Chapter 5
The opulent dining hall was suffocatingly tense. The warm golden light cascading from the chandeliers seemed to mock the dark, vicious betrayal that had just been exposed. Vivienne Cross stood near the head of the banquet table, her luxurious emerald evening gown suddenly looking like a target painted on her back. The polished, reassuring smile that usually charmed the syndicate members had completely evaporated, leaving behind a feral mask of desperation and cornered panic.
"Silas, you must listen to reason," Vivienne pleaded, her voice trembling as she realized her meticulously crafted coup was unraveling spectacularly. "She was a liability! She was weak! She wanted to take you away from the business, to convince you to go legitimate! I did this to protect your empire!"
"You orchestrated a fire, faked the death of my wife, and imprisoned her in a lightless room to protect my empire?" Silas asked, his deep voice slicing through her frantic excuses with effortless, measured authority.
"I kept her alive!" Vivienne shrieked, pointing a manicured finger toward the open paneled door. "I could have let her burn, but I showed mercy! I just needed her out of the way until the wedding was finalized and the assets were transferred to my name!"
The confession echoed off the gilded wall panels, sealing her fate. She hadn't denied the imprisonment; she had merely attempted to justify it as a necessary financial measure.
Silas let out a slow, measured breath. He did not look at Vivienne anymore. He turned his attention to the dozens of elite guests, capos, and relatives seated around the massive banquet table. The warm fairy lights from the towering Christmas tree twinkled in the background, a stark contrast to the violence simmering in the mafia boss's broad shoulders.
"Do you all believe this family matter is a theatrical performance arranged for your holiday entertainment?" Silas asked the crowd.
The unspoken threat was perfectly clear. Chairs scraped frantically against the cream marble floors. Men and women with fair, rosy skin paled in terror as they abandoned their half-eaten meals, fine wine, and festive cheer. They rushed toward the massive double doors, eager to escape the impending explosion of Ashford violence before they were forced to take a side.
Within ninety seconds, the sprawling dining hall was completely empty, save for Silas, Vivienne, Marianne, Lily, Nora, and the heavy security detail standing silently by the exits.
"Nora," Silas commanded softly, his tone shifting only marginally as he addressed the gentle maid. "Will you take my wife and daughter upstairs to the master suite? Lock the doors. Allow no one inside but my personal guard."
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"Yes, Mr. Ashford," Nora replied quickly. She stepped forward, her graceful posture rigid with adrenaline. She gently helped Marianne to her feet, offering a supportive arm. "Come with me, ma'am. You're safe now."
As Nora guided the exhausted mother and clinging child out of the room, Silas turned his broad, masculine frame fully toward Vivienne, his artistic tattoos stark against his tailored suit as he prepared to dismantle her completely.
