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."