The next morning, the mansion was already unusually quiet.
Leon had left for school earlier with his nanny, leaving the house without the cheerful little voice that had gradually become familiar to everyone.
Santino had already finished his morning routine. After taking a shower, he dressed in a sharp business suit and adjusted his cuffs before walking downstairs.
He stopped briefly in the kitchen, poured himself a cup of coffee, and took a sip while checking something on his phone.
A few minutes later, he heard footsteps coming down the staircase.
Santino looked up.
Cassandra appeared at the bottom of the stairs wearing a beautiful pink dress. The color suited her perfectly, and the dress was stylish and elegant—but considerably shorter and more revealing than anything Santino expected her to wear outside the house.
His eyes remained on her for a moment.
Cassandra noticed.
"What?"
Santino lowered his phone.
"Where are you going dressed like that?"
Cassandra looked down at herself.
"I'm going to meet someone."
She walked toward the dining area.
"What's wrong with my dress?"
Santino's expression tightened.
"It's too short."
Cassandra looked at him incredulously.
"Too short? It's not that short."
"It is."
She glanced at the dress again.
"You're exaggerating."
"I don't think I am."
Cassandra picked up her handbag.
"It's perfectly fine."
Santino put down his coffee.
"Cassandra, you're a married woman now."
She turned toward him.
"So?"
Santino stared at her.
"So you can't just walk out of the house dressed like that."
"Why not?"
"Because it's revealing."
Cassandra rolled her eyes.
"Oh, please. It's a dress, Santino. I'm not walking outside naked."
"That isn't the point."
"Then what is the point?"
Santino stepped closer, his voice remaining firm.
"I don't care what you used to wear before we got married, but you're my wife now. I'm not comfortable with you going out dressed like that."
Cassandra folded her arms.
"And since when do you decide what I wear?"
"I didn't say I decide what you wear."
"You practically just did."
"I said change the dress."
"That's the same thing."
Santino sighed.
"Cassandra."
She picked up her handbag.
"I'm already late."
"Then you'll be late."
She glared at him.
"You're being unreasonable."
"And you're refusing to listen."
"I don't need permission to dress myself."
"I know."
"Then move."
Santino remained where he was.
"Change the dress, Cassandra."
She stared at him for several seconds, clearly irritated.
"No."
"Then you're not leaving dressed like that."
Cassandra's eyes widened.
"You're serious?"
"Completely."
She scoffed.
"You know what? I don't have time for this."
She walked past him.
"Cassandra."
She didn't stop.
He watched her reach the front door, open it, and step outside.
"Santino, if you want to spend your morning arguing with your wife about a dress, do it by yourself."
The door closed behind her.
Santino stood there in silence, staring at the closed door.
He took another sip of his coffee.
It was already going to be a long day.
Santino stood in the foyer for a few seconds after Cassandra walked out, staring at the closed door.
He slowly exhaled.
"Unbelievable."
He reached for his phone and called the security team stationed outside the mansion.
"Don't let Cassandra leave the property."
There was a brief pause on the other end before the head of security answered.
"Yes, sir."
Santino ended the call and slipped his phone into his pocket.
He had barely taken two steps when the front door suddenly opened again.
Cassandra stormed back inside, her handbag hanging from her shoulder and an expression of pure disbelief on her face.
She marched straight toward him.
"What did you just do?"
Santino remained calm.
"What are you talking about?"
"Don't pretend you don't know!"
She pointed toward the door.
"I just tried to leave, and your security guards told me I wasn't allowed to go outside."
Santino looked at her calmly.
"I told them not to let you leave."
Cassandra stared at him.
"You did what?"
"You heard me."
"Santino!"
Her voice echoed through the foyer.
"You cannot lock me inside this house!"
"I didn't lock you inside."
"You ordered your security to stop me from leaving!"
"Yes."
"And you think that's not the same thing?"
Santino sighed.
"I simply asked you to change your dress."
"And when I refused, you decided to imprison me?"
"You're being dramatic."
"I'm being dramatic?"
Cassandra laughed in disbelief.
"You're controlling me!"
Santino's expression hardened slightly.
"I'm your husband."
"And I'm still my own person!"
The two stared at each other, neither willing to back down.
Cassandra folded her arms.
"You have five seconds to tell your security guards to move."
Santino raised an eyebrow.
"And if I don't?"
Cassandra glared at him.
"Then we're going to have a very serious problem."
Santino stared at Cassandra for a long moment before finally letting out a tired sigh.
"I'm not going to fight with you over this," he said. "If you want to argue, you can do it by yourself. I have a lot of work waiting for me, and I have better things to do than spend the morning fighting with my wife."
Cassandra's eyes narrowed.
"Oh, you're going to work?"
"Yes."
"Then you're not going anywhere either."
Santino frowned.
"What?"
Cassandra turned on her heel and marched toward the front door.
"Cassandra, what are you doing?"
She reached the door, locked it firmly, and pulled the keys free.
Then she turned around with a triumphant expression.
Santino stared at her in disbelief.
She slipped the keys into the front of her clothing, securing them out of his reach.
"There," she said. "If I can't leave, you're not leaving either."
Santino's jaw tightened.
"You've got to be kidding me."
"Nope."
"You just locked me inside my own house."
Cassandra smiled sweetly.
"You started it."
Santino rubbed his forehead.
For a man who could negotiate multimillion-dollar business deals without blinking, he was beginning to realize that dealing with Cassandra was going to require an entirely different skill set.
Cassandra suddenly let out a long yawn.
"Ugh… I'm sleepy."
Santino looked at her in disbelief.
"Sleepy?"
She nodded casually, as though they hadn't just spent the last several minutes arguing.
"Yes. Very sleepy."
She adjusted her handbag on her shoulder and started toward the staircase.
Santino watched her.
"Where are you going?"
"To sleep."
"Now?"
"Yes."
She climbed the first few steps, then glanced back at him.
"You said you had a lot of work to do. Go do it."
Santino stared at her.
"You locked the door and took the keys."
"Exactly."
"And now you're going to sleep?"
Cassandra smiled innocently.
"Correct."
She continued upstairs without another word.
"Cassandra."
She ignored him.
"Cassandra!"
Still nothing.
A moment later, her footsteps disappeared down the hallway.
Santino remained alone in the foyer, staring at the staircase.
He slowly shook his head.
"She is unbelievable."
He looked toward the locked front door and sighed.
His morning had officially become a disaster.