A Donna's Unseen Reign

Just then, his voice cut through the silence behind me.

"What are you looking at?"

I hit the lock button and spun around.

Chandler stood at the bathroom door, his hair still dripping, a bathrobe knotted loosely at his waist.

The scent of cedar and tobacco, a scent that had once captivated me, washed over me.

"What were you doing with my phone?"

"Couldn't sleep. I wanted to check the stock market and grabbed the wrong one." I placed the phone back on the nightstand. "I remembered a few of our stocks were underperforming."

He let out a soft laugh and came over, sitting behind me.

"Workaholic," he murmured, his breath warm against my neck. "It's late."

His hand rested on my shoulder, its warmth damp against my skin.

After five years, the touch was all too familiar.

But tonight, a wave of nausea rolled through me.

I stood up, pulling away from his touch.

"I'm too tired."

"Colette?"

His voice was tinged with confusion.

I walked to the window, the lights of Chicago glittering like scattered diamonds below.

"Chandler," I said, my back to him. "Since I became the Donna, you've never let me attend a single family summit."

A beat of silence.

"Didn't we just talk about this?" His tone was strained with impatience.

"Yes." I turned to face him. "But I want the real reason."

"The rules—"

"Stop talking about the rules," I interrupted. "Tell me the truth."

Chandler's expression hardened.

He rose to his feet, the oppressive aura of the Moretti heir radiating from him.

"Colette, are you questioning me?"

"I'm exercising my right to know as your wife," I said, holding my ground. "I have a right to be aware of major family decisions."

"The summits are the Don's business," he said, his voice hard. "The Donna's duty is to uphold the family’s public face and manage the legitimate businesses, not to get involved in our other affairs."

"What other affairs?"

"Infiltration from rival families." Seeing my resolve, he sighed. "Colette, you weren't born into this. Many of the Capos have their opinions. Keeping you away is how I protect you."

Such a noble excuse.

If I hadn't seen those photos, I might have let myself be convinced again.

A bitter smile touched my lips. He was still lying, right to my face.

"I see. I'll sleep in the study tonight."

Chandler frowned. "Why?"

"I have some accounts to double-check." I stood and grabbed my jacket.

"Colette—"

"You work late in the study all the time, don't you?" I looked at him. "I never ask about family business."

The words silenced him.

He was quiet for a moment, then gave a curt nod.

I grabbed my car keys and left the bedroom.

The study was in a separate building connected to the main house.

It was a wedding gift from Chandler. He’d said I needed my own space.

Looking back, maybe it was just to keep me conveniently out of the way.

I sat at my desk and opened my laptop.