I was the eldest daughter of the Keating family, a "principessa" raised on guns and combat training, yet I was forced to marry the prestigious lawyer Julian Price. Our marriage was a sham. My gentle sister, Juliet, was set to marry the most feared Don in Chicago—Ronan Cassano.

Both of our marriages ended in tragedy.

Ronan's childhood sweetheart, Vivian Hayes, used her vicious schemes to push Juliet into an abyss of despair. Meanwhile, I suffered in a lifeless marriage, eventually dying in a freak accident.

So when fate gave me a second chance, I knew exactly what I had to do.

This time, I wouldn't let tragedy repeat itself. I switched our marriage pacts. Now, Ronan Cassano is mine. He may be the king of Chicago's underworld, and Vivian may have driven away every woman who got close to him. But I am no delicate flower to be pushed around. I am a warrior forged in blood and fire. And if they dare to cross me, I'll make them pay for all of Chicago's elite to see.

They say I stole my sister's destiny. Maybe I did. But if marrying this ruthless man can secure Juliet's happiness, then I'll make anyone who stands in my way disappear.

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1

I gasped, my chest heaving as I shot upright.

My hands. I stared at them. The skin was smooth and firm, without a single old scar. These were the hands of a twenty-year-old.

I was reborn.

"Aurora?" a trembling voice called from the doorway.

I whipped my head around. My sister, Juliet Keating, stood in the doorway, her face a mirror of my own shock.

She wore the traditional white silk dress of an unmarried Keating daughter. Her long hair cascaded over her shoulders, her face smooth and unlined, her eyes bright and clear.

Our eyes met. Then we spoke at the same time.

"You too—"

"You too—"

We both stopped mid-sentence.

The next moment, we rushed into each other’s arms, clinging to one another.

"Oh, God…" Juliet's voice was shaking. "I thought I was the only one who came back."

"Me too." My throat constricted. "Juliet, we're back. Three days before the weddings."

Yes. In three days, two families would solidify their alliance through marriage.

The marriages our family had arranged were a simple matter of alliances.

The second daughter, Juliet Keating, a gentle floral designer, would marry the king of Chicago's underworld—the cold, ruthless Don, Ronan Cassano.

And I, Aurora Keating, the eldest daughter proficient in combat, would marry a lawyer with business ties to our family—a polite, respectable man named Julian Price.

In our past lives, these two marriages destroyed us both.

Juliet had withered under Ronan's indifference and the cruelty of his childhood sweetheart, sinking into a despair that eventually killed her.

My marriage to Julian was also a disaster. He found me too uncivilized, and I found him too hypocritical. We separated before our third wedding anniversary, and our family became the laughingstock of high society.

Juliet took a step back and drew a deep breath, her eyes burning with determination.

"Aurora, let's switch."

I blinked. "What?"

"The marriage contracts." She gripped my hands tightly. "You marry Ronan, and I'll marry Julian. This time, we can't make the same mistake."

I looked at her. Then I smiled. "I was just thinking the same thing."

That night, I packed my bags.

"Aurora, shouldn't we talk to the family about switching the contracts first?" Juliet bit her lip.

I took a deep breath. "Juliet, this is our choice. The elders thought your gentle nature could soothe a man like Ronan, and that I was polished enough for a respectable man like Julian. They were wrong."

"But we're not even going to discuss it with Papa…"

"Discuss it?" I gave a bitter laugh. "They arranged these marriages; we're just pawns. Once we're married, it will be too late for them to object."

I continued, "Juliet, just put all the blame on me. I left a letter for Mamma explaining everything. Don't worry, I'll say switching was my idea. They won't blame you."

Before I could finish, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from outside.

"Aurora! Get out here!"

It was my mother, Catherine!

A chill ran down my spine. How did she find out so quickly?

"Juliet, I'm going!" I grabbed my bag and vaulted over the second-floor balcony. I rolled to absorb the impact, then crouched low and sprinted toward the garage.

"Stop! You ungrateful girl!" Catherine's roar exploded behind me, followed by the chaotic footsteps of bodyguards.

I ran harder, leaping over the meticulously trimmed rose bushes and dashing toward the brightly lit garage.

"Are you insane!" I heard my mother's voice getting closer, almost right behind me. "This marriage was decided by the family! You think you can just change it?!"

I dispatched the two bodyguards at the garage entrance and charged straight in.

"Aurora! Stop!" Catherine was about to catch me. I jumped into a black Porsche; the keys were already in the ignition. The engine roared to life, and I wrenched the steering wheel, speeding out of the garage.

Her figure grew smaller in the rearview mirror.

I gunned the engine, speeding toward the estate gates. Ahead, the closed, ornate iron gates blocked my path—a barrier symbolizing the power of the Keating family.

Without hesitation, I slammed my foot on the accelerator and crashed right through them.

"Aurora!" My mother stopped at the garage entrance, her robe flapping around her, watching me in disbelief.

I stopped the car, rolled down the window, and yelled, "Mamma! I'm off to get married! If it doesn't work out, I'll be back on my own terms!"

"You—"

Before she could finish, I hit the gas again and disappeared onto the highway leading to Chicago.

Catherine's furious shouts echoed behind me, but I didn't look back.

I don't know how long I drove before I finally reached Ronan's territory.

My dress was torn from the climb over the balcony, and my hair was a mess. I looked like a street thug who'd just survived a brawl.

The guards at the entrance of Ronan's private club clearly thought so too. The moment they saw me, they blocked my way without a word.

But I was the best fighter in the Keating family. These Soldati were no match for me. I dispatched them in seconds.

I stood at the club entrance and yelled, "Where is Don Cassano? Tell him to come out."

A moment later, a sickeningly sweet voice drifted from the club’s entrance. "Ugh, who is this crazy woman? Ronan, get rid of her."

I looked up to see a delicate-looking woman wrinkling her nose at me as she complained to the man beside her. Next to her stood a tall, imposing figure with a cold expression. I rolled my eyes.

"You must be Ronan," I said. "I'm Aurora Keating, your fiancée. If you don't believe me, take a look at this." I tossed him my father's signet ring. "Now, I need a room to rest."

I threw the car keys in his direction and walked past the woman without a second glance.

"Ronan!" the sweet voice piped up again. "She must be a fake! How could a daughter of the Keating family be so crude? Look at her—covered in dirt, hair like a bird's nest, and she reeks of gasoline… She looks like some fraud who stole the signet from God knows where."

"And who are you?" I asked.

"Me?" She laughed, deftly linking her arm with Ronan's. "I'm Vivian, Ronan's childhood sweetheart. We grew up together. You imposter. You’d better get lost before you embarrass yourself further."

I snorted. "Oh? Childhood sweetheart?"

I looked her up and down, my gaze landing on the hand wrapped around Ronan's arm. "Then why was my sister's name on the marriage contract, and not yours?"

"Well…" Vivian's face froze.

"Did I say something wrong?" I shrugged. "Or is it that you're the only one who thinks he cares, when in reality, he doesn't give a damn about you?"

"You!" Tears welled up in Vivian's eyes as she turned to Ronan. "Ronan, did you hear what she said? She's bullying me!"

Ronan finally spoke. "Enough."

His voice was quiet, but it held the weight of a Don's command. The Soldati around us instinctively bowed their heads.

Except for me. I straightened my spine and met his gaze.

His intimidating presence washed over me, but I didn't even flinch. It never worked on me.

Ronan glanced at the guards I'd dispatched, then back at my unflinching gaze. Something flickered in his expression—surprise, perhaps.

He pulled his arm from Vivian's grasp. After examining the signet, he said, "I received word of our union a few days ago. I expected I'd be the one to pick you up. I didn't think you'd come on your own."

I grinned. "Couldn't wait."

He almost smiled. "Then we'll have the wedding in three days."

"But Ronan—" Vivian protested.

"Shut your mouth, or I'll rip it off," I said without emotion.

Vivian bit her lip, glared at me, and turned to leave.

As she walked away, she muttered just loud enough for us to hear, "You'll regret this, Ronan. This woman doesn't deserve you."

After she was gone, Ronan turned to his Underboss. "Take her upstairs."

Without another glance at me, he turned and walked back into his private booth.

I followed the Underboss, cursing Ronan in my head the entire way.

He had no intention of explaining what had just happened.

No wonder Juliet had been so miserable in our past life. Between a manipulative bitch like Vivian, a taciturn man like Ronan, and Juliet's own non-confrontational nature, she never stood a chance.

Too bad for them, I wasn't the type to swallow my grievances. If I was happy, fine, we'd get along. But if I was pissed off, I'd make sure everyone was as miserable as I was.

Just two days later, Ronan and I were standing at our wedding. The Cassano family was frighteningly efficient, arranging everything with flawless precision.

Ronan's parents had been killed in a gang war years ago. As for my family—I didn't dare invite them. Catherine would kill me on sight, and I wasn't ready to have that conversation with her. So, the pews were filled only with core members of the Cassano family and their wives.

"I'm so jealous of Aurora," Vivian said, appearing at my side as if from thin air. "She gets to marry Ronan. She's so lucky."

"Unlike me…" She lowered her head and started to sob. The entire hall fell silent.

I walked straight up to Ronan, stood on my tiptoes, wrapped my arms around his neck, and kissed him hard.

After I let him go, I shot a triumphant look at Vivian. "Yes, I am very lucky, aren't I? Ronan has a career, power, a great body… Not every woman can handle a man like him. A frail thing like you probably couldn't handle him." I slid my hand to Ronan's waist, gave him a hard pinch, and then offered him a threatening smile. "Right, my dear husband?"

His ears turned red, but before he could answer, Vivian's eyes filled with tears.

"Ronan, Aurora, please don't misunderstand. I'm truly happy for you. If Aurora doesn't want me here, I'll leave right now. But…"

A single tear rolled down her cheek. "Just remember to pick me up tomorrow. We've spent the anniversary of my father's death together every year for so long."

Ronan nodded. "I'll pick you up tomorrow."

My hand on his waist suddenly dropped. I picked up a glass of fine red wine from a nearby table and poured it right over the man's head.

The church went dead silent. Everyone stared as if they’d seen a ghost. I sneered. What a fucking joke. They dared to humiliate me at my own wedding, and now they were pulling this bullshit "anniversary of death" stunt?

In our past life, those two had slipped away to spend the day together, returning without a single word of explanation for my sister. It was the start of a cold war that lasted the rest of her marriage. But I wasn't my sister. She could tolerate it, but I wouldn't stand for it. He wanted to commemorate their precious past? Fine. If he went, I would raise hell right then and there before packing my bags and leaving.

Did they really think a Keating girl couldn't find a husband? If it weren't for the elders clinging to some outdated promises, I would have been free long ago.

"Ronan, are you okay? How could she do that?"

"How could you do that to him? He's Don Cassano, and you just—"

Vivian's delicate features were twisted with anger, her eyes full of concern for Ronan. But Ronan quickly stood up, studying me with an unreadable expression before wiping the wine from his face. "I'm fine."

He walked over nonchalantly and reached for my hand. "You'll come with me tomorrow."

I glanced at him in surprise, while Vivian's face twisted in disbelief. "Ronan, how could you do this to me? I never want to speak to you again!"

She covered her face and ran off crying. Just then, I felt a warm breath by my ear. "Let's finish the ceremony first. I'll explain later. Be good."