A Donna Reborn: No Longer a Substitute

In my past life, Marco Rossi, the Don of the Rossi family, swore before me that he'd protect me for the rest of my life. Yet he secretly married Alice Palermo.

I became the laughingstock of the entire Porthaven mafia circle.

In the end, during a bloody shootout between the two major mafia families, I was hit by a stray bullet, and my body was dumped into the Sandford River.

Given a second chance in life, I was sent back three months before that deadly clash.

I immediately tore up the marriage contract with Marco and threw myself into Riccardo Corleone's arms.

He was the youngest Don of the Corleone family and my childhood friend, who had always protected me.

In my past life, after I died, he risked his life to retrieve my remains and avenged me by slaughtering the rival forces that had betrayed me.

I thought that this time, I'd finally chosen the right man.

That was until the day I stood outside the study door at the family manor and overheard the conversation inside.

Riccardo's Underboss, Antonio Greco, asked in a lowered voice, "Don Corleone, why are you marrying Ms. Valentino when you don't even love her?"

Riccardo's icy cold voice came through the heavy wooden door.

"Marco was supposed to be her fiance, but now he's tangled up with Alice. I'm afraid Dalia might get in the way. I just want Alice to live happily ever after."

I froze in place, my fingernails digging deep into my palms. I felt as if my heart were pressed against a cold gun barrel, each heartbeat a searing pain.

It was Alice again.

In my past life, she took Marco from me.

In this one, I escaped from Marco, only to stumble headfirst into another trap set for Alice.

How could I have been so stupid?

The memory of Riccardo proposing to me from a year ago flashed in my mind.

He was down on one knee, holding a ring set with a black diamond. His gaze was so tender that one could get lost in it.

"Dalia Valentino, I've loved you for a very long time. Marry me, and I will protect you for the rest of your life."

At the time, I thought I'd finally found my salvation.

Now I knew that it was just another carefully staged lie.

Late that night, Riccardo returned to the bedroom carrying the chill of the outside world.

He pulled a warm bag of sausage rolls from his coat pocket and pressed it to my hands.

Then, he gently pinched my cheek and asked, "Have you been waiting long? I passed that old shop in Parkmouth District and remembered you mentioned wanting some last time."

The food burned against my palms. I looked up at the warmth in his eyes and felt nothing but irony.

"Riccardo, do you really love me?" I asked softly.

He smiled, leaning down to kiss my forehead.

"Of course. If I didn't love you, why would I make you Donna of the family?"

I clutched the sausage rolls tightly, almost blurting out everything I'd overheard.

But I managed to stop myself and instead said calmly, "I went to the manor today to drop off some documents for you."

Riccardo's eyes flickered imperceptibly. Then, he said with feigned nonchalance, "I didn't see you, though. What happened?"

"I ran into the family doctor. He dragged me in for a routine check-up, so I just came back."

I saw the tension in Riccardo's shoulders slowly melt away.

At 2:00 am, Riccardo was fast asleep.

I quietly got up and retrieved an application form from the hidden compartment in my vanity.

It was my ticket to Capitolium Medical University, a spot I'd secured through family connections.

In my past life, I was the family's designated physician. However, I had let emotional entanglements pull me away from my calling.

This time, I would never give up my life for anyone again.

By the pale light of the moon filtering through the window, I signed my name on the form—Dalia Valentino.