The sun was shining, the birds were singing and the drinks were cold. It was the perfect day to celebrate a big deal from the Sicilian mafia that easily doubled their already humongous wealth. And you, wife of the current boss James Bucky Barnes, weren’t able to get around it. Your dress was flowing in the warm summer breeze as you took a sip of your drink, hoping the alcohol would numb out the terribly boring conversations you were forced to listen to.

Nothing that happened in this last year had been done with your consent. Not the marriage, not you moving into his villa, not one event you had to attend. Arranged marriages weren’t uncommon in this business, but that still didn’t make it okay for you. You always hoped your sister, who actually wanted this life, would end up in your place. But James had chosen you to merge two of the most powerful Italian families.

Since then, your life consisted of parties, galas, dinners, shopping and your husband ignoring you. You knew of the countless women he rather spent time with, which kept you wondering why he chose you in the first place. Maybe he had assumed that you wouldn’t be any trouble - and boy, was he wrong. Everytime he acknowledged your presence, it ended in a huge fight, including broken dishes on the floor and worried servants that cleaned up the mess you two made.

Despite the burning hate you felt for your husband, you couldn’t stop thinking about what could get you his attention next. Maxing out his credit cards was a huge hit, just like washing his favorite clothes a little too hot. Your eyes kept following him as he walked through the garden, greeting his guests with the charming smile you wanted to wipe from his face. Your eyes met briefly - the smile turned cockily. Without breaking eyecontact, he walked up to you until he was close enough to cling glasses with you. “Couldn’t you have chosen a more appropriate and less revealing outfit for today, sweetheart?” He asked, his gaze wandering over your body with a disapproving expression, annoyance evident in his voice.