Chapter 5

Sebastian sat quietly in their bedroom, absently turning his phone over in his hand as silence settled between them like an unwelcome guest. Neither of them spoke again. After a moment, Elena rose from the sofa and disappeared into the adjoining bathroom.

When she came out, the scent of rosemary and lavender lingered in the air, her damp hair falling over one shoulder as she towel-dried the ends. Sebastian was sitting on the edge of the bed, still holding his phone.

"Clara called," he said. "She mentioned she found the attorney you were asking about and said she'd send you his contact information."

For the briefest moment, Elena felt her heartbeat falter.

She couldn't help wondering whether Clara had told him anything else.

Keeping her expression composed, she simply nodded before taking a seat at the vanity. She reached for a small bottle of argan oil and worked a few drops through her hair, carefully avoiding his eyes in the mirror.

Sebastian watched her reflection for several seconds.

"What do you need a lawyer for?"

Elena kept her attention on the strands between her fingers.

"I'm helping a friend."

"You could've asked Romano. He handles all of the family's legal affairs." His voice was calm, but there was a quiet scrutiny beneath it. "Why involve Clara?"

Without missing a beat, Elena answered, "Because I don't know Romano well, and I'd rather keep my friend's business away from anyone connected to the Vieri organization."

The lie came so naturally that even she was surprised by how effortlessly it left her lips.

Sebastian studied her for another moment before saying nothing more.

By the time she finished drying her hair, he had gone into the bathroom.

When he returned, the bedside lamps had been dimmed, and Elena was already beneath the covers.

She wasn't reading.

She wasn't scrolling through her phone.

She simply lay on her side with her back facing him, her eyes already closed.

The silence between them felt colder than the marble walls surrounding the Vieri estate.

Ever since returning with Celeste, Sebastian had sensed that something had changed.

Elena spoke less.

She smiled less.

It was as though she had quietly stepped farther away from him without ever leaving the room.

Unable to ignore the feeling any longer, he moved closer and slipped an arm around her waist, gently pulling her against him.

"Elena," he murmured, "what's wrong?"

The moment his hand touched her, her body tensed.

He noticed it immediately.

Only then did he realize how long it had been since they had shared even the simplest moment of affection.

He leaned forward, intending to kiss her forehead, but before he could, Elena turned just enough to rest her palm lightly against his chest.

"I'm tired," she said softly. "Can we just sleep tonight?"

Sebastian let her go without argument, but the question lingering in his mind refused to leave.

"Are you upset because of Celeste?"

Elena smiled.

It was polite.

Gentle.

Completely devoid of warmth.

"Why would I be?"

She held his gaze before quietly adding,

"What right do I have to be angry?"

The answer unsettled him far more than if she had shouted.

She should have questioned him.

She should have demanded to know why he had spent an entire week with another woman before bringing her into the estate next door.

She should have argued.

Instead, she had accepted everything with a calmness he could no longer understand.

After several moments of silence, Sebastian spoke again.

"Celeste's well known in our world. People love to gossip, especially when powerful families are involved. There isn't anything between us, Elena. Don't believe everything you hear."

Elena remembered the post Celeste had shared on the syndicate's private network.

She also knew Sebastian had seen it.

He had never asked for it to be taken down.

He had never denied a single rumor.

Years ago, when people whispered that Elena had stolen him from Celeste, he had remained just as silent.

Some silences spoke louder than words ever could.

Keeping her voice perfectly steady, she asked,

"What rumors?"

She looked at him with quiet sincerity.

"I've been busy these past few days. I haven't really paid attention to what's being said."

Relief briefly crossed Sebastian's face before disappearing.

"It's nothing worth worrying about," he replied. "Get some sleep."

Elena closed her eyes.

Within minutes, her breathing became slow and even.

Sebastian, however, remained awake.

An unfamiliar sense of unease lingered in his chest, refusing to loosen its grip.

Long after the estate had gone quiet, he slipped out of bed and headed downstairs.

As he walked past the study, something caught his attention.

The door had been left slightly open.

He pushed it wider.

Several wooden crates sat neatly stacked against one wall, each carefully labeled and sealed.

Sebastian stopped in the doorway.

Elena had told him she was only sorting through her books.

Instead, she had packed nearly the entire library.

His gaze drifted to an open crate resting nearby.

Inside lay the ornate silver frame that had once held their wedding portrait.

The frame was still there.

The photograph was gone.

A strange feeling settled over him, one he couldn't quite name.

He stood there for a long while before taking out his phone.

Ignoring the late hour, he called Matteo, his underboss.

The line connected after several rings.

Without wasting time, Sebastian asked quietly,

"Did the doctor ever send over Elena's medical records after her examination?"