Chapter 1 Chapter 1

I was walking out of the Carlo family's parlor with my father when we ran into Giovanni Carlo and his brothers. The others quickly dispersed, leaving Giovanni standing there alone. "Estella's here for Giovanni again?" They sneered as they left. "She really doesn't hold back when it comes to chasing a guy. Guess the Vinci family's heiress has no shame." Giovanni looked at me coldly. "This is business between our fathers. What are you doing here? Trying to get my father to talk me into it again? Give it a rest. "You've been clinging to me, using every trick you can to force me to marry you. You've embarrassed me enough. Whether I'd even consider marrying you is still up for debate. No one can change my mind." His disgust was just as strong as it was in my past life. I let out a breath, realizing how ridiculous I'd once been for obsessing over a man like him. "What does it have to do with you? Uncle Michael invited me. Tomorrow is my 20th birthday. Once they're done discussing business, he and Papa are going to plan my party," I said. The air grew heavy with tension. They might have looked down on me, but the Carlo family elders had always treated me kindly. That was especially true for their boss, Michael Carlo. He had promised long ago that when I turned twenty, I could choose one of his sons to marry, and that man would become the heir to the Carlo family. The others wasted no time offering Giovanni their insincere congratulations. "Giovanni, don't forget us once you take over the family." "Giovanni's clearly the most capable one here. No doubt he deserves to be heir. Shame he has to marry her, though." Giovanni shot me a mocking glance. "You're probably more excited than I am. You finally got what you wanted after chasing me all these years." He stepped forward and casually lifted my chin. "Let's get one thing straight. After we're married, we each live our own lives. You don't get to question what I do or who I'm with. That's the only way I'll agree to this." His words caught me off guard. This wasn't how he reacted in my past life. Just then, my adopted sister Eleanor Vinci appeared, coughing weakly as she walked toward Giovanni. "Why are you here? Weren't you sick?" he asked worriedly. Giovanni quickly reached out to steady her, and Eleanor conveniently fell into his arms. "Papa asked me to keep Estella company," Eleanor said softly, playing innocent. "He was worried she might get lonely." Giovanni pulled her closer, his eyes full of concern. He shot me a furious glare. "How could you be so selfish? You knew Eleanor was sick and still made her come?" He lifted Eleanor into his arms and walked away right in front of me. Before leaving, he threw one last threat at me. "Estella, if you keep being this unreasonable, there's no way I'm marrying you." The resentment I'd carried through two lifetimes finally exploded. "Unreasonable? Giovanni, I brought my sister here and gave you the perfect chance to take her to your bed. Wasn't that considerate enough?" I said coldly.

Chapter 2 Chapter 2

On the day of my birthday celebration, Giovanni didn't show up until most of the elders had already left. He strolled in, arm in arm with Eleanor. Eleanor's cheeks were flushed, and her steps were unsteady. Giovanni wore a satisfied look, and red marks were clearly visible on his neck. It was obvious to everyone what they had just done. The old me from my previous life would've burst into tears right then and there. I would've confronted them, demanding to know why they would do something like this. It was my birthday, after all. One of them was the man I had chased for five years. In all of Velmont's underworld, everyone knew he was supposed to be my fiance. The other was my adopted sister, the second daughter of the Vinci family, whom my parents raised as if she were their own. And yet, the two of them went behind my back and started an affair without a shred of shame. Did they ever once stop to think how I might feel? But now, I merely glanced at them and continued my conversation. Giovanni caught my gaze and immediately moved Eleanor behind him, waiting for me to lash out. When I didn't react, he looked almost disappointed. He shoved Eleanor aside and stepped up to me with a sneer. "What's this, Estella? Playing it cool because you're afraid I'll call off the engagement? "Good. That's how it should be. I'm set to inherit the Carlo family. Do you really think I will waste my life on a fool like you? "Of course, I'll need beautiful women around to pass the time. Since you're being so understanding, take this as your reward," Giovanni said. He pulled out a small jewelry box as he spoke. Eleanor chimed in with admiration. "Isn't this bracelet the highlight of the auction the other night? Papa bought Estella so many jewels. Giovanni, you really do spoil her." Giovanni pulled his hand back at once. "Eleanor, whatever your sister has, you deserve the same. She has more than enough. This one's yours." Eleanor hesitated, glancing at me. "But it was supposed to be her birthday gift…" Giovanni's tone softened as he looked at her. "Take it. If she's marrying me, then she has to follow my rules. If I say it's yours, it's yours. I'll protect you and won't let her bully you again." Then he turned to me and said coldly, "The bracelet's hers now. You don't have a problem with that, do you? I've already agreed to marry you, so don't push your luck." The moment those words left his mouth, mocking laughter rippled through the crowd. Every chuckle felt like a knife to the heart. It had always been like this. I had been willing to throw away my dignity as long as I could be with him. I was the eldest daughter of the Vinci family, yet I groveled at his feet like I had no self-respect. Once, I delivered a letter to the Carlo family on a stormy day. He casually tossed me a coat, and I held onto it for years. Whenever I missed him to the point of madness, I would press it to my face just to breathe in the lingering scent. When he eventually found out, he spat at me in disgust. "Estella, you're such a desperate vixen. Don't you have any shame?" He crushed my dignity without hesitation, yet I only worried about the beating he got when Uncle Michael overheard. Afterward, he exaggerated everything and spread the story around. For a while, people saw me as nothing more than a vixen with no shame. But if I was a vixen, what were the two of them? Still walking around with the marks of what they'd just done—nothing but a disgusting pair with no self-control. I couldn't even look at them without feeling sick. Just as I turned to leave, Giovanni stopped me. "What's wrong? Couldn't keep up the act? I knew it. A jealous woman like you was never going to pull off being gracious." He grabbed my wrist, but I yanked it free. "Mr. Carlo, I'd appreciate some respect," I said flatly. He scoffed. "First, you fake grace, now you act all virtuous? Haven't you always wanted me to touch you? Don't come crawling into my bed later, begging me to ignore how much you disgust me." I couldn't take it anymore and cut him off. "I'll say it again, Mr. Carlo. Show some respect. I never said I'd marry you." As soon as I finished speaking, the room fell completely silent. A wave of laughter erupted soon after. "Oh really? Then who are you going to marry? Everyone in the Velmont underworld knows how you've been obsessed with me. Who else would even want you?" He paused, as if a thought had just struck him. "Oh, wait, maybe my youngest brother Salvatore wouldn't mind." After a brief silence, a nastier grin crept across his face. "He nearly ended up paralyzed from an ambush by a rival family. He's been sickly ever since. "I heard he can't even function as a man anymore. No woman's willing to marry him. A woman nobody wants and a cripple nobody dares to touch. The two of you make a perfect match."

Chapter 3 Chapter 3

His spiteful words drew everyone's attention. They were all waiting to see me make a fool of myself. Just then, Salvatore was quietly wheeled into the banquet hall, heading straight toward me. I looked at his gaunt face and the legs that could barely leave the wheelchair anymore. My feelings grew complicated as I gazed at him. My mind drifted back to three days ago, when I had privately gone to Uncle Michael and told him my decision. I said I wouldn't be choosing Giovanni. I had already made up my mind. I would choose his sixth son, Salvatore. Uncle Michael didn't question my choice. He simply told me to keep it quiet for now, and we'd announce it to the entire Velmont underworld when the time was right. With that in mind, I held my tongue. Salvatore said nothing. He gave me a brief glance, then signaled for his attendant to wheel him away. On the way back, I shared a car with Eleanor. She swung her wrist smugly, showing off the bracelet Giovanni had given her. Its gems sparkled under the light. "So what if you become Giovanni's wife? He doesn't love you. I'm the one he's obsessed with. He told me himself—everything about me drives him crazy, and he'll love me forever." To outsiders, Eleanor always seemed sweet and harmless. But when no one else was around, she never bothered to hide her malice. Looking at her now brought back the memory of catching her in bed with Giovanni in my past life. She trembled as she buried her face in his chest. Giovanni held her tightly, as if terrified I might snap in a jealous rage and hurt her. What was never mine to begin with wasn't worth holding on to. That was the promise I made to myself the moment I was reborn. So in this life, I chose to step aside. I'd let her have Giovanni and see just how long his so-called forever would really last. I gave a faint smile. "You're right. He does seem to love you. So grow up quickly and don't keep him waiting." Eleanor was clearly agitated by my indifference. She let out a spiteful laugh. "Drop the act. I know you're dying of jealousy, but you'll never take Giovanni's love from me!" … Time passed, and soon, Christmas arrived. As the eldest daughter of the Vinci family and a clear favourite of Uncle Michael, who would soon become my father-in-law, I was naturally the one chosen to deliver the holiday gifts. But just as I stepped onto Carlo territory, I ran into Eleanor. She hadn't been home in days. Dressed in an exclusive designer outfit and dripping in jewelry, she looked more like a socialite than I did. Showing off, she said, "Pretty, isn't it? Giovanni got it all for me! He said I'm the most beautiful girl in the world, and I deserve the finest things. I told him it's too much, but he just wouldn't listen." I tried to walk past her, but she blocked my way. "Come on, I'm just trying to share my happiness. Why the cold shoulder? I know you're jealous, but it's not my fault Giovanni loves me and not you." Then, she put on a wounded look and began to cry as she dabbed at imaginary tears. I reached out to move her aside, but she collapsed dramatically and started sobbing even louder. "Estella, you hit me! Every time you're upset, you take it out on me!" Her cries quickly drew Giovanni over. He shoved me without even caring who was right or wrong. "Estella, you vicious woman! Eleanor is gentle and kind. She's always tolerated your temper, and yet you keep bullying her!" I stared at them, then let out a bitter laugh. "Me? Bullying her? Giovanni, sleeping with that shameless woman over and over must've rotted your brain. "And you, Eleanor. My parents raised you like their own and gave you everything. What a waste. You really are your mother's daughter. A child of a vixen and a junkie, already using such cheap tricks at your age…" Before I could finish, a sharp slap landed on my right cheek. Giovanni, a grown man, struck me with his full strength. The blow split the corner of my lips and left my ears ringing. And still, he acted like I deserved it. "Enough, Estella! Apologize. I won't let you talk about Eleanor like that!"