Chapter 1

In my last life, I loved my brother’s best friend longer than I loved myself.

I was the princess of the De Luca family, a New York political dynasty. A good girl, through and through.

He was Orion Corvo. The king of Chicago's underworld. A ruthless, brutal man.

No one thought we belonged together. I never dared to confess.

Not until I was kidnapped. That cold-blooded, savage Don took a bullet for me. He shielded me with his body as I bled out.

We died together. Only then, seeing the desperation in his eyes, did I understand.

He loved me too.

Now, I'm back. 18 again. I ditched my life in Europe to stay by his side.

For five years, I was his most trusted art appraiser.

In private, he’d lose himself inside me. He fucked me like he wanted to own my soul.

I became his favorite fuck. His biggest secret.

But now, he’s getting married. And the bride isn't me.

...

I stood outside Orion’s penthouse, my hand shaking. I clutched the papers that would end it all. The contract that would sever our five-year entanglement.

The moment the door opened, my breath hitched.

He wore only a white silk shirt, the top buttons undone. It revealed his bronzed chest and the vicious scar that ran from his collarbone to his heart.

Black suit pants clung to his powerful legs.

His face was still as perfect as a Roman statue. The high-bridged nose, the cruel line of his lips, and those gray eyes that saw right through you.

In a flash, the memory of my death hit me like a tidal wave—

After I was kidnapped, he’d risked everything to save me. But we were outnumbered. We were both shot.

“Evangeline, run…”

Blood spilled from the corner of his mouth, but he still used his body to shield me.

“I love you… I’ve always loved you…”

His life faded with mine on that rainy night.

…

“Happy birthday, my girl.”

Orion’s voice pulled me back to reality. He took my coat, his fingertips grazing my wrist. A ghost of a touch.

“Come in.”

I stepped into the familiar space and froze.

The massive living room was empty. Even the bodyguards who usually stood by the door were gone.

The floor-to-ceiling windows showed off Chicago’s glittering skyline. Inside, candles flickered. 999 blood-red roses surrounded a champagne tower. It was beautiful, like a dark fairytale.

“You cleared the whole floor?”

“Of course.” He came up behind me, his warm breath on my neck. “It’s just us tonight.”

His hand brushed my shoulder as he pulled out my chair. The perfect gentleman.

My heart ached. Every detail screamed of how much thought he’d put into this.

My favorite Dom Pérignon. Black truffles from the south of France. And a birthday cake surrounded by a sea of candles.

“For you, my princess.”

He pulled a black velvet box from his suit pocket. Inside lay a necklace that took my breath away.

A massive emerald, ringed by a halo of diamonds, sparkled in the candlelight.

I shivered when his fingertips grazed my neck.

“Perfect,” he whispered in my ear. “Like it was made for you.”

I raised my champagne glass, trying to hide my racing heart.

Orion sat across from me, his gray eyes burning into mine, threatening to melt me.

It had been five years since I was reborn. Five years I’d spent by his side.

I was his secret. His only woman.

I knew he didn’t do marriage. But the way he looked at me, the way he made love to me… it made me hope. It made me dream that he would ask me to be his wife.

But last night, my best friend Emma had shattered that dream.

“Evangeline, I shouldn’t be telling you this, but… I can’t let you stay in the dark.”

“Orion proposed to Sienna Rossi. The alliance will be announced at the family dinner next week. The whole underworld knows. Everyone but you… Their wedding is set for Christmas Eve.”

My hand trembled. I could barely hold my glass. A bitter laugh escaped my lips. I was such a fool.

“Make a wish,” he said softly, gesturing to the cake.

I stared at the dancing flames, my heart twisting into a knot.

“Let me guess,” he traced my lips with his finger, his voice a low growl. “Your wish is still ‘to be Orion Corvo’s wife, forever,’ right?”

His touch sent a shock through me, but his words were a knife in the gut.

Look at him. He knew exactly what I wanted. And he was still marrying someone else.

I looked at the face I had loved for two lifetimes and saw a stranger.

Was this really the same Orion who had died for me?

Orion lit a cigarette, a lazy, confident smile on his face. He was waiting for me to make my wish.

But if he wasn't the man who loved me, then none of this mattered.

I was a De Luca. I was raised a princess, showered with love.

I didn’t need some of his love. I needed to be his only love.

Taking a deep breath, I blew out the candles.

“Orion,” my voice was sharp in the silence. “My wish is… to disappear from your world. Completely.”

The moment the words left my mouth, the warmth on Orion’s face froze.

His gray eyes turned dangerous and cold. I took a step back.

“What did you say?”