Chapter 1

New York mafia family Donovitch, one of the five major New York crime families, their heir Leone Donovitch has reached the moment where he needs a political marriage to solidify his power.

But I know, Leone only loves his frail childhood sweetheart, Anastasia.

The old Don Vito Donovitch, that man as solid as a rock, sat at the highest position.

He would never allow his future heir, the future Don, to marry a woman who brought no benefit to the family.

So, he devised a roulette game. He wrote the names of his preferred marriage candidates on a spinning wheel, and whoever the wheel landed on would marry Leone.

Only if it landed on the empty space could Leone choose his own bride.

And I was the candidate handpicked by Donovitch's Madre.

This time, I knew the secret of the roulette. Before the ceremony began, I used my familiarity with the mansion's secret passages to tamper with the wheel's mechanism. I ensured the silver ball would land only in the empty slot.

The wheel spun slowly and then stopped.

"Empty!" the host announced, his voice trembling slightly.

The hall instantly fell dead silent, then the girls who weren't selected burst into suppressed gasps and disappointed whispers.

Only I showed no emotion.

Leone Donovitch's tense body suddenly relaxed. He whirled around and publicly embraced Anastasia, whose face had turned deathly pale.

"See, Anastasia?" his voice was hoarse with excitement. "Fate chose me! You can't refuse me this time."

Anastasia nestled in his arms, her cheeks flushing. "Leone, not here... everyone's watching. I've always... only thought of you as my brother." Her voice was soft and seductive, with just the right hint of hesitation.

"You'll learn to love me," Leone cupped her face with his usual, unquestionable dominance. "It's God's will." With that, his cold gaze pierced through the crowd, fixing on me.

The Donovitch Madre, Leone's stepmother, seated on high, instantly looked displeased. She forced a cough, trying to maintain her composure.

"Leone, this... this is quite unexpected. It seems fate, and perhaps God himself, favors you and Anastasia." She paused, struggling to maintain her poise. "But this matter is too significant. I must immediately inform your father, Don Vito Donovitch."

Leone's mouth couldn't help but curve upward in a victorious smile. "Of course. Please do so." His gaze swept over me again, filled with challenge.

He turned to the crowd and announced, "As for the other ladies present, the Donovitch family thanks you for coming. Please remain at the estate as our guests and attend the wedding between Anastasia and myself before you leave. Consider it a small compensation from our family."

He expected to see heartbreak, jealousy, or at least disappointment on my face.

I didn't give him any of that. I simply lifted the corner of my mouth and, like the other women around me who were either numb or fake-smiling, gave a light applause. Compared to the fatal marriage that awaited me in my past life, this freedom was priceless.

On stage, Leone's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. It seemed my calm had angered him. He abruptly grabbed Anastasia's hand, his voice rising: "Anastasia, let's go! I'll show you the new docks your father just handed over to me!"

As they passed by me, Leone leaned in close, speaking only for me to hear: "Don't think about playing games to get my attention. I will never choose you." Then he left without looking back.

As them left, the hall suddenly felt empty. I turned without hesitation to return to my room, grab my few belongings, and permanently leave this hell hole.

However, as I reached the corner of the corridor, Donovitch's Madre's personal bodyguard blocked my way, his tone harsh: "Miss Elena, the mistress requests your presence."

Inside the study, the heavy wooden door had just closed.

"SLAP!"

A resounding slap cracked across my face, burning and stinging.

Donovitch's Madre's perfectly maintained face was twisted with anger, all traces of a lady's elegance gone.

"You ungrateful bitch!" she screamed, her nails nearly poking my nose. "I had it all arranged! The wheel should have landed on your number! Why empty? What did you do?!"

I wiped away the blood trickling from the corner of my mouth, meeting her gaze calmly. "Madame, the roulette was guarded by the people the Donovitch family trusts most, and the mechanism was personally inspected by the old Don. How can you blame me for the outcome?"

"How dare you lie to me!" she stepped closer, her eyes fierce. "Don't think I don't know what you're up to! You think ruining this marriage means you and your pathetic family can stay uninvolved? Dream on! Your father groveled at my feet like a dog just to get you this chance! How dare you destroy my years of planning!"

"A chance?" I almost laughed coldly. "A chance to get me killed?"

She clearly didn't understand the meaning behind my words, taking it as mere defiance. "Listen to me, I don't care what tricks you played! Before the Don returns, you must find a way to make Leone change his mind and choose you! Anastasia that sickly thing—what good is she except for playing the victim and confusing Leone? She can never be the Madre of the Donovitch family! Only you, the Eastern European arms line behind you, can help Leone secure his position against those ambitious Capo eyeing the family!"

"I'm afraid not, Madame," I interrupted coldly, my voice completely devoid of emotion. "I have no interest in playing your family's power games."

She stared at me in shock, as if I'd just said the most absurd thing. "You... do you know the consequences of refusing the Donovitch family? With a single word from me, that pathetic arms business of your family will vanish overnight!"

Donovitch's Madre continued angrily: "You have three days to sort this out. You must become Leone's bride. Or else, your family will pay the price.

Even though Donovitch's Madre herself was dissatisfied with Anastasia becoming her daughter-in-law, to maintain her perfect image in front of her son, she shifted all responsibility onto me, making me the villain who ruined Leone and Anastasia's chances.

And as a result, I earned Leone's resentment, accelerating the tragedy of my past life.

I pulled the door open, ignoring her furious threats behind me, and walked out without looking back.