Roselle’s POV
Even though I could clearly see sunlight streaming across my face through the slight opening in the window, I still refused to acknowledge that morning had arrived.
I wanted to pretend that I had more time.
More time before everything changed.
I held on to the warmth of Jasmine’s body for as long as I could.
Half of her little body was lying across mine while the other half rested on the bed.
I looked down at her, watching her sleep peacefully, completely unaware of everything waiting for us outside this room.
I couldn’t help but envy her.
I envied the way she could sleep so peacefully without a single worry weighing on her mind.
I envied that feeling of complete and total relaxation.
After returning to my room the previous day, my mind had refused to rest.
From today onward, I will be married to a criminal.
And by becoming his wife, I would officially become part of a criminal family.
The thought still felt strange.
I had once served the crown.
I had fought its enemies and risked my life for the glory of the kingdom.
And now?
I was about to become part of a criminal syndicate.
I let out a quiet sigh.
Perhaps I was thinking about it too much.
Some things in life were simply beyond our control, no matter how hard we tried to change them.
Maybe this was just one of those unavoidable turns life had decided to throw at me.
Still, I couldn’t shake the overwhelming fear of the unknown.
Knock.
Knock.
The sound came from the door, causing Jasmine to shift slightly in her sleep.
I immediately looked at her.
I didn’t want her sleep disturbed, but I knew that would be impossible today.
“Come in,” I whispered.
The door slowly opened.
I carefully peeled myself away from Jasmine, making sure not to wake her.
Once I was free, I quietly walked over to the couch and sat down.
My eyes immediately fell on the person standing near the doorway.
Eva.
I looked at her with slight surprise.
“Have you decided what you want?”
I already had a feeling I knew why she had come so early in the morning.
She was either here to tell me she had decided to leave… Or..
“Yes, I have.” Her response interrupted my thoughts.
She took a small pause before continuing, keeping her voice low so she wouldn’t wake Jasmine.
“All the workers at the estate have decided to sign the contract.”
I nodded slowly.
“The Belladonna family is wealthier than the DeLuca family,” she continued.
“And with your promise that we would receive the same pay as workers in similar positions at the Belladonna estate, none of them were willing to pass up the opportunity.”
I nodded again, feeling a small sense of relief.
Their lives hadn’t been decided for them simply because they happened to work for the DeLuca family.
“And the elders?”
“They all left last night.”
My brows rose slightly.
“All of them?”
“Yes. Every single one.” Eva hesitated before continuing.
“But they didn’t leave empty-handed.”
I frowned.
“What do you mean?”
“They took almost everything valuable they could get their hands on.”
My expression hardened.
“All the paintings. The collections. The collectibles…” She paused.
“They even went into your former husband’s room and took all his wristwatches and his safe.”
I stared at her.
“Basically, this house has been stripped of almost every valuable item.” She paused again.
“I didn’t personally see them leaving, but the guards who witnessed it said they couldn’t bring themselves to stop them.”
I remained silent.
So that was how they had chosen to leave.
After everything they had tried to take from the family, they had decided to take whatever they could before walking away.
I slowly looked toward Jasmine, who was still sleeping peacefully.
At least she had no idea how much our lives had changed overnight.
The DeLuca family was no longer what it had been.
And by the end of today, neither would I.
“It’s fine. Let them take them. I’m sure Silas won’t have any need for them, and at least those things will keep them afloat for a while.” I paused.
A bold idea had suddenly come to mind.
I looked up at Eva, studying her expression before I continued.
“There is something I need from you.”
She immediately looked at me.
“But first, come and sit. I want to run something by you.”
Eva hesitated for only a moment before sitting beside me on the sofa.
“Beginning from today, I’ll be moving to the Belladonna estate. The workers will be moving there as well, and the wedding will be held at Silas’s house.” I paused, allowing my words to settle before continuing.
“But there is something I need from you.”
“What is it, ma’am?”
“I want to make a deal with you.”
Her expression became more serious.
“I’m about to enter an estate where I know almost nothing about the place or the people living inside it. I don’t know their routines, their relationships, or what happens behind closed doors.” I leaned back slightly, keeping my eyes on her.
“And that is why I need you to do something for me.”
“Anything you want, ma’am.”
“I want you to be my eyes and ears.”
Eva stared at me.
“I will reward you generously for it. You will also be the sole person responsible for Jasmine and Silas’s son.”
“Mr. Silas has a son?”
Her surprise caught me off guard.
“Well, he does. I haven’t met him yet, but I only learned about his existence yesterday.” I took a breath.
“You will be the nanny to both children. You will take care of them, but at the same time, I want you to keep your eyes and ears open.”
Eva nodded slowly.
“If you notice anything unusual, anything that seems out of place, or anything you believe I should know about, you report it to me immediately.” I leaned closer.
“And in exchange, you name your price, and I will make sure you receive it.” I paused.
“But make no mistake, Eva.” My voice became colder.
“The moment I discover that your loyalty to me has shifted for any reason, I will kill you.”
I held her gaze, making sure she understood that it was not an empty threat.
“Do you still want to take the deal, knowing that I will not deal kindly with betrayal?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Her answer came without hesitation.
“Good.”
I leaned back against the sofa.
“Silas has given me control over the legitimate DeLuca businesses. That doesn’t include the businesses tied directly to the mafia. Only the legal ones.”
Shock immediately spread across Eva’s face.
“And he has also tasked me with taking care of his son.” I frowned slightly.
“Now, I don’t know why a man of Silas’s caliber would go to such lengths to secure my loyalty, but that only tells me one thing, Eva.” I lowered my voice.
“The Belladonnas are surrounded by more mystery than I initially thought.”
Eva remained silent, listening carefully.
“That estate isn’t simply a home. It’s a battlefield.” I glanced toward the window before looking back at her.
“You need to keep your eyes sharp at all times and your ears even sharper. I noticed something when I visited the estate yesterday.”
“What did you notice?”
“All of their workers are skilled. Extremely skilled.” I paused.
“And I don’t mean just at their jobs. Even the maids are trained fighters.”
Eva’s eyes widened slightly.
“The people working inside that estate may look like ordinary servants, but many of them are warriors disguised as workers.” I folded my hands together.
“That tells me the Belladonnas are extremely careful about who they allow into their territory.” I looked directly at her.
“That is why I won’t pay you with ordinary money.”
“Why not?”
“Because money can be traced.” I allowed a small smile to appear on my lips.
“Instead, I’ll give you at least one percent of whichever DeLuca company you choose.”
Eva froze.
The shock on her face was even greater this time.
I understood why.
One percent of even our top company, the one dealing in cosmetics, was worth more than the thirty percent of the fabric company I had negotiated for the elders.
And that was exactly why I was offering it to her.
Part of this was repayment for everything Eva had done for me.
But another part was simple.
I wanted her loyalty.
Not temporary loyalty.
Not loyalty because I was her employer.
I wanted the kind of loyalty that could survive whatever she discovered inside the Belladonna estate.
Eva slowly stood to her feet.
Then she bowed deeply.
“I’m willing, ma’am.” She raised her head and looked directly at me.
“And I swear my loyalty to you.”
I studied her for a moment before saying “Then we have a deal.”