The day after I marry the powerful Don Lucio Ferrari, news breaks that his childhood love, Bella Bianchi, has died by suicide at home.

When he hears the news, he locks himself in his study for three days and three nights.

When he finally reappears, he walks straight up to me and says, "You will never replace her."

For ten long years, he acts as if I don't exist, refusing to speak to me.

During the chaos of a mafia shootout, when a gun is aimed straight at my heart, he instinctively throws himself in front of me.

"Viola, the biggest regret of my life is marrying you. If there is a next life, please let me go."

In the end, he is hit by multiple bullets while saving me and dies of blood loss on the way to the hospital.

At his funeral, everyone points fingers at me, saying I bewitched their Don and caused his death.

The day after his funeral, I take my own life at his grave.

When I open my eyes again, I am reborn three days before our wedding.

This time, I decide not to cling to him, choosing instead to let him be with the person he truly loves.

But now, he seems to regret it, and I can feel it.

"Viola, don't think I'll ever love you just because our parents arranged this marriage. I'm telling you now—it will never happen," Lucio Ferrari said arrogantly.

His words were like a blade, slicing straight through me.

I looked up at Don Lucio Ferrari. Though barely in his 20s, he carried himself with the air of power and charm, but his eyes held nothing but ruthless contempt.

I hadn't died. Somehow, I was back before our wedding.

My chest tightened with bitter pain as I forced the words out. "You've always loved Bella Bianchi, haven't you?"

Lucio frowned, staring at me with a gaze that pierced straight through me. "How do you know? I warn you. Stay away from her, or—"

"You can leave the rest unsaid," I interrupted him. "Soon, you'll be with her as you should. She will be your true wife."

Lucio studied me as if weighing the truth in my words. After a moment, he sneered. "Is this another little stunt of yours? I won't be tricked. Sign it. The print shop is waiting. Don't waste time."

He tossed a paper in front of me and turned away.

I stared at the wedding invitation. His name sprawled across it with the same effortless, cutting elegance that defined him.

As his footsteps faded, a sting pierced my heart like countless tiny needles.

In my past life, I had loved him to the point of losing myself. Just because he risked his life to save me, I had convinced myself he loved me.

I remembered how his men had cheered, saying I was unlike anyone else and that Lucio's attention showed how much he truly valued me.

Only after the wedding did I realize how foolish I had been. I remembered returning from a mission one night and hearing him slur, "The biggest regret of my life is listening to my parents and marrying Viola when Bella needed me most. I regret it more than anything…"

However, that wasn't the worst of it. The cruelest blow came from his last words before he died, telling me to never bother him again. They left me utterly broken.

Finally, I realized that my so-called love had held him captive for ten long years.

Thankfully, fate had granted me a second chance.

This time, I would stay far away from him. I would never cause his death again. From now on, I would never entangle myself in his life.

I picked up the wedding invitation and signed Bella Bianchi's name in the bride's section.

Just as I was about to head downstairs and get in the car, I heard Lucio talking on the phone.

"Redirect this month's special tonic to Bella. Viola's stronger. She won't need it for a while."

I froze. My heart felt as if an invisible hand had squeezed it.

The special tonic he mentioned was reserved for me by the famiglia. After missions that left me gravely injured, I had developed chronic anemia and relied on it just to stay alive. And yet, Lucio chose to give it to Bella, despite knowing my condition.

"There's nothing to worry about. Bella needs it more right now. Viola will understand," Lucio said into the phone. "Give Viola the next batch when it arrives."

A quiet laugh escaped me, carrying a hollow, bitter feeling that churned in my chest.

The last time I missed my medication, I was dizzy, and my heart was racing so badly that I could barely get out of bed. And yet, here he was, handing my tonic to Bella as if it meant nothing.

As I was lost in thoughts, Lucio had already finished the call.

Surprise flickered in Lucio's eyes as he glanced at me. "You heard that just now?"

I forced a bitter smile. Just as I opened my mouth, he cut me off, "Viola, you're about to become Madre. Keep the bigger picture in mind. Bella's health is even more fragile than yours. Be more considerate of her. Got it?"

"I'm fine. Give her the special tonic," I said.

Lucio froze. I understood why. If this had happened in my past life, I would have been clinging to him, making a scene.

He looked at me suspiciously. "Why are you acting so strange today?"

I pursed my lips and said nothing.

Lucio scoffed. "Suit yourself. I honestly don't care about this."

I nodded, keeping my gaze lowered to avoid his eyes.

A heavy silence settled between us on the drive. He seemed restless in it, and finally, he broke the quiet. "There's a new show at Luminara Opera House tonight. Once I wrap up my work, I'll take you there."

I felt a flicker of surprise. In my previous life, it had always been me pleading for him to accompany me to the opera house. Back then, he had been impatient. "The opera house? I have no time for romance. I married you only because my parents insisted."

In this life, I chose not to bring it up again.

He mistook my silence for a denial.

"Fine, then," he said with a hint of irritation, tossing one of the tickets onto my lap.

I glanced at the lone ticket resting on my lap. It brought back memories of how I had begged so desperately before, making this small, almost charitable act feel bitterly ironic.

"I will go," I said.

"Wait for me at the opera house after dinner—"

Before he could finish, someone from the famiglia darted over, blocking the car.

"Don Ferrari, wait! Something's happened to Ms. Bianchi!"

The brakes squealed as the car came to a sudden stop. I glanced over just in time to see Lucio's expression harden. He held the door handle tightly, poised to jump out.

"I'll manage the printing shop on my own. You should go check on Bella," I said thoughtfully.

Lucio went completely still, holding the car door as if rooted to the spot.

Disbelief was etched across his face as he stared at me, as though my quiet compliance had struck him harder than the threat to Bella.

I met his eyes. His expression was complicated. "Since when did you become so generous?"

A pang of bitterness rose in my chest, and my throat tightened. Whether I was generous or petty made no difference to him. In his eyes, I was nothing more than someone insignificant.

My lips trembled, but I swallowed my words.

At last, he broke the silence. "I don't know what you have in mind, but you'd better stay in line."

With that, he slammed the car door. The engine growled, and the car sped away. He didn't look back.

When I reached the printing shop, the owner, Simone Russo, was already outside, greeting me with his usual warm smile.

"Where's Lucio? He didn't come along?"

He was Lucio's uncle and a high-ranking member of the Alberti famiglia. In my previous life, he had wholeheartedly backed my marriage to Lucio.

I managed a smile. "He had an unexpected matter to attend to, so it's just me here."

Simone's smile dimmed. "Lucio has no sense of romance. The wedding is nearly upon us, and yet he's entirely absorbed in famiglia matters…"

I felt tears prick my eyes. I handed him the invitation. "It's okay. He's always put the famiglia first."

I wanted to announce to all the senior members that I would not marry Lucio, but I couldn't bring myself to say it.

I swallowed the bitterness rising in my chest and said softly, "I have received so much care and consideration from you and the elders during my time in the famiglia. I will always carry that kindness with me. If the famiglia ever needs me, I will do everything I can."

Simone smiled. "What are you talking about? After the wedding, all we want is for the two of you to live happily together and then have a healthy, beautiful child. That would be our greatest wish."

I said nothing.

In this life, I had already let go of my former obsession. I no longer clung to the idea of becoming Lucio's wife.

That way, he could freely pursue the one he truly loved and spend a happy, fulfilled lifetime with her.

After leaving Simone, I headed to Luminara Opera House, where Lucio and I had agreed to meet.

My phone rang.

"Viola, you should go in and watch the opera yourself. I might not make it," Lucio said. "Bella had a sudden heart attack. I need to stay with her."

His voice came through the receiver, and beneath it, I could faintly hear Bella's weak, trembling sobs in the background.

"But—"

"That's it. I'll make it up to you next time," he added.

Before I could say another word, the call ended with a cold, final beep.

Just as I put my phone away and took a step forward, a thick cloth clamped down over my mouth and nose from behind. A sharp, pungent odor rushed into my lungs.

There was a sedative on it. I struggled for less than half a minute before darkness swallowed my vision.

When I came to, the drug hadn't fully worn off. My head felt unbearably heavy, as though it had been filled with molten lead.

My hands were tightly bound behind the chair, and the tape over my mouth had been ripped off roughly, leaving my skin raw and burning.

A rough, chilling male voice spoke near my ear, "Don Ferrari, your fiancee is in our hands. If you want her back alive, be ready to pay the price. We'll be waiting at the old warehouse in the South Pier."

As his words ended, a masked man crouched beside me and pressed a phone to my ear.

"Listen. This is the voice of your beautiful fiancee."

Before I could utter a sound, a sharp, icy blade pierced my wrist, tearing a scream of pain from my throat.

"Viola!" Lucio's panicked voice rang out on the other end, but it was quickly drowned out by Bella's weak, deliberately pitiful moans.

"Lucio, my heart hurts so much. Am I going to die? I don't want to die…"

"Bella, don't be afraid. I'm here," Lucio said softly.

Then, his voice returned through the phone. "Viola, hold on a little longer. With your abilities, you can handle this, right? I'll stabilize Bella here first, and then I'll come find you. Va bene. That's decided."

Before I could say anything, Lucio ended the call.

I couldn't tell if it was shock or numbness, but I found myself completely speechless.

The flat tone from the disconnected line pierced straight through my chest. His words, "With your abilities, you can handle this", echoed in my ears again and again.

It almost felt absurd. In his eyes, my strength had become a justification for my sacrifice.

I met the abductors' eyes with a hollow, cold smile that held no warmth. "Do as you please."

…

After the call ended, Lucio paced outside the operating room, repeatedly checking his watch.

During the brief wait, he called Underboss Marco Russo and gave quick orders. "Send a small, trusted team to the old warehouse in the South Pier. Make contact, negotiate, and buy time. Don't let them harm Viola. I'm coming. Make sure she's safe."

About 20 minutes later, the doors of the operating room opened. Lucio stepped forward at once. "Is Bella alright?"

The doctor frowned in confusion. "Are you certain this is the right patient? According to our checks, everything appears completely normal."

Lucio froze. "There's nothing wrong with her heart?"

The doctor shook his head. "No, Mr. Ferrari. All her indicators are normal."

Just as Lucio was about to ask more, the phone in his pocket rang.

It was Marco, the one he had sent to the old warehouse in the South Pier.

He answered immediately, and Marco's hoarse, strained voice came through, "Mr. Ferrari, there's been an explosion at the warehouse. After we extinguished the fire, we found only one female body."

A photo was sent immediately afterward.

In it, the body was burned beyond recognition. Around its neck hung the emerald necklace he had once carefully placed on me.

As soon as Lucio saw it, the phone slipped from his grasp and hit the floor.