Chapter 1

"You're pathetic." My husband Julian Julian glared at me.

"I thought marrying into the Moretti family would at least bring me some leverage, but you? You're completely useless. Unlike you, your sister has just been named the sole heir."

With a sharp jerk, he ripped our wedding ring from my finger and smashed it against the floor.

"I should have picked her from the start. Marrying you was the biggest mistake of my life." Those were the last words he ever spoke to me.

In my past life, I was nothing more than an unacknowledged bastard in a mafia bloodline. I played the part of the obedient, dutiful wife, baring my heart to my vultures of relatives and clinging to my husband's hollow vows.

But those vows only led me to the shackles of a dungeon. I died in that darkness, consumed by the agonizing truth of my mother’s murder and the bitter realization that we were merely stepping stones in their pursuit of power.

Yet, fate had a different plan. When I woke up, I was reborn on the day that sealed my doom.

This time, I'll make every single one of them understand: they chose the wrong person to cross.!

——

Seraphina’s POV

I was reborn to the day three weeks after my mother's death—the starting point of my tragedy.

In the conference room of the Moretti estate, my father—the man who had abandoned my mother and me soon after I was born—sat at the head of the long table, arranging my "marriage alliance."

"Seraphina, we brought you back to protect you.

It was also your mother's dying wish for you to have security," Father said. "Since Isabella is also of marriageable age, I've seized this opportunity to find two suitable candidates to discuss your engagements."

My mom's dying wish?

All I remember is her agonizing struggle at the end, lips turning purple, body convulsing uncontrollably, her eyes filled with utter despair.

And where was he then?

Two men sat opposite me.

Dante Falcone, heir to the Falcone family, which controlled the arms trade, longtime allies of the Moretti family.

Julian Moranti, young master of the declining Romanofamily, once a rival clan, now seeking to bind the families through marriage to maintain peace.

Anyone with sense knew which man to choose. But in my previous life, no one told me their true standings. They simply exploited my naivety to steer me towards the latter.

"Dad is right," Isabella chimed in, looking at me. "Sis, you choose first. I can concede anything to you."

The exact same words.

In my past life, because Isabella had confided in me beforehand about her deep love for Dante and her hope that I wouldn't come between them, I naively chose Julian.

I thought it was a selfless act, but it only earned me chains in a dungeon.

I still remember Julian slipping the ring on my finger during the wedding, his gaze tender. "Seraphina, I promise to love and protect you until my last breath."

I believed it then. I thought I'd married into a good family, that I could finally be happy, and that Mother could rest in peace.

But not long after the wedding, he began incessantly questioning me about the family.

"Who are your father's arms suppliers?"

"Have you seen the Moretti family ledgers?"

"Do you know what happens in those secret meetings?"

I knew nothing. Father never told me anything. I was just the marginalized illegitimate daughter.

His eyes grew cold, his words sparse. He started staying away for long periods.

The night I died, we erupted into a violent fight.

"What do you actually know? Your father has already named Isabella as the Moretti family heir!" He grabbed my shoulders, fury in his eyes. "He married you to me, surely not without offering something!"

"I truly don't know!" I cried. "He never told me anything!"

"You useless thing!" he roared, ripping off his wedding ring and hurling it to the floor. "I thought marrying a Moretti daughter would gain me something, but you know nothing!"

Then he locked me in the dungeon.

"Seraphina?" Father's voice pulled me back to the present. "What are you thinking? Make your choice."

Looking at the familiar scene before me, flames of vengeance ignited within.

This time, I would not repeat my mistakes.

I noticed Isabella's gaze drifting towards Dante, her desire unmistakable.

"Since Isabella is so considerate..." I said, positioning myself between them.

"I choose Dante Falcone."

Silence descended upon the conference room the moment my words fell.

Isabella's smile shattered instantly. "Seraphina... you... you know Dante and I are in love..."

Smack!

Father's palm connected with my face in a resounding crack.

"Do you have any idea what you're saying? Dante is the Falcone heir. Do you think you can handle the rules of such a powerful family?"

"Do you know how many tears Isabella shed, begging me to bring you home? And this is how you show your gratitude?"

I pressed a hand to my stinging cheek and laughed.

"Didn't you just say I could choose whoever I wanted? I made my choice, and your response is to hit me? What exactly is the meaning of this, Father?"

"Oh, don't say that," Isabella interjected, her voice soft and pleading.

"You're new to all this. Dad's only being protective. And, Seraphina," she said, turning to me with a watery smile, "everyone knows Julian has a bit of a crush on you. Can't you see that?""

All eyes turned to Julian.

My hands clenched into fists. I was even more nervous facing this moment again.

"I heard you've recently stockpiled a batch of arms that aren't selling," he said, standing up and addressing my father. "I'm willing to offer a fifty-million-dollar arms deal in exchange for marrying Miss Isabella."

Then he looked at me, a familiar disdain flashing in his eyes. "As for this... innocent young lady, let's just be friends."

My heart nearly stopped. This was completely different. He was supposed to choose me!

This time, he chose Isabella directly.

In my past life, he was thrilled to get in with the Moretti family. He wasn't picky as long as she had the family name.

I stared at him, shocked, and for a fleeting moment as our eyes met, his gaze wavered, then quickly darted away.

Could it be... he was also reborn?

"Fifty million dollars?" Father's eyes practically glowed. That was a fortune, enough to salvage his losses in Greyport.

"To think, Mr. Romanois also so devoted to Isabella..."

Isabella was "moved" to speechlessness. "Julian... you actually..."

"Then, since Julian is so devoted to Isabella, Seraphina, you will marry—"

"Wait." Dante Falcone slowly rose from his seat. "When did I ever say I would accept such goods?"

"You actually think I'd marry a bastard like you?" He strode right up to me, his gaze raking over me with utter revulsion. "Your mother just died, and you come running straight to Daddy. "

"Marry you? What a goddamn joke."