Chapter 3: The Morning After

Waytt's POV

Waytt Moretti had lived by discipline for years.

Every morning began the same way—reports, meetings, and decisions that shaped the city's underworld. Emotions had never been part of his routine.

Yet that morning, before opening the first file on his desk, one thought crossed his mind.

Did she sleep?

The question annoyed him.

He had never wondered whether anyone had slept well before.

A guard approached and bowed.

"Boss, Madam has left her room."

Waytt looked toward the staircase.

A moment later, Kate appeared.

She wore a simple cream blouse tucked into black trousers. There were no expensive jewels, no heavy makeup, only quiet elegance.

She looked...

Less exhausted.

The dark circles beneath her eyes hadn't disappeared, but they seemed lighter.

She slept.

Not enough.

But more than usual.

Without realizing it, the tension in his shoulders eased.

His attention returned to the meeting in front of him.

Several trusted men stood around the long dining table covered with maps, photographs, and confidential reports.

"We've located the warehouse," one man reported.

"Should we proceed tonight?"

Waytt read the file silently before answering.

"No."

The room became completely still.

One of the men hesitated.

"But Boss, if we delay—"

Waytt slowly lifted his eyes.

The man immediately lowered his head.

"...Understood."

No one questioned him again.

His decisions were absolute.

As they always had been.

Then he noticed Kate quietly observing from the staircase.

She wasn't frightened.

She was studying everything.

Analyzing.

Exactly as his investigation had described.

Intelligent.

---

Kate's POV

She had expected to wake after another restless night.

Instead, sunlight streamed through the curtains.

Her phone displayed 8:12 A.M.

Five hours.

She had actually slept for five uninterrupted hours.

It had been months since that had happened.

She couldn't explain why.

The mansion remained unfamiliar, yet for the first time in years, her mind had been quiet enough to rest.

As she reached the main hall, she found Waytt surrounded by serious-looking men discussing business.

Nobody interrupted him.

Nobody argued.

Even when one man tried to question his decision, a single look from Waytt ended the conversation.

He never raised his voice.

He didn't need to.

Authority surrounded him naturally.

Then his eyes shifted toward her.

"Breakfast."

The head chef nodded immediately.

"Right away, Boss."

Kate shook her head politely.

"I'm not hungry."

Waytt closed the report in front of him.

"You'll eat."

His voice remained calm.

It wasn't a command spoken in anger.

It sounded more like a simple fact.

Kate crossed her arms.

"I said I'm not hungry."

For a second, silence filled the room.

Several guards lowered their eyes, clearly uncomfortable.

Nobody refused Waytt Moretti.

Instead of insisting, he asked a question she hadn't expected.

"What do you usually eat?"

She blinked.

"...Vegetable soup... toast... and black coffee."

Waytt turned toward the chef.

"You heard her."

"Yes, Boss."

The meeting continued immediately.

Kate remained standing for a moment, surprised.

He hadn't forced her to eat whatever was available.

He had simply chosen to accommodate her.

It was a small gesture.

But somehow...

It felt important.

---

Waytt's POV

Breakfast was unusually quiet.

Kate sat at the opposite end of the long dining table while servants carefully placed her meal before her.

He continued reading reports while drinking black coffee.

The chef waited nervously.

Kate tasted the soup.

Her eyes widened slightly.

"This is really good."

The chef smiled.

"Boss asked us to prepare it exactly as you prefer."

Waytt didn't look up from the document in his hands.

"If you don't like something," he said evenly, "tell the staff. They'll change it."

A brief silence followed.

"...Thank you," Kate replied softly.

He acknowledged her with a small nod.

Nothing more.

Nothing less.

Just then, Adrian entered carrying another stack of files.

He glanced from Waytt to Kate, sensing the unusually peaceful atmosphere.

A mischievous smile appeared.

"So..."

Waytt sighed without lifting his eyes.

"Don't."

"I haven't even said anything."

"You were about to."

Adrian laughed quietly, surrendering before another word could leave his mouth.

Kate watched the exchange with growing curiosity.

For the first time, she realized the feared mafia boss wasn't surrounded only by people who feared him.

There was at least one person who knew him well enough to joke with him.

And for the first time since their forced marriage, Waytt Moretti seemed less like an untouchable legend...

...and a little more like a man.

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