Chapter 1

The deafening explosion surrounded me. I closed my eyes and allowed the flames—and the searing pain—to sweep across every inch of my body.

I didn't know how much time had passed, but the sound of the explosion vanished, slowly replaced by bustling chatter and the scent of perfume.

When I opened my eyes, my ears were buzzing.

I saw crystal chandeliers, an exhibition stage… and an audience.

This was the weapons design competition that had been jointly held by several mafia families five years ago!

Had I… gone back in time?

"Ms. Elena Cassano? Where's your entry? The judges are still waiting on your submission."

I was still reeling from the dizziness of the blast earlier. Camilla Cassano immediately stepped forward and said with a sweet smile, "Gentlemen, my younger sister, Elena, is too nervous. She hasn't gotten ready yet. Here is my design schematic. Please take a look at this first."

She opened her document folder, and the sight of those familiar schematics snapped me back to reality. It was my proudest work, but Camilla's name was now printed on it.

"This is absolutely brilliant!" the judges exclaimed, lavishing Camilla with praise.

Feeling triumphant but wary, Camilla shot me a glance and silently mouthed, "If you dare expose me, you're a goner."

She didn't have to worry about that. I wasn't the least bit interested in exposing her.

In my previous life, I'd immediately caused a scene over it, and my parents stormed over to give me two hard slaps. Even so, I screamed at the top of my lungs, accusing Camilla of stealing my work and even showing proof to back up my claims. In the end, I was able to reclaim my rightful glory.

However, I didn't know that the Carbone family was the main organizer of this competition. I was also unaware that they'd conducted this so-called competition solely for the sake of choosing a wife for Leon Carbone, our childhood friend and the future don of the Carbone family.

He would have to marry the person who won the competition.

When I heard about the marriage, I was over the moon with joy, for I'd always liked Leon. I was overwhelmed with the glory of winning the competition and the happiness of getting to marry him.

On the day of my wedding, however, Leon shoved himself into me like a brute, clenching his teeth as he snarled, "Why did you challenge Camilla? She's the one I've always wanted to marry!"

The next five years after that had been a living nightmare for me.

However, fate had given me a second chance to do it all over again. This time, I swallowed back every word of protest.

When the judges pressed me again, I took a steadying breath and said, "Sorry, but a rabid dog stole my design schematic."

Camilla's smile froze as she shot me a furious glare.

Mocking laughter rippled through the crowd, and the judges eyed me derisively as well, but it didn't matter to me.

Camilla got her way and was crowned the champion. She stood on the stage with a dazzling smile as she hoisted the trophy.

As the crowd below broke out in thunderous applause, our parents shed tears of pride. When someone asked them about me, they scoffed in contempt.

"Elena? I'm sorry to have disappointed all of you, but she's always been extremely mediocre."

"She hasn't inherited a single bit of our family's gift in design. It's such a disgrace, really."

From my corner, I watched everything with an icy expression.

Camilla and I were both their biological daughters. However, Camilla was more outgoing and better at charming others, so they'd always favored her.

Truth be told, my parents weren't as biased when we were young. As we got older, Camilla discovered that she had no talent in design at all, so she began stealing my designs and claiming them as her own—just as she'd done today.

I'd cried about it, kicked up a fuss, and even did my best to prove myself. Yet every single time, Camilla would use her superb acting skills to convince my parents that I was just making up lies out of jealousy toward her.

Over time, they became even more and more indifferent toward me. And when Camilla framed me by pretending that I'd scalded her right hand, they became utterly disappointed in me.

After getting off the stage, Camilla walked over to me and taunted quietly, "So, you've learned to keep your mouth shut, huh? Aren't you going to go around claiming that you're the real designer, like you always do?"

I didn't have an outburst, which was what she wanted. Instead, I smiled faintly at her and said, "You must be joking, Camilla. This was always your design."

Camilla knew nothing about weapons, so she didn't notice that the seemingly perfect design had a fatal flaw.

Once the design was put into mass production, the consequences would be unthinkable. This was something I'd only discovered later on in my previous life.

Briefly startled by my words, Camilla soon lifted her chin smugly and declared, "At least you know your place. After all, in Mom and Dad's eyes, all of the designs came from me. Even if you tried to claim it's yours, they won't believe you, and they won't love you either."

Leaning in close, she added, "Just like how Leon doesn't love you either."

My fingers twitched, but my expression remained calm.

"You're barking up the wrong tree, Camilla. I stopped caring about who he loved a long time ago."

Camilla cocked a brow. She was a little displeased to see that both her attempts at rubbing this in my nose had failed to get a rise out of me. Just as she was about to speak, however, the door to the backstage area flew open.

"Camilla, my precious daughter!" Mom rushed over, pushing me aside before hugging Camilla in excitement. "Quick! Grab your trophy. Mr. Carbone has come in person to congratulate you!"

It was only after I'd stumbled from her shoving me that Mom noticed my presence. Frowning, she berated me, "Elena, you useless creature who couldn't even produce a design! What are you trying to do now? Don't tell me you're trying to hurt Camilla again!"

"I…"

My instinctive reaction was to turn around and leave this suffocating place.

However, Mom seized my arm and dragged me out of the backstage area, saying, "Come and congratulate her! Don't you dare sulk and act like you can't stand seeing your sister succeed!"

Inside the hall, Leon stood surrounded by admirers, his handsome face bearing a look of innate haughtiness.

Dad spotted me, and his kindly smile vanished, replaced by a look of unmasked detestation. He warned me quietly, "Stand still and behave yourself. Don't you dare cause any trouble, like how you always do."

Expressionless, I watched as Camilla gracefully stepped forward, presenting her trophy to Leon. "Look! I did it!"

"Congratulations, Camilla," Leon said with a smile before holding out a ring. "You have such remarkable talent. I, Leon Carbone, hereby propose to you."

The hall erupted.

Thrilled and bashful, Camilla accepted the ring before flashing a gloating smile at me. Turning back to Leon, she deliberately remarked, "If I'd known this would happen, I should've gotten Elena to head home first. She must be heartbroken to see this. She's always had a thing for you, Leon."

"Oh?" Leon eyed me in amusement.

Camilla continued, "It's true. Don't be fooled by the way she looks now. I bet her heart is crushed right now. But both the Carbones and our family, the Cassanos, need someone with real talent to keep the family going."

Turning to me, she said with a beaming smile, "Isn't that right, Elena?"

A silence fell over the hall. I clenched my fists and pressed my lips together. I wasn't going to respond to her attempt to humiliate me.

Chuckling, Leon studied me closely. "I had no idea you've felt that way about me all along, Elena."

The shame was unbearable. I spun around to leave, but he grabbed my jaw and remarked, "Don't be shy. You may lack your family's gift in design, but you've got a pretty face."

Crude laughter rippled through the crowd.

"Leon!" Camilla looped her arm through his with a playful pout. "Don't tease Elena like that. She might take you seriously."

Leon laughed. "Why don't I take you both? Camilla can be my wife. As for Elena…" He glanced suggestively at my waist before continuing, "She can be my mistress."

"In your dreams!" I snapped, turning my head away in disgust.

The sight of him alone brought back memories of what I'd endured in my previous life.

After we got married, Leon would only storm into my bedroom when he needed to release his pent-up desire. He'd shove into me without any regard for what state I was in. Keeping his eyes closed, he rammed into me while moaning Camilla's name.

Just recalling it now made me nauseated.

I took a deep breath to keep my anger in check. I was afraid that if I kept looking at him, I wouldn't be able to stop myself from grabbing a chair and bashing his head in, so I turned to leave after saying curtly, "I hope you two live a long and happy life together."

Camilla blocked me and laughed shrilly. "When did you learn how to play hard to get, huh? Looks like you've improved a bit."

Mom held Camilla's shoulder and consoled her affectionately before turning to me. She warned, "Don't get any funny ideas, Elena."

I was just about to refute her when Camilla's phone buzzed. After checking her email, she squealed, "Oh, my goodness! Someone just submitted a huge order for my winning design! It's three million dollars! And it's already been paid in full!"

"What? Three million dollars?" Mom shrieked with joy. "You really are the money-maker of our family, Camilla!"

The guests swarmed over to shower Camilla with congratulations. Leon proudly wrapped an arm around her waist. Dad happily declared that they'd book the finest restaurant for a celebration.

While the hall was filled with laughter and cheer, I left, quietly slipping out the back door when everyone else was too busy to notice me.

I went home and packed my things.

They should laugh while they still could—the louder, the better.

Once they'd sunk all of the money into production, only to find that there was a design flaw that couldn't be fixed, they'd be sobbing even louder than their laughter now.