Wed To The Mafia, Wedded To Revenge Chapter 08

Wed To The Mafia, Wedded To Revenge Chapter 08

I woke with a start, tears dampening my cheeks. Thick curtains blocked out the daylight, and only a dim bedside lamp lit the room. This was my private bedroom.

“You’re awake?”

I pushed myself up and turned toward the voice. Cassian sat in the shadows on a sofa, holding the finished portrait of Matteo I had painted the day before.

His knuckles turned white as he gripped the canvas tightly. Anger blazed in his red-rimmed eyes.

“You gave up painting for him. You married me because I look like him. You destroyed Volkov just to get revenge for him. Seraphina De Santis—have you used me as a stand-in all these years?”

He strode across the room toward me.

I had chased Cassian for five years and shared a marriage with him for another five. I had never seen him lose control like this before.

He was far too proud to accept being nothing more than a replacement.

I leaned back against the pillows and looked at him calmly.

“I first saw you right after I learned how Matteo died. I was falling apart. For a split second, I mistook you for him and fooled myself into believing he was still alive. But after getting to know you, I always knew you were two completely different people.”

Matteo was warm and lively. Cassian was cold and reserved.

“I have never confused you with him, Cassian.”

“I searched for you for two days,” Cassian said hoarsely. “That apartment is filled with nothing but paintings of him.”

“His name is Matteo Rosso,” I cut him off firmly.

He could have become an extraordinary police officer.

I had no desire to discuss Matteo any further. I rubbed my throbbing temples and let out a soft sigh.

“Let’s get divorced.”

Cassian’s body went rigid.

A heavy silence hung in the air.

I could not understand his reaction. This marriage had been arranged by old Mr. Moreau from the very start. A divorce would let him be with his first love freely.

I pressed my fingers to my forehead, my tone cold and final.

“I never questioned you about Liliana all these years. Don’t question me about Matteo now.”

We were trapped in a loveless political marriage. He clung to memories of his first love, while I clung to Matteo. Neither of us had the right to judge the other.

“Liliana?” Cassian looked utterly confused. “Explain what you mean.”

I let out a bitter laugh. What more was there to say?

“She called you on our wedding night, and you flew to the UK for three

months. You made her the face of Moreau Group’s luxury brand. Your team rushed to cover up every scandal surrounding her. Paparazzi photographed you leaving the same hotel as her a year ago. Reporters caught you together at the airport two months back. How could you forget all of that?”

“Seraphina, do not lie just to end this marriage. I have never even met that woman.” Cassian frowned and stepped closer.

“I left for the UK on our wedding night because a critical project faced major issues. My team handled her scandals solely to protect the company’s stock prices.”

“I stayed in a hotel that night because my flight was delayed. I knew you took sleeping pills and woke easily, and I had an early meeting the next morning. Those airport photos? I had no idea they existed.”

I stared at him for a long moment before sighing.

“I am not arguing with you, nor do I need excuses. This just proves how little we know each other.”

We had never bothered to learn one another’s true selves over the past decade. We simply did not care. His empire came first for him. Matteo’s memory and revenge came first for me.

Cassian’s face turned blank. He turned to leave.

“Wait here.”

“Cassian,” I called out before he could walk out the door. “Even if everything about Liliana was a misunderstanding, nothing changes where Matteo is concerned. I pursued you and married you deliberately. I used you because you were the only person powerful

enough to stand against Damian. I have used you from the very beginning.”

Cassian did not turn around. His footsteps faltered slightly as he exited the room.