Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Davina had no idea how she was going to face her father after everything she had done.

Kenzo might understand her decision eventually. She had explained several times that she wasn't ready for marriage, and although she knew he was hurt, she hoped he would eventually realize that running away had been better than making a promise she couldn't keep.

Her father, however, was an entirely different problem.

"Damn it!"

Davina tossed the pillow aside and sat up on the bed. She had been alone in the house for hours, and she had no idea when her gorilla of a husband would return.

"Ugh! This has to be the worst day of my life!"

All she had wanted was to escape a wedding she didn't want. Instead, she had ended up marrying a man she barely knew, moving into his enormous house, and becoming the target of her father's search.

What a wonderful day.

She fell back onto the mattress and covered her face with both hands.

She knew her father well enough to understand that he wouldn't take this lightly. He had a reputation to protect, and she had humiliated him in front of their guests. Being his daughter wouldn't necessarily save her from his anger.

She was still trying to imagine what he would say when a faint sound interrupted her thoughts.

A door had opened downstairs.

Davina sat upright.

She listened carefully. Footsteps echoed through the house, growing louder as someone approached.

Her first thought was Caspian.

Her second was that Caspian had warned her about the possibility of intruders.

She couldn't afford to take chances.

Davina hurried to the bedside table and grabbed the nearest vase. It was heavier than she expected, but she tightened her grip and crept toward the bedroom door.

The footsteps drew closer.

She pressed herself against the wall beside the entrance, holding her breath.

The moment someone stepped inside, Davina swung the vase forward.

"Oh, damn it!"

She stopped just in time.

Standing in front of her was a woman.

For a split second, they stared at each other in mutual shock. Then the stranger reached for the weapon at her side and pulled out a gun.

Davina immediately dropped the vase.

The sound of it hitting the floor echoed through the room.

"Who are you?" the woman demanded, pointing the gun at her. "What are you doing in this house?"

Davina slowly raised her hands, although her irritation quickly overtook her fear.

"Excuse me? Shouldn't I be asking you that? You're the one who just walked in here with a gun!"

The woman let out a short, humorless laugh.

"Are you a thief?"

"A thief? Do I look like someone who breaks into houses for a living?"

"Answer my question."

"Why don't you answer mine first? Who are you?"

The woman's grip tightened around the gun.

"I'm a friend of the owner. If you don't explain yourself, I won't hesitate to shoot."

Davina glanced at the weapon, then back at the woman.

She wasn't foolish enough to believe the gun was harmless. The stranger held it with the confidence of someone who knew exactly what she was doing.

Still, Davina refused to let herself be intimidated into silence.

"You're just his friend?"

"Yes. Now answer me."

Davina lowered her hands and walked toward the sofa.

The woman's eyes widened.

"Hey! I told you to stay where you are!"

"And I heard you." Davina sat down and crossed her legs. "But unless you're planning to shoot me for sitting on a sofa, I don't see the problem."

The woman stared at her as though she had lost her mind.

Davina gestured toward the gun.

"Besides, if you're really a friend of the owner, why don't you call him? Let's see what he has to say about you pointing that thing at his wife."

The woman's expression changed.

"His wife?"

Davina smiled without warmth.

"Yes. His wife. You know how to knock, don't you? Next time, try it before entering someone's house with a gun."

"Caspian doesn't have a wife."

"Then this should be an interesting conversation."

Davina leaned back against the sofa, trying to appear calmer than she felt. She had no intention of provoking an armed stranger any further, but she wasn't going to start begging, either.

The woman pulled out her phone and called Caspian.

It rang several times without an answer.

Her frustration became obvious.

Davina took out her own phone.

"Let me try."

She dialed Caspian's number. He answered almost immediately.

"What is it, Davina?"

The woman stiffened at the sound of his voice.

Davina put the call on speaker.

"I don't need anything," she replied. "But your friend seems to have a few questions."

There was a brief silence.

Then the woman stepped forward.

"Cas, it's me. Sophia."

Caspian's voice changed instantly.

"Sophia? What the hell are you doing at my house?"

"Who is this woman?"

"Put the gun down."

Sophia frowned.

"Answer me first!"

"I said put the gun down, Sophia!"

His voice was sharp enough that Davina instinctively looked at the phone.

Caspian was clearly furious.

He knew Sophia well enough to understand that she was perfectly capable of pointing a gun at someone before asking the right questions. Unfortunately, she had apparently decided to demonstrate that habit in his own house.

"Who is she?" Sophia demanded again.

Caspian rubbed his temple.

"She's my wife. And if you value our friendship, you will lower that gun immediately."

Sophia went still.

For several seconds, she simply stared at Davina.

Then, reluctantly, she lowered her weapon.

Davina looked at the gun before turning her attention back to Sophia.

"Well, that went better than expected."

"Don't get comfortable," Sophia muttered.

Davina raised an eyebrow.

"Was that supposed to scare me?"

"Enough, both of you," Caspian interrupted through the phone. "Davina, I'm coming home. Sophia, don't point that gun at her again."

"Fine," Sophia answered stiffly.

Davina had already lost interest in the conversation.

"Okay, then. Bye."

She ended the call before Caspian could say anything else.

Sophia stared at her in disbelief.

"Did you just hang up on Caspian?"

Davina placed her phone on the table.

"Yes. Why? Is there a law against it?"

Sophia's lips parted, but no answer came.

She had known Caspian for years. She had seen men twice her size struggle to speak in his presence, and she had watched business partners carefully weigh every word before addressing him.

Yet this woman had just ended his call as though he were an ordinary acquaintance.

Who exactly was Davina Flores?

And what had Caspian seen in her?

Davina stood and headed toward the kitchen.

"Sit down. Your legs might get tired standing there. Do you want something to eat? Cookies? Juice? Dessert?"

Sophia hesitated before following her.

"Cookies and juice will be fine."

"Good. At least we agree on something."

Davina disappeared into the kitchen, leaving Sophia alone with her thoughts.

She couldn't believe what had happened.

Caspian had never mentioned getting married. He hadn't even told her he was seeing someone. As far as Sophia knew, he had spent most of his life keeping women at a distance, preferring business to relationships.

And now he had a wife.

A wife who apparently had no fear of him.

Sophia glanced toward the kitchen.

Davina didn't look particularly intimidating. She wasn't dressed extravagantly, and she certainly didn't carry herself like the women Sophia usually saw around powerful men.

What could Caspian possibly have found attractive about her?

Sophia scoffed.

If it came down to appearance, she had nothing to worry about. She had always considered herself beautiful, and she had known Caspian long enough to develop feelings for him.

Unfortunately, he had never returned them.

Now, before she had even realized what was happening, another woman had taken a place in his life that Sophia had spent years hoping to occupy.

Davina returned with a tray of cookies and juice.

"Here you go."

She placed it on the table before sitting across from Sophia.

"You could have called Caspian before coming here. That way, you wouldn't have had to pull a gun on someone who actually lives in the house."

Sophia picked up her glass.

"When did he get married?"

"Yesterday."

"Yesterday?" Sophia repeated. "That's impossible. He didn't even have a girlfriend!"

Davina shrugged.

"Apparently, he didn't need one."

Sophia gave her a sharp look.

"Where did he even find you?"

Davina smiled sweetly.

"Why don't you ask your friend? I'm sure he'll give you a much more detailed answer."

Sophia's expression tightened.

She was beginning to understand that Davina's innocent-looking smile was often a warning rather than a sign of friendliness.

"You're very comfortable in his house," she remarked.

"Well, he brought me here."

"That doesn't mean you belong here."

Davina's smile disappeared.

She leaned forward slightly.

"Let me ask you something, Sophia. What exactly are you doing here? You arrived without warning, pulled a gun on me, and then acted surprised when I told you I was his wife."

Sophia said nothing.

Davina tilted her head.

"Do you like my husband?"

Sophia nearly choked on her juice.

"What?"

"You heard me."

"That's none of your business."

Davina leaned back.

"Then I suppose my marriage isn't your business, either."

Sophia placed her glass on the table a little harder than necessary.

She disliked the way Davina spoke to her. There was no fear in her voice, no attempt to impress her, and certainly no sign that she felt threatened by Sophia's presence.

It was infuriating.

Davina extended her hand with a bright smile.

"Anyway, I'm Davina. Davina Sanchez. Nice to meet you, Sophia."

The surname felt strange even to Davina herself. She had to resist the urge to grimace as she said it.

Sophia looked at the offered hand but didn't take it.

She wasn't ready to accept that Caspian had married someone else, much less someone who seemed determined to remind her of it.

Before she could respond, the front door opened.

Both women turned.

Caspian strode into the house, his expression dark and his movements hurried. He looked as though he had come straight from whatever he had been doing without stopping to think about anything else.

His gaze went directly to Sophia.

"What the hell are you doing here? You should have called before coming."

Sophia rolled her eyes.

"Is that how you greet an old friend?"

"Not when that friend enters my house and points a gun at my wife."

"I didn't know she was your wife!"

"That doesn't excuse what you did."

Sophia's expression hardened.

"I thought she was a thief. You never told me you were married, Caspian! How was I supposed to know?"

"You could have asked before pulling out a gun."

"I did ask!"

"After you pointed it at her."

Their voices rose, and Davina quietly reached for another cookie.

She had no intention of joining the argument. For once, she was perfectly happy to sit back and watch someone else deal with Caspian's temper.

Caspian finally turned toward her.

"Are you all right?"

Davina paused with the cookie halfway to her mouth.

It was the first thing he had asked her since arriving.

"I'm fine. Your friend is the one who nearly gave me a heart attack."

Sophia scoffed.

"You were about to hit me with a vase!"

"Because you entered the house without warning!"

"I thought you were a thief!"

"And I thought you were a burglar with terrible manners. We were both wrong."

John would probably have laughed if he had been there.

Caspian pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Sophia, apologize."

Sophia stared at him.

"You're serious?"

"Completely."

Her eyes moved toward Davina, who was calmly eating another cookie.

"I'm sorry," Sophia muttered.

Davina swallowed before answering.

"Apology accepted. Next time, use the doorbell."

Sophia looked as though she regretted apologizing at all.

Caspian exhaled slowly.

"What do you need, Sophia?"

For the first time since his arrival, Sophia had no answer ready.

She hadn't come because of a business emergency or an urgent problem. She had simply wanted to see him. When she heard he was back in the city, she decided to visit, never imagining she would find another woman living in his house.

"Nothing," she finally said.

Caspian frowned.

"Then why are you here?"

"I thought you weren't coming home today."

Davina glanced at him.

"Actually, that's what I wanted to ask, too. You said you were busy, so what are you doing here?"

Caspian turned toward her.

"I came to check on you."

Davina stared at him.

"Check on me? I'm not a child who needs someone looking after her."

"Apparently, I can't leave you alone for five minutes without finding out you've nearly assaulted a guest with a vase."

"She pointed a gun at me!"

"And you were holding a vase."

"Because I thought someone had broken into the house!"

Caspian looked at her for a moment before shaking his head.

"You're impossible."

"Look who's talking."

Sophia watched their exchange in silence.

She had expected Caspian to be irritated by Davina's behavior. Instead, he was standing there arguing with her as though he had known her for years.

And despite their sharp words, something about the way he looked at Davina was different.

Sophia had never seen him pay this much attention to a woman.

It made her chest tighten.

"I'm not leaving yet," she announced. "I'll stay here tonight."

Davina's head snapped toward her.

"What?"

Sophia lifted her chin.

"Is there a problem?"

"Several, actually. Starting with the fact that you arrived with a gun and apparently decided this was your house, too."

Sophia ignored her and turned toward the kitchen.

Davina looked at Caspian in disbelief.

"You're letting her stay?"

Caspian watched Sophia disappear through the doorway before answering.

"She's been my friend for years."

"And I'm your wife."

The words came out before Davina could stop them.

For a moment, the two of them stared at each other.

Davina immediately regretted saying it. She had no desire to claim a place in Caspian's life or compete with another woman for his attention. She simply didn't want to be treated like a guest in the house where she was expected to stay.

Caspian's expression shifted, as though he had noticed the same thing.

"Then tell me what you want," he said.

Davina blinked.

"What?"

"If you don't want Sophia staying here, say so. But don't expect me to guess what you're thinking."

She folded her arms.

"I want some privacy. I didn't agree to share a house with a woman who points guns at people."

Caspian considered that.

Then he called toward the kitchen.

"Sophia, I'll arrange a car for you. You can stay at the hotel tonight."

Sophia appeared in the doorway, visibly displeased.

"You're sending me away because of her?"

"I'm sending you away because you threatened someone in my house."

"She's your wife, Caspian. I understand that. But you didn't have to treat me like a stranger."

His jaw tightened.

"Then stop acting as though you have the right to do whatever you want here."

Sophia went silent.

For the first time that evening, she seemed to realize that Caspian wasn't going to change his mind.

She grabbed her bag and headed toward the entrance.

Before leaving, she turned to Davina.

"This isn't over."

Davina raised her eyebrows.

"Was that a threat?"

Sophia glared at her but didn't answer.

The front door slammed behind her.

Davina let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.

"Well, that was pleasant."

Caspian turned toward her.

"Come here."

She immediately took a step back.

"Why?"

"We need to talk."

"Then talk from there."

He gave her an incredulous look.

"Are you always this difficult?"

"Only when people give me reasons to be."

Caspian shook his head and walked toward the kitchen. Davina followed at a cautious distance, determined not to let him corner her again.

He poured himself a glass of water and leaned against the counter.

"I didn't expect Sophia to behave like that."

"Really? Because she seemed very comfortable threatening people with a gun."

"She's impulsive."

"That's a polite way of putting it."

Caspian took a drink.

"She's been my friend for a long time. I didn't know she felt that way about me."

Davina raised an eyebrow.

"And now you do."

"Yes."

"Congratulations."

He looked at her.

"Are you jealous?"

Davina nearly laughed.

"Jealous? Of Sophia? Don't flatter yourself. I'm not interested in competing for your attention."

"Then why are you so upset?"

"Because I'm living in a stranger's house, my father is looking for me, and your friend nearly shot me! Do you really need another reason?"

Caspian watched her closely.

For once, he didn't have an immediate comeback.

Davina continued, her voice growing quieter but no less firm.

"I don't know what you expect from this marriage, Caspian. You may have your reasons for getting married, but I have my own life. I don't want you making decisions for me, and I don't want to spend every day arguing with you."

He set down his glass.

"Neither do I."

"Then stop provoking me."

"You're not exactly easy to deal with yourself."

"At least I'm honest about it."

A faint smile touched his lips.

Davina narrowed her eyes.

"What are you smiling at?"

"Nothing."

"You're doing it again."

"Doing what?"

"Looking at me like you've just thought of something annoying."

His smile widened.

"Maybe I have."

Davina groaned.

"You're exhausting."

She turned to leave, but Caspian spoke before she reached the doorway.

"Where are you going?"

"To my room."

"Already?"

She looked over her shoulder.

"Do you have a problem with that?"

"Not at all."

He paused, then added, "I thought we could discuss our honeymoon."

Davina stopped dead.

Slowly, she turned around.

"Our what?"

"Our honeymoon."

She stared at him as though he had just announced plans to move to the moon.

"You have got to be kidding me."

"Why would I joke about our honeymoon?"

"Because we're not in love! We barely know each other!"

"You're right. We barely know each other."

"Then why are you talking about a honeymoon?"

Caspian pushed away from the counter and approached her.

"Because we're married, Davina."

She immediately stepped backward.

"Stay where you are."

He stopped, although amusement remained in his eyes.

"You're afraid of me?"

"I'm annoyed with you."

"Those aren't the same thing."

"They are when you're the one standing too close."

Caspian glanced at the space between them.

"Fine."

He took a step back.

The simple gesture surprised her. She had expected him to ignore her warning, as he had ignored so many of her objections during their first meeting.

Instead, he waited.

Davina drew a steadying breath.

"Listen carefully. I agreed to this marriage because I needed a way out of the wedding my family arranged. I didn't agree to fall in love with you, share a bed with you, or pretend we're a happy couple."

Caspian's expression became serious.

"And I didn't promise you any of those things."

"Then we're clear."

"Almost."

Davina frowned.

"What now?"

"I would appreciate it if you stopped threatening to kill me every time we disagree."

She stared at him.

Then, despite herself, she laughed.

"You married the wrong woman, Caspian Sanchez."

"That much is becoming obvious."

For a moment, the tension between them eased.

Then Caspian's gaze dropped to her lips.

Davina noticed the change in his expression and immediately stiffened.

"Don't even think about it."

"Think about what?"

"You know exactly what."

He stepped closer, and she moved back until her shoulders touched the wall.

Her heart began to pound, partly from anger and partly because she couldn't predict what he would do next.

Caspian tilted his head, watching her reaction.

"You're my wife," he murmured.

"On paper."

"Still my wife."

"That doesn't give you the right to touch me whenever you want."

The amusement disappeared from his face for a moment.

Then, instead of answering, he leaned forward and kissed her.

Davina froze in shock.

The kiss was brief, but the moment he pulled away, she shoved him back with both hands.

"What the hell is wrong with you?"

Caspian took a step away, his expression unreadable.

Davina touched her lips, furious and shaken.

"Don't ever do that again!"

He watched her silently.

"I told you to stay away from me. I told you I didn't want this. Why can't you understand a simple sentence?"

"Davina-"

"No!" She pointed at him. "You don't get to decide what happens to my body just because we signed a piece of paper. If you ever touch me like that again without my permission, I will make sure you regret it."

For once, Caspian had no sarcastic response.

He had expected her to argue. He had expected her to curse at him. But the anger in her eyes was different now, and he couldn't pretend he hadn't crossed a line she had clearly drawn.

He stepped aside, leaving the doorway open.

"All right."

Davina stared at him, still breathing hard.

"All right?"

"I heard you."

She didn't trust how easily he said it, but she wasn't going to stand there waiting for another argument.

She walked past him and headed toward the living room.

Caspian remained in the kitchen, watching her leave.

He had spent years making decisions without needing anyone's approval. People followed his orders because they understood the consequences of refusing him.

Davina was different.

She wasn't impressed by his wealth, intimidated by his temper, or willing to pretend that marriage had suddenly given him ownership over her.

And for the first time, Caspian wondered whether he had made a mistake by assuming he could handle her the same way he handled everyone else.

When Davina entered the living room, Sophia was still there, waiting near the entrance while John arranged transportation.

Sophia's gaze immediately settled on Davina's face.

Then she noticed the lipstick smeared across Davina's lips.

Her eyebrows rose.

Davina caught her reflection in the mirror and went completely still.

For one horrible second, she could only stare.

Then her face burned with anger.

"That damn asshole!"

Sophia glanced toward the kitchen.

She had known Caspian for years. He was usually stern, controlled, and difficult to read. He rarely showed affection, and she had never seen him behave so playfully with another woman.

Yet Davina had somehow managed to get a reaction out of him that Sophia had never received.

She looked back at Davina, her expression tightening.

"Interesting," she murmured.

Davina wiped her lips with the back of her hand.

"If you're about to say something, don't."

Sophia lifted both hands.

"I didn't say anything."

"Good. Keep it that way."

Davina stormed upstairs, determined to stay as far away from Caspian as possible for the rest of the night.

She had enough problems without dealing with his ego, his unexpected kisses, or the jealousy of a woman who clearly wanted him for herself.

But as she closed the bedroom door, one thought remained painfully clear.

Caspian Sanchez might be her husband on paper, but he was going to have to learn that being married to Davina Flores came with boundaries he couldn't simply ignore.