Chapter 5 - The Woman Beneath the Necklace|
Seline Maro had spent four years preparing for the night she would become Donna.
She had studied the old family traditions, memorized the names of the regional captains, and learned which wives controlled their husbands' tempers and which husbands feared their wives' judgment.
She understood that power was rarely held by the person speaking the loudest.
That was why she had targeted Vivien.
The older woman never interrupted Damian during meetings. She never competed for attention. She appeared content to remain at his side while other people praised his decisions.
Seline had mistaken restraint for weakness.
Now she sat in the Viscari penthouse, wearing the Donna necklace, while Damian paced beside the windows.
"The council is trying to humiliate me," he said.
"They're trying to protect their interests."
"Which are mine."
"Not anymore."
He stopped.
Seline met his eyes.
"You took the necklace in public. You told every family that Vivien no longer represented the syndicate. You cannot now pretend that nothing has changed."
"I thought you understood what I was trying to accomplish."
"I did. I understood that you wanted a wife who would never challenge you."
Damian's expression hardened.
"Is that what this is about? Jealousy?"
Seline laughed.
"Don't flatter yourself. I wanted the necklace because it gives me access to the council's voting structure. You wanted to give it to me because you thought it would prove you could replace your wife."
She touched the dark stone.
"Neither of us expected Vivien to leave with the original authority intact."
Damian stared at her.
"What do you mean?"
Seline had discovered the succession clause months earlier. She had believed that once Damian publicly designated her as Donna, the old council would have no choice but to accept the transfer.
She had not known that the necklace's authority was tied to a separate trust controlled by the Ashcroft family.
And she had not known that Vivien's mother had created a mechanism that could freeze the trust if the necklace was transferred under coercion or in violation of the covenant.
"Thomas is working on it," she said.
"Then tell him to work faster."
Seline looked toward the necklace.
"There's something else you should know."
Damian waited.
"Vivien wasn't simply your wife. She was the trustee of the legacy shares that kept your family at the head of the syndicate."
His face changed.
"She never told me."
"Why would she? You never asked."
The words struck harder than Seline intended.
Damian turned away.
He remembered Vivien sitting beside him during the early years of their marriage, correcting financial reports, warning him about unreliable partners, and quietly resolving disputes before they reached his desk.
He had assumed she was helping him.
He had never considered that she was also protecting him from the consequences of his own decisions.
Seline approached him.
"We need to find her before the council meets."
"Why?"
"Because if she activates the trust, she can remove you."
Damian looked at the necklace.
"Can she?"
Seline's voice dropped.
"Yes."
At that moment, Thomas Bell entered with a sealed envelope.
"The council has confirmed the assembly."
"When?" Damian asked.
"Tomorrow night."
"Where?"
Thomas placed the invitation on the table.
"Castell Verde."
Seline smiled faintly.
"Then we'll finish this where it began."
Thomas did not smile.
"There's one additional condition."
Damian opened the invitation.
May you like
The final line had been written by hand.
Vivien Ashcroft Viscari will preside.
