Chapter 14
Celina left the estate two days later.
No engagement ceremony to reverse.
No public spectacle.
She was my wife.
That made everything uglier.
Marriage did not disappear because trust did.
I gave her distance.
Nothing more.
She lost all Serrano access immediately.
No household authority.
No captain channels.
No ability to use my name.
No private instructions through guards.
Rafael tried contacting her once.
My men told him not to do it again.
He understood.
I did not need threats.
The structure around her was gone.
Marcus—no, there was no Marcus in this family—Rafael had taught me something useful.
People like Celina often appear powerful because everyone around them assumes somebody more powerful approves.
Remove that assumption and half the power evaporates.
The other half was fear.
That took longer.
Teresa still asked permission before taking food from the refrigerator.
The first time, I almost broke.
“Mom.”
She froze.
“What?”
“This is your home.”
Her eyes filled.
“I know.”
“No.”
I walked to the pantry.
Removed the lock completely.
Dropped it on the counter.
“No one asks permission to eat here.”
Ivy clapped.
Owen copied her because he did not know why.
Teresa laughed.
That sound mattered.
Then she looked at me.
“Your father would hate this.”
“Why?”
“He loved locked cabinets.”
I laughed too.
For the first time in weeks.
“Then he can complain.”
She shook her head.
“Still arrogant.”
“Genetic.”
The twins laughed because we did.
Ordinary noise.
I had missed it.
Powerful homes are often too quiet because everyone is listening for whoever controls the mood.
I wanted noise back.
Dropped spoons.
Children arguing.
May you like
My mother insulting my coffee.
Anything except the silence Celina trained into us.
