Chapter 2
Gianna's POV
Mother had been watching Chiara and me fight over Matteo for years.
When Father first brought us to family business meetings as children, Chiara and I nearly started throwing punches over who got to sit next to him at the conference table. When he was hospitalized after a shooting, we took turns sitting by his bed, neither willing to give ground. Mother would always shake her head and sigh, saying we were making fools of ourselves over a man.
So when Matteo delivered his ultimatum and left, Mother couldn't understand why we'd suddenly joined forces to refuse the marriage.
"Gianna! Chiara!" Mother pulled us into a corner, her voice low and furious. "Have you both lost your minds?"
I glanced at the worried whispers of the family members around us.
"Mom, let's go to our room."
The moment we reached the bedroom, Chiara exploded.
"I'd rather DIE than marry that monster again!" she screamed. "Matteo's a bastard! All he wants is someone to pop out his kids!"
"Chiara!" Mother went white with fury, raising her hand to strike. "You can't talk like that!"
I quickly stepped between them, grabbing Mother's wrist. "Mom, please listen to us!"
"Get out of my way! Chiara needs to apologize for what she just said! If word gets out, our entire family is FINISHED!"
Behind me, I heard Chiara's desperate sobs, and it broke my heart. My poor sister—what kind of torture had she endured to make such sounds?
"Mom, we've both been reborn," I said calmly. "Matteo killed us in our past lives!"
Mother froze.
I gave her the short version of our two previous lives. Mother's face grew paler with every word.
"That's why Chiara's so angry, Mom. Matteo doesn't love us. There's another woman in his heart. We're just his pawns."
Mother stood still for a long time, then suddenly pulled both of us into her arms.
"My daughters..." she choked out. "I swear, in this life I will NEVER let you suffer again!"
Chiara cried harder in Mother's embrace. "Mama, I'm not making this up... Matteo really isn't a good man..."
"I know, I know. Mama believes you both."
When our tears dried, Chiara gripped my hand. "Sister, this time we won't fight each other. This time we make HIM pay!"
"Yes. This time we're allies," I nodded firmly.
Mother's voice turned hard as steel. "No matter what happens, I won't let you marry Matteo. Even if it means death, I'll protect you both."
Finally, some peace settled in my heart. In this life, I wasn't fighting alone.
An hour later, Mother called together all the capos and senior members. Everyone looked grim.
"Gentlemen, we face a brutal choice. Either hand over my daughters, or go to war with the Salvatore family."
Aldric, our advisor, shook his head. "Elena, the Salvatore family has over three hundred made men and associates. Our crew only has eighty guys. If we actually go to war..."
"We'll be wiped out," another capo finished. "And this marriage was something Don Antonio agreed to before he died. It's part of the peace treaty between our families."
Father's death still weighed heavily on all of us. Antonio had been gunned down six months ago in what looked like a Volkov hit, leaving our family vulnerable and struggling to maintain control of our territory.
Mother clenched her fists. "So what! My daughters aren't bargaining chips! Antonio made that deal to protect all of us, but he never wanted them to suffer!"
"Then what do we do? If we break the marriage alliance, the Salvatores will see it as a declaration of war. Without their protection, we're sitting ducks for the Russians..."
Just then, two young lieutenants stood up. The Ricci brothers, Sal and Gabriel—our family's most trusted muscle.
"Mrs. Lombardi," Sal dropped to one knee. "We'd die before we let anyone hurt the young ladies."
Gabriel knelt as well. "Let us show you—nobody threatens this family on our watch!"
Seeing their determined faces, warmth flooded my chest.
"Sal, Gabriel..." I said softly.
"Don't thank us," Sal looked up at me. "Protecting you is our honor."
Mother took a deep breath. "All right. Then we fight to the end. But we can't go it alone."
She turned to the advisor. "Darius, send our most trusted messengers to contact the Torrino and Benedetti families immediately. Tell them we're open to discussing new alliances. Remind them that Salvatore's monopoly on the docks isn't good for anyone."
After the meeting broke up, I walked alone to the rose garden at the edge of the estate. I needed quiet to think. Could our messengers reach potential allies in time? Could we really stand against Matteo's organization?
That's when I caught the scent of expensive cologne.
Every instinct I had was screaming danger.
Matteo stepped out from behind the garden pavilion. "Gianna."
I tensed up. "What are you doing here?"
"Coming to see what my future wife is thinking about." Matteo walked closer slowly. "Gianna, do you remember when we used to play in this garden as children? You were so happy then, laughing like a little angel."
My heart clenched. "That's all in the past. I'm not that naive girl anymore."
Matteo smiled coldly. "Is that so? That naive girl was so charming. Now you've become so cold."
He suddenly closed in, his presence almost making me lose my footing. "If you keep refusing, I'll make you watch your family pay the price for your stubbornness."
This damn bastard!
"I..." I deliberately let my voice tremble. "I just... I was jealous that you didn't clearly choose me... I thought you preferred Chiara..."
Matteo blinked, then laughed. "Ah, so that's what this is about. My jealous little girl."
"I was just scared..." I bit my lip. "Scared that you don't really love me, that you think we're all the same..."
"Of course you're not all the same. I definitely prefer you."
"Really?" I pouted. "But you just said 'either one would be fine'..."
Matteo chuckled softly. "That was just for show. Actually, I've always wanted you." His thumb brushed across my cheek. "Chiara's beautiful too, but you're different. You're kinder, more beautiful, especially these gorgeous eyes..."
Swallowing my disgust, I said shyly, "Then... then I'm willing to marry you."
"That's more like it." Matteo smiled with satisfaction. "In one month, I'll come for the ceremony. Your father would be proud to see this alliance happen."
As he turned to leave, he added over his shoulder, "Oh, and don't think about running or seeking outside help. I have eyes everywhere. If you dare betray me, your mother will be planning a funeral instead of a wedding."
After Matteo left, I collapsed to the ground, shaking all over.
Endure... for the family, for my sister, I have to endure. But this humiliation—I'll pay him back a hundredfold!
