Chapter--5

[Lena’s POV — The Next Morning]

The soft morning light spilled through the tall windows as I sat in front of the mirror, slowly combing my hair. The black strands slid smoothly between the teeth of the comb.

For a moment, the quiet rhythm almost felt peaceful. In the large mirror before me, a woman stared back. Long black hair, bright golden eyes.

A face so delicate it almost looked unreal, beautiful, almost too beautiful, and yet…no matter how beautiful this face was, it would never change one simple truth.

I was not part of the Mancini family.

Not truly, no matter what the marriage certificate said, no matter the ring on my finger. In this mansion, there were only two people who truly mattered.

Mr. Mancini and Mrs. Mancini.

My so-called in-laws.

They were the real rulers of this house, and in every previous life…I had tried desperately to win their approval.

Their acceptance, their affection, but that had always ended the same way. Failure, humiliation and disappointment. This time…I would do things differently.

I placed the comb down gently.

“…I’ll just live quietly.” My voice sounded calm in the empty room, quietly and peacefully.

And most importantly...for myself. In every previous life, I had spent my time chasing things that were never meant for me.

Love and acceptance.

A place in this house, but this time…I wouldn’t waste my energy. After all, my story still ended the same way.

Prison.

If that was the final chapter waiting for me, then at least…before reaching it…I wanted to live a little. Enjoy the wealth this body possessed.

Enjoy the beauty of this world.

So that when the story finally ended...I wouldn’t have regrets. My fingers tapped lightly against the table. Then there was something I had to do first.

“In order to do that…I need to appear for breakfast.”

The Mancini family valued etiquette, appearances and formalities. Even if they hated me, I still had to play the role. I stood up and walked toward the wardrobe, rows of expensive dresses greeted me the moment I opened it.

Silk.

Satin.

Elegant designs in every shade imaginable. In previous lives, I had chosen clothes carefully, hoping to appear perfect in front of the Mancini family.

But today...I simply reached for one that caught my eye. A long blue gown, elegant, simple and beautiful.

***

[Moments later]

I stood in front of the mirror again, and honestly…I couldn’t help staring at my own reflection.

“…Wow.”

The soft blue fabric flowed perfectly along my figure, my long black hair rested neatly against my shoulders, and those golden eyes...they almost seemed to glow.

I tilted my head slightly.

“…Damn...I can’t believe this is my face.”

A quiet laugh escaped me, even after all this time, it still felt strange seeing someone so beautiful staring back at me. In my previous life, Elena Moretti had been… ordinary.

Nothing remarkable, but Lena Carter?

She looked like someone straight out of a fairy tale. I gently patted my cheeks, the skin felt warm under my fingers.

“…Feeling beautiful.” I paused, then smiled faintly. “…This might actually be the best feeling I’ve experienced in all my lives.”

But just as I turned away...my gaze fell on the table. The wedding ring rested there quietly, the diamond sparkled under the sunlight.

Heavy.

Expensive.

Symbolic.

A sigh slipped from my lips.

“…Do I really have to wear this thing every day?” The ring looked more like a tiny handcuff than jewelry, but still...I picked it up and slid it onto my finger.

The cool metal settled around my skin.

“…Well...whatever.”

After adjusting my hair one last time, I straightened my posture and walked toward the door. The hallway outside was quiet.

Just like always.

No maid waiting to guide me, no one offering assistance, not even basic courtesy. Just another reminder that I didn’t belong here.

Thankfully…I already knew the way.

“…Good.” I stepped into the hallway. “At least I won’t get lost anymore.”

With that, I walked calmly toward the staircase, step by step, heading toward the breakfast hall. Where the real rulers of the Mancini mansion were waiting with others. 

***

[Lena’s POV — Mancini Mansion, Breakfast Hall]

My heels echoed softly across the polished marble floor as I walked toward the breakfast hall. The sound felt unusually loud in the quiet corridor.

Almost like an announcement.

The unwanted bride has arrived.

As I stepped inside, the first thing I noticed was the atmosphere was warm, lively and full of quiet laughter. The long dining table was already occupied by the Mancini family.

Mr. Mancini.

Mrs. Mancini.

Salvatore.

Lorenzo.

And…

Clara Bennett.

Sunlight poured through the tall windows behind her, almost framing her figure in a soft glow, she looked beautiful today.

Radiant.

Her pink hair fell neatly over her shoulders, and the gentle smile on her face made her look almost unreal. For a moment, it felt as though the entire table revolved around her.

Salvatore was leaning slightly toward her, the cold sharpness usually present in his expression softened as he listened to whatever she was saying.

Beside him, Lorenzo laughed openly, his eyes bright with amusement, both brothers looked… comfortable, relaxed and happy. If someone unfamiliar with the situation saw them now, they might think Clara was the newly married bride of the house.

Not me.

Then..they noticed my presence.

The laughter stopped, the warmth disappeared, and just like that, the atmosphere turned cold. One by one, their smile faded.

Salvatore’s expression hardened almost instantly. Lorenzo leaned back in his chair, his amusement gone. Mr. Mancini simply continued sipping his coffee, his eyes indifferent.

Only Clara looked slightly surprised, for a brief moment, the entire room fell silent.

But I simply smiled faintly, polite and calm.

“Good morning, everyone.” My voice sounded light and proper.

Exactly the way it should. Mrs. Mancini was the first to respond.

Isabella Mancini.

Elegant and graceful. A woman who carried authority effortlessly. She looked at me with an expression that was… warmer than the others, but still distant.

“Good morning, dear,” she said smoothly. “Take a seat.”

I nodded politely, “Thank you.”

There was only one empty chair left, right beside Salvatore.

Of course.

I walked toward it and sat down. The moment I did...Salvatore clicked his tongue quietly.

“Tch.”

The sound was low, but it carried enough irritation to make the servants nearby stiffen. I simply ignored it and kept the faint smile on my face.

Across the table, Isabella Mancini folded her napkin neatly before asking, “Did you have a pleasant night, my dear?”

Her tone was gentle, almost kind, but there was a hint of formality in it.

I nodded, “Yes. Thank you for asking.”

A maid quickly stepped forward and placed a breakfast plate in front of me, fresh bread, eggs and fruit. Everything looked perfectly prepared.

I picked up the fork and took a small bite. The moment the food touched my tongue...my entire body stiffened.

Salt.

An overwhelming amount of salt. It was almost impossible to swallow, for a brief second, my throat tightened as I forced myself not to react.

I slowly placed the fork back down, my gaze quietly scanned the table.

No one was eating the same dish as me.

Salvatore was having something else, so was Lorenzo. Clara had a different plate entirely.

…Ah...a memorable welcome indeed.

Still, my expression didn’t change, I simply reached for the glass of water and took a small sip. Across the table, Lorenzo watched me with a faintly amused expression.

He had clearly noticed. Of course he had, but before he could say anything....a deeper voice interrupted the silence.

“We heard you studied business.” The voice belonged to Mr. Alessandro Mancini.

The head of the Mancini family, his tone was calm, cold and detached. He looked at me with sharp calculating eyes, like a man evaluating an unfamiliar investment.

I turned toward him and nodded politely, “Yes...I majored in business management.”

He took a bite of his breakfast before continuing.

“If you wish…” His tone remained neutral. “You may join the company.”

The fork paused in my hand.

Right...he had offered this before, in previous timelines, every single time. And every single time...I had refused, back then, I was afraid. Afraid that working in the company would anger Salvatore.

Afraid it would create more conflict between the families, but this time…Things were different.

I placed the fork down and looked at him calmly, “I’m grateful for the opportunity, father, and if you truly allow it…I would like to join the company.”

The words fell gently across the table, for a moment...silence.

Then—

“Well, well.” Lorenzo’s amused voice broke the quiet, he leaned back in his chair, his lips curling into a lazy smirk.

“It seems sister-in-law is quite eager to enter the Mancini company, tell me…Is this another tactic to steal one of our projects?”

The air around the table instantly turned colder, no one spoke. Salvatore didn’t even look at me, but the slight tightening of his jaw said enough.

Distrust and suspicion.

Of course.

Why wouldn’t they think that?

The Carter family had already stolen one of their major projects in the past. To them...I was just another Carter, another enemy.

I placed my hands calmly on the table, then smiled faintly.

“If you don’t trust me…” My voice remained soft. “…then I won’t join the company.”

Lorenzo’s smirk deepened.

“Oh?”

I shrugged lightly, “I can simply stay in the mansion and learn household duties, anything is fine with me, Lorenzo.”

The calmness in my voice made the room grow even quieter, because the one thing they expected from me...was resistance.

Not indifference.