Just before the weapons design competition, my design schematics mysteriously go missing.

Since I no longer have anything to submit, I'm disqualified from the competition. Meanwhile, my older sister, Camilla Cassano, steals the show with my designs. She gets what she wants, which is to marry the next don of the Carbone family—and the man I've had a crush on since I was a child—Leon Carbone.

When she brags about it to me, I don't kick up a fuss. Instead, I calmly wish her the best.

In my previous life, I'd chosen to expose her on the spot. I seized back the glory that was meant to be mine and married Leon.

I thought that was the start of my happiness, but it turned out to be the beginning of my nightmare.

Leon had always been in love with Camilla. Throughout our five years of marriage, I was made to slave away like a robot and spend all my time researching. In the end, I was blown to pieces in an explosion triggered by sheer exhaustion.

Now that I'm back in time, I personally deliver Camilla to Leon's side, and I marry Don Lorenzo Marra, the notoriously ruthless womanizer.

Everyone waits to watch me sink into the depths of despair, rueing my every decision.

I'm the only one who knows just how powerful the man, so misunderstood by the world, truly is.

The deafening explosion surrounded me. I closed my eyes and allowed the flames—and the searing pain—to sweep across every inch of my body.

I didn't know how much time had passed, but the sound of the explosion vanished, slowly replaced by bustling chatter and the scent of perfume.

When I opened my eyes, my ears were buzzing.

I saw crystal chandeliers, an exhibition stage… and an audience.

This was the weapons design competition that had been jointly held by several mafia families five years ago!

Had I… gone back in time?

"Ms. Elena Cassano? Where's your entry? The judges are still waiting on your submission."

I was still reeling from the dizziness of the blast earlier. Camilla Cassano immediately stepped forward and said with a sweet smile, "Gentlemen, my younger sister, Elena, is too nervous. She hasn't gotten ready yet. Here is my design schematic. Please take a look at this first."

She opened her document folder, and the sight of those familiar schematics snapped me back to reality. It was my proudest work, but Camilla's name was now printed on it.

"This is absolutely brilliant!" the judges exclaimed, lavishing Camilla with praise.

Feeling triumphant but wary, Camilla shot me a glance and silently mouthed, "If you dare expose me, you're a goner."

She didn't have to worry about that. I wasn't the least bit interested in exposing her.

In my previous life, I'd immediately caused a scene over it, and my parents stormed over to give me two hard slaps. Even so, I screamed at the top of my lungs, accusing Camilla of stealing my work and even showing proof to back up my claims. In the end, I was able to reclaim my rightful glory.

However, I didn't know that the Carbone family was the main organizer of this competition. I was also unaware that they'd conducted this so-called competition solely for the sake of choosing a wife for Leon Carbone, our childhood friend and the future don of the Carbone family.

He would have to marry the person who won the competition.

When I heard about the marriage, I was over the moon with joy, for I'd always liked Leon. I was overwhelmed with the glory of winning the competition and the happiness of getting to marry him.

On the day of my wedding, however, Leon shoved himself into me like a brute, clenching his teeth as he snarled, "Why did you challenge Camilla? She's the one I've always wanted to marry!"

The next five years after that had been a living nightmare for me.

However, fate had given me a second chance to do it all over again. This time, I swallowed back every word of protest.

When the judges pressed me again, I took a steadying breath and said, "Sorry, but a rabid dog stole my design schematic."

Camilla's smile froze as she shot me a furious glare.

Mocking laughter rippled through the crowd, and the judges eyed me derisively as well, but it didn't matter to me.

Camilla got her way and was crowned the champion. She stood on the stage with a dazzling smile as she hoisted the trophy.

As the crowd below broke out in thunderous applause, our parents shed tears of pride. When someone asked them about me, they scoffed in contempt.

"Elena? I'm sorry to have disappointed all of you, but she's always been extremely mediocre."

"She hasn't inherited a single bit of our family's gift in design. It's such a disgrace, really."

From my corner, I watched everything with an icy expression.

Camilla and I were both their biological daughters. However, Camilla was more outgoing and better at charming others, so they'd always favored her.

Truth be told, my parents weren't as biased when we were young. As we got older, Camilla discovered that she had no talent in design at all, so she began stealing my designs and claiming them as her own—just as she'd done today.

I'd cried about it, kicked up a fuss, and even did my best to prove myself. Yet every single time, Camilla would use her superb acting skills to convince my parents that I was just making up lies out of jealousy toward her.

Over time, they became even more and more indifferent toward me. And when Camilla framed me by pretending that I'd scalded her right hand, they became utterly disappointed in me.

After getting off the stage, Camilla walked over to me and taunted quietly, "So, you've learned to keep your mouth shut, huh? Aren't you going to go around claiming that you're the real designer, like you always do?"

I didn't have an outburst, which was what she wanted. Instead, I smiled faintly at her and said, "You must be joking, Camilla. This was always your design."

Camilla knew nothing about weapons, so she didn't notice that the seemingly perfect design had a fatal flaw.

Once the design was put into mass production, the consequences would be unthinkable. This was something I'd only discovered later on in my previous life.

Briefly startled by my words, Camilla soon lifted her chin smugly and declared, "At least you know your place. After all, in Mom and Dad's eyes, all of the designs came from me. Even if you tried to claim it's yours, they won't believe you, and they won't love you either."

Leaning in close, she added, "Just like how Leon doesn't love you either."

My fingers twitched, but my expression remained calm.

"You're barking up the wrong tree, Camilla. I stopped caring about who he loved a long time ago."

Camilla cocked a brow. She was a little displeased to see that both her attempts at rubbing this in my nose had failed to get a rise out of me. Just as she was about to speak, however, the door to the backstage area flew open.

"Camilla, my precious daughter!" Mom rushed over, pushing me aside before hugging Camilla in excitement. "Quick! Grab your trophy. Mr. Carbone has come in person to congratulate you!"

It was only after I'd stumbled from her shoving me that Mom noticed my presence. Frowning, she berated me, "Elena, you useless creature who couldn't even produce a design! What are you trying to do now? Don't tell me you're trying to hurt Camilla again!"

"I…"

My instinctive reaction was to turn around and leave this suffocating place.

However, Mom seized my arm and dragged me out of the backstage area, saying, "Come and congratulate her! Don't you dare sulk and act like you can't stand seeing your sister succeed!"

Inside the hall, Leon stood surrounded by admirers, his handsome face bearing a look of innate haughtiness.

Dad spotted me, and his kindly smile vanished, replaced by a look of unmasked detestation. He warned me quietly, "Stand still and behave yourself. Don't you dare cause any trouble, like how you always do."

Expressionless, I watched as Camilla gracefully stepped forward, presenting her trophy to Leon. "Look! I did it!"

"Congratulations, Camilla," Leon said with a smile before holding out a ring. "You have such remarkable talent. I, Leon Carbone, hereby propose to you."

The hall erupted.

Thrilled and bashful, Camilla accepted the ring before flashing a gloating smile at me. Turning back to Leon, she deliberately remarked, "If I'd known this would happen, I should've gotten Elena to head home first. She must be heartbroken to see this. She's always had a thing for you, Leon."

"Oh?" Leon eyed me in amusement.

Camilla continued, "It's true. Don't be fooled by the way she looks now. I bet her heart is crushed right now. But both the Carbones and our family, the Cassanos, need someone with real talent to keep the family going."

Turning to me, she said with a beaming smile, "Isn't that right, Elena?"

A silence fell over the hall. I clenched my fists and pressed my lips together. I wasn't going to respond to her attempt to humiliate me.

Chuckling, Leon studied me closely. "I had no idea you've felt that way about me all along, Elena."

The shame was unbearable. I spun around to leave, but he grabbed my jaw and remarked, "Don't be shy. You may lack your family's gift in design, but you've got a pretty face."

Crude laughter rippled through the crowd.

"Leon!" Camilla looped her arm through his with a playful pout. "Don't tease Elena like that. She might take you seriously."

Leon laughed. "Why don't I take you both? Camilla can be my wife. As for Elena…" He glanced suggestively at my waist before continuing, "She can be my mistress."

"In your dreams!" I snapped, turning my head away in disgust.

The sight of him alone brought back memories of what I'd endured in my previous life.

After we got married, Leon would only storm into my bedroom when he needed to release his pent-up desire. He'd shove into me without any regard for what state I was in. Keeping his eyes closed, he rammed into me while moaning Camilla's name.

Just recalling it now made me nauseated.

I took a deep breath to keep my anger in check. I was afraid that if I kept looking at him, I wouldn't be able to stop myself from grabbing a chair and bashing his head in, so I turned to leave after saying curtly, "I hope you two live a long and happy life together."

Camilla blocked me and laughed shrilly. "When did you learn how to play hard to get, huh? Looks like you've improved a bit."

Mom held Camilla's shoulder and consoled her affectionately before turning to me. She warned, "Don't get any funny ideas, Elena."

I was just about to refute her when Camilla's phone buzzed. After checking her email, she squealed, "Oh, my goodness! Someone just submitted a huge order for my winning design! It's three million dollars! And it's already been paid in full!"

"What? Three million dollars?" Mom shrieked with joy. "You really are the money-maker of our family, Camilla!"

The guests swarmed over to shower Camilla with congratulations. Leon proudly wrapped an arm around her waist. Dad happily declared that they'd book the finest restaurant for a celebration.

While the hall was filled with laughter and cheer, I left, quietly slipping out the back door when everyone else was too busy to notice me.

I went home and packed my things.

They should laugh while they still could—the louder, the better.

Once they'd sunk all of the money into production, only to find that there was a design flaw that couldn't be fixed, they'd be sobbing even louder than their laughter now.

I packed my bags in a rush. However, just as I opened the front door to leave, I nearly collided with my parents and Camilla, who had just returned from the celebration.

Dad's brows furrowed as his eyes locked on the suitcase in my hand. His tone was harsh as he questioned, "Where do you think you're going?"

"I'm leaving," I said coldly. "One daughter is all you need anyway."

Dad's expression darkened. In one swift motion, he yanked the suitcase out of my grip and hurled it hard against the wall, snarling, "Over my dead body! Where the hell do you think you're running off to when you're about to get married?"

Staring blankly at him, I asked, "What do you mean by that?"

Camilla leaned in with a grin, her eyes glinting with malice. "The Marra family, the one who placed the order, showed up at the celebration earlier tonight.

"They're willing to add another two million to their order… on one condition."

She deliberately drew out the last words. "That you marry into their family."

My whole body went rigid, dread coursing through me. "The Marra family?"

"That's right. The impoverished Marra family, who can't even afford to buy a decent gun," Camilla declared in feigned surprise. "You'll be marrying the infamous Lorenzo Marra."

I stared at my parents in disbelief. "Have you lost your mind? Everyone knows that Lorenzo is a violent womanizer who's killed plenty of women!"

Mom let out an insincere sigh. "Don't make it sound so bad, Elena. We're your parents! Do you think we'd harm you?

"You're already 26 years old. Do you plan on staying single forever? We'll be the laughingstock of the entire city!"

She patted my shoulder and said with false tenderness, "Behave and do as we say, unless you'd rather marry a homeless beggar instead?"

I was trembling with rage, while Camilla was laughing so hard she could barely breathe. "Don't worry, Elena. Although it's said that he likes having his way with women before killing them, isn't it touching that he's willing to spend millions just to marry you? He's showing such sincerity!"

Mom chuckled along as well. "That's right. That's probably all the money the Marras have! I wonder if they borrowed money from anyone else. Everyone knows they're barely holding on right now, but it's fine. At least they're still a family with a long history. You won't have a hard time after marrying into that family."

My fingers shook from anger as I pointed at them, growling, "That's enough! I'm a human being, not an object for sale!"

"Shut up!" Dad bellowed in annoyance. "Two million dollars isn't much, but at least it's enough to fund another production line. You should be grateful that someone wants a useless person like you. What's there for you to be unsatisfied with, huh?"

Now that I'd been reborn, I never once thought about getting married again, much less suffer the same torment because of a man.

"I'm not marrying him! I'd rather die than marry him!"

I tried to bolt for the door, but Dad gave a signal, and his bodyguards surged forward, twisting my arms painfully behind me.

"We've accepted the deal, so it's not up to you to refuse," Dad said coldly. "Lock her in the basement. She'll only be let out on the wedding day!"

"Let go of me! You lunatics! You leeches!"

I kicked and screamed with all the strength I could muster, to no avail. I was tossed into a basement room with only a tiny window. When the door slammed shut behind me, I was left alone in almost complete darkness.

From the other side, Camilla's voice rang out. "Oh. I almost forgot."

She raised her hand, which was now sporting a massive diamond ring, and tossed something in through the window on the iron door. It fell with a clang.

I groped for it, and under a sliver of moonlight, I saw what it was—a plain, timeworn silver cuff.

"It's a wedding gift from the Marra family." Camilla's mocking voice came through the door again. "Who knows where they picked up that piece of trash from?"

She cackled smugly, turning to leave as she said, "It's just like you, my dear little sister."

I clutched the cuff tightly, my tears spilling uncontrollably onto it. Strangely, it began to give off a faint bluish glow.

Startled, I brought it to my eyes and took a closer look.

Under the moonlight, the intricate carvings slowly revealed a secret mechanism in the cuff. I ran my fingers across it until I felt a tiny raised notch.

With a click, a paper-thin blade sprang out, gleaming in the light.

My heart pounded wildly. Even my breath hitched.

Was this… the forgemaster's cuff?

The forgemaster's cuff was a legendary masterpiece. It was said that only the greatest weaponsmiths could create it, for it was incredibly challenging to have both the material and the craftsmanship required to make one.

It had long since vanished from the market.

As a weapons designer, I knew better than anyone just how precious and valuable a forgemaster's cuff was.

Would a man capable of giving me a gift like this really be as useless as he was rumored to be?

…

When the light of dawn hit my eyes, I realized I'd dozed off. The door lock rattled, making me bolt upright. "Who's there?"

"Shh. It's me."

Leon's face appeared in the doorway. He snuck into the room before locking the door behind him.

He gave me that familiar smirk that he probably thought made him look charming. "I just came to check on my little Elena."

Step by step, he closed in. "I heard you're marrying Lorenzo Marra?"

"That's none of your business," I replied curtly.

"How is it none of my business?" Leon remarked before he reached out to stroke my face. "We grew up together. I care about you, too."

I swiftly turned my head away, feeling nauseated. "Don't touch me! Aren't you and Camilla engaged to be married?"

"That doesn't stop the three of us from having fun together," Leon said, his breath reeking of alcohol as it washed all over my face. "After all, you've been in love with me since you were little, right?"

I struggled to get away from him. "That's in the past. You make me sick now!"

Leon didn't care. He pushed me down and pinned me against the floor. "Stop acting like you're so chaste. You think Lorenzo will treat you better than me?"

His hands tugged at my clothes. "Rumor has it he's useless in bed. If you marry him, you'll be a widow in all but name. Why not be mine instead? At least you'll have some memories to rely on when you pleasure yourself."

"Get off me!" I screamed as I kneed him in the gut.

Leon grunted in pain, but he held me down even harder. "How dare you!"

Now that he was infuriated, he became frighteningly strong. With just a few tugs, he ripped the collar of my clothes into pieces. As I struggled in despair, my fingertip brushed against the cuff around my wrist.

The hidden mechanism sprang to life with a clack, and at the very next second, Leon's screams of agony tore through the basement.

The iron door to the basement room flew open with a loud bang, and Dad's furious roar rang out.

"What the hell? What did you do to Leon?"

Clutching the silver cuff, which was still dripping blood, I looked at the howling Leon as he writhed on the floor before looking up emotionlessly.

Mom rushed in, shrieking, "Oh, my goodness! Mr. Carbone's arm… Quick! Call a doctor!"

Camilla followed close behind, her flawless makeup smudged from the contorted expression she was now sporting. She stared fixedly at Leon, asking, "What's going on? Didn't you say you were just going out to the car to get my gift?"

Leon's arm had a gaping wound from the blade. His face was twisted in pain as he snarled, "I heard from your household staff that she'd been locked down here all night. I was worried she'd starve to death, so I came to check on her out of kindness.

"But this crazy woman tried to kill me with that damn cuff of hers because she's jealous I'm marrying you!"

My parents' eyes flicked to the cuff on my wrist, feeling a mix of both doubt and shock. However, Camilla had already bought his story. She lunged forward, her hand raised to slap me. "Have you lost your mind? You bitch!"

Not only did I not try to avoid her, but I even took a step forward, slashing the cuff in front of me.

Her raised hand froze midair. She stared at me, cowed by the madness in my eyes.

"You've gone insane, haven't you? You've completely lost your mind!" Dad roared, his finger trembling as he wagged it at me.

Supporting his bleeding arm, the ashen-faced Leon snarled, "You ungrateful bitch! Do you think Lorenzo would be better than me? He's a twisted freak because he can't even get it up! You're no longer qualified to be my mistress now. You're only worthy of being a sex slave!"

"A sex slave?" I repeated in disbelief. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

In the mafia world, a sex slave was 100 times less respectable than a mistress. A mistress could at least choose to walk away from that kind of life. However, a sex slave was treated like property and enslaved for life. Even her children would live as slaves.

Camilla hugged Leon and sneered. "You should count your blessings. Being Leon's sex slave is still better than marrying that psycho."

She turned to my parents, her eyes glittering with malice. "Why not make it up to Leon by branding her right now?"

"That's a brilliant idea!" Dad agreed before summoning his bodyguards to hold me down. "Bring the branding iron over!"

Mom's eyes flickered hesitantly, but Camilla leaned close and whispered in her ear, "Leon's the next don of the Carbone family, Mom. Our priority is to keep him happy."

Instantly, the faint hint of a guilty conscience Mom felt vanished, and she even heated the branding iron herself.

Camilla grabbed the red-hot branding iron and started walking toward me, saying with a sweet smile, "Don't be scared. It'll be over in a flash. From now on, you won't be able to go around seducing men with that face of yours anymore."

The bodyguards had twisted my arms behind me, making it impossible for me to break free. The branding iron hovered inches away from me when I shut my eyes and shouted, "Don't you want the two million dollars from the Marra family anymore?"

Dad stiffened, and Camilla stopped as well.

"The money hasn't been transferred into your account, right?" I desperately continued. "Do you think the Marras will agree to take me if I show up to the wedding with this mark on my face?"

Turning to Mom, Dad said grimly, "The money hasn't been transferred over to us yet."

"Dad!" Camilla cried out as she stomped her foot indignantly.

"Camilla, put it down," Dad commanded sharply.

Furious, she moved to put the branding iron down, but as she turned, she "accidentally" stumbled, and the branding iron flew straight at my hand.

I instinctively raised my hand to block it.

When the branding iron struck the silver cuff, a jet of gas abruptly shot out, spraying right into Camilla's face.

"Argh! My eyes!" Camilla screamed as she clutched her face, rolling on the floor in pain.

I seized this moment of chaos to rush over to a corner of the room. The bodyguards scrambled to help the screaming Camilla and the bleeding Leon. No one paid any further attention to me.

"Get them to the hospital at once!" Dad roared.

On his way out, he shot me a murderous glare. "I'll settle this score with you after the wedding!"

Once the sound of their footsteps faded, I raised my trembling wrist, searching for where the gas had come from. However, I noticed a tiny engraving on the inside of the cuff.

"For my bride—L"

My heart pounded as I brushed the letter "L" with my fingers.

Even though we hadn't even met yet, he'd already saved me twice. Perhaps marrying him wouldn't be a bad thing after all.