boy says, setting his shoulders back and reaching out a hand. Bianca laughs as she takes it in both of her own, beaming at the boy, clearly immediately seeing the affinity between Leo and his father, between Leo and her own son.

“Leo, I’m your Auntie Bianca,” she says, grinning. “We’re going to be great friends. And who is this,” she says, turning to Daisy with a big smile.

“That’s my sister daisy,” Leo says softly. “She’s…shy…”

As if proving his words, Daisy tucks herself close to my leg.

“Oh, that’s okay,” Bianca says with a little laugh, leaning towards Daisy like she’s sharing a secret. “I feel shy sometimes too.”

I huff a little laugh, knowing it’s a lie, and Bianca looks up at me and gives me a wink.

“Bianca, would you mind taking the children?” Christian calls over to us from his place next to Nico, clearly working some detail or other out between them.

“I’d love to!” Bianca says, reaching out her hands for them.

Daisy clings closer to me, but Leo takes her hand, looking to me for guidance. I nod softly to him, knowing Bianca will keep him safe, knowing that Christian’s word is as good as law now. We don’t really have a choice.

Bianca takes a few moments to urge Daisy over to her, but eventually gets her up in her arms. I kiss my little girl, loving her immensely as I stroke a hand over her hair and tell her that Bianca is very nice and she gets to go meet her cousins.

As Christian breaks from Nico and starts over towards us, Bianca pulls me in for a little hug. “Shame to see you back, sis,” she whispers as she gives me a little squeeze. “I was rooting for you to make it out.”

I sigh, a couple of tears coming to my eyes as she pulls away. But she just gives me another wink, silently encouraging me to be strong as she leads my kids away. I take a few breaths, willing myself to be strong, forcing my tears away.

“Come on,” Christian says tersely, nodding towards the grand staircase. My pulse quickens as I follow him up it, the silence between us thick with unspoken tension. Because this is…the first time we’ve been truly alone together, even despite the hours of travel.

And I have a feeling he’s about to let me in on the expectation of my new life.

As we reach his master suite, Christian pushes the door open and steps inside, gesturing for me to follow. The room is lavish and my eyes go wide as I consider that this is…a step up from his old room, the one I last slept it. But then again Christian is King now and he always planned to take over the Master suite. I guess I just…never thought I’d be here too.

“Shut the door,” Christian instructs, his voice devoid of warmth. I close the door behind me, the soft click echoing ominously in the quiet space. He moves over to a little bar at the corner, pouring himself a drink.

I cross too, joining him there, not missing that he doesn’t offer me anything.

“So?” he says, taking a sip of his whiskey before crossing his arms over his chest, a posture that immediately puts me on edge. “You betrayed me, Iris. What do you think your punishment should be.”

I just stare at him for a moment before huffing a laugh and pulling myself up on the dainty little bar stool, looking out over his shoulder at the expansive grounds behind him. “Can’t we call it time served, Christian? You’ve taken away my life, after all. Made me your captive again.”

“You were never my captive before,” he murmurs, looking away from me, his jaw clenching. “You were my wife.”

I sigh deeply, fighting to keep my composure. “I loved you, Christian. I did, but I made it clear during our early days of marriage that I didn’t want to live a life of blood and murder and fear.”

He scoffs, the sound bitter. “And you think running away was the answer? You think that made it better? If you had just stuck around, you would have seen that I cleaned up the criminal underworld of our city. It’s much better now. I did it for you - for us.”

I look up at him, wondering if that’s really true. Did he do what he said he wanted to, enact his plans?

Or is it all just a lie to get me to behave myself, to stop me from running again?

After all, I know nothing. Christian holds all the cards here – he can tell me whatever he wants.