A Second Chance in Life

“Elysia, why didn’t Caspian come to pick you up?” Leia said with a sweet smile that barely hid her smugness. “It looks like he doesn’t care about you at all.” On the morning of the wedding, she sat proudly in the passenger seat of Arnold’s Maserati, deliberately flaunting everything in front of me. Arnold was driving her himself. A bouquet of white roses lay in the back seat, every bloom flawless, as if carefully selected to show how cherished she was.As for my groom, Caspian never appeared. I was told he was handling an urgent family matter, so only a single car waited outside my home. The driver politely informed me he was there to take me to the church.Leia wasn’t done provoking me. She said triumphantly, “Arnold even booked the presidential suite for me tonight. He said he wants me to have an unforgettable wedding night.”Her thoughts rang sharply in my head.‘Serves you right! I’d like to see how you handle being humiliated in front of everyone at the ceremony later.’Hea

“Look at our newlyweds. Aren’t they so in love?”The next morning, Caspian and I had barely stepped into the dining room when Leia’s deliberately raised voice rang out.The night before, I had suggested that Caspian post a photo on social media of our hands clasped together, wedding rings clearly visible. It was meant to show unity within the family. After the photo went up, the major families shared and liked it one after another. The response was excellent. Of course, this was all planned. In this world, appearances mattered, and the performance had to be flawless.Leia was wearing a deep V-neck silk slip dress, intentionally revealing the obvious red marks along her neck and collarbone. Sunlight filtered through the blinds, landing on her skin and making those marks impossible to miss. In contrast, I was dressed in a conservative high-neck cashmere sweater. The difference between us was striking.‘She’s dressed so conservatively… She must’ve been beaten badly by that violent man

After that, Caspian began bringing me into the family’s business and internal affairs.The very next day, he took me to a secret location. It used to be one of the mafia family’s arms warehouses, but it had long since been converted into a site for special transactions. The warehouse was massive, yet poorly lit. Only a few industrial bulbs hung from the ceiling, casting dim, yellowish light over the concrete floor.“Five million dollars. Crypto payment. Cash on delivery.”The voice echoed through the empty warehouse. It belonged to Ivan, a hacker whose English carried a heavy accent.Ivan was small and thin, around thirty-five years old. He wore thick glasses and a wrinkled plaid shirt. At first glance, he looked more like a reclusive nerd than a top-tier hacker capable of threatening the FBI. However, the laptop in his hands told a different story.On the screen, complex lines of code flickered nonstop. Neon-green characters glowed eerily in the darkness. It was a cutting-edge mo

“Send her to the countryside estate for a month of reflection.”Donna Isabella’s voice, firm and beyond dispute, echoed through the Falcone family’s meeting room.Leia had laid hands on me, violating the most basic rule of the family. In the Falcone family, a capo showing disrespect to the underboss’s wife was no different from openly challenging the family’s authority. The so-called “reflection” was nothing more than house arrest. That estate was far from the city, surrounded by family guards, making escape impossible.“Yes, Mamma,” Arnold replied with his head lowered.However, through my ability, I could feel the fury boiling inside him.‘It’s all that foolish woman’s fault, getting me into trouble again. When we get back, I’ll make sure she understands the consequences.’That night, back in our room, Caspian carefully examined the marks on my face. His movements were gentle, yet the anger in his eyes was unmistakable.“Does it hurt?” he asked, his fingers brushing the scra

“Cheers to family!” Arnold raised his wine glass, a polished but fake smile fixed on his face.It was the night before the so-called fate‑deciding arms deal. He and Leia had warmly invited us to dinner, acting like the perfect hosts. The long dining table was filled with exquisite dishes, each one outrageously expensive. To an outsider, it looked like a lavish family dinner, but I knew better. This dinner was dangerous. Through my ability to read minds, their plan rang clearly in my head—they had poisoned my wine.‘Finally, this day has come. Once Caspian dies tomorrow, the entire family will belong to us.’‘This b*tch has to die too. I’ve waited so long for this. Let’s see how she keeps up that noble act.’Under the table, I gently kicked Caspian’s leg, warning him to be careful. However, he seemed completely unfazed. As if he hadn’t noticed at all, Caspian calmly lifted his glass and echoed Arnold’s toast.“Here’s to the family.”We drank together. The red wine tasted bitte