ログインBLURB Three years. Three years of making his oatmeal every morning. Three years of waiting for texts he never sent. Three years of smiling at people who looked at me like I didn't belong. And the whole time, I was just a replacement for my own twin sister. "You guys know why I went after her in the first place." "Because she looked like Serena." "They're twins. What did you expect?" I heard every word through the noise of that bar. Every single one. Marco never loved me. He loved my face because it looked like hers. And the moment Serena came back to the city, I became nothing. "I'm Serena. Serena Ricci. Though I'm sure people can tell us apart easily enough. There's always a prettier version, right?" My sister smiled at me like she hadn't just stolen my whole life from under me. And Marco stood right there beside her, holding her hand, in front of everyone. So I made a call I never thought I would make. "Dad. I'm ready to come home." I had run away from my family, my name, and the man they chose for me three years ago. An arranged engagement to someone I once saw as nothing more than my cold, strict tutor. I swore I would never go back. But the night I watched Marco catch Serena in his arms while a room full of people cheered, I realized something. The man I ran from never once made me feel like a substitute. The man I ran to never once made me feel like enough. "Is there something you want to say to me?" Marco stood in our bedroom doorway, smiling, waiting for me to hand him an expensive gift.
もっと見るValentina’s POVA few days later, the Santini Corporation was holding its large fundraising gala at the Grand Harbor Hotel, one of the most expensive and exclusive venues in the whole city. The ballroom was packed with wealthy investors, important socialites and powerful business leaders. I didn't want to be there. The only reason I ever walked through those heavy brass doors was because the director of my law firm had personally requested me to represent our team for the evening. It was my last official act before my resignation became effective and I departed the city for good.I stood at a quiet corner table with a glass of sparkling water and watched the crowd. Marco arrived from across the room, with Serena on his arm. They looked like a carefully posed power couple for the photographers. Serena was in a silver custom-made gown that Isabella Santini had picked out for her personally, and Marco was in a sharp tuxedo.Serena did not take long to spot me. Across the room, her paint
Meanwhile back at the villa I sat on the floor of my bedroom packing my clothes into a big suitcase. I took the box with the new watch, and carefully wrapped it in dark blue paper, and a neat ribbon about it. My mind drifted away from Marco and settled on Dante Ferraro, the man who would be my husband soon.We had a long history. The first time I met Dante was when I was ten. He was an intimidating, cold, quiet older boy back then to a shy little girl like I was. Years later, in the second year of high school, my world came crashing down when my mother died suddenly. Grief made me a different person. I shut myself off emotionally, became withdrawn, stubborn, and totally resistant to my father or any kind of authority.My father, worried about my bad grades, hired Dante to tutor me in math at our home. Initially, I hated it. I turned from him, would not speak, pushed back my textbooks. But Dante never became angry. He gave up his own summer vacation and patiently sat at my desk for 2 m
Valentina’s POVMarco pulled away from Serena, and it was almost comical. He looked at me, eyes searching for some sign of pain or anger, but I gave him nothing. I just drank my drink, my face as frozen as a lake. He detested it. I could see the frustration twitching at the corner of his mouth--he wanted me to fight, scream, be the pathetic girl begging for his attention. But that girl died the moment I walked out of that bar. “I’m tired of these stupid games,” Serena announced, her voice honey-sweet as she pulled a card from the bowl. "Oh, a dare! 'Kiss the man on your left.”She turned and her eyes went to Alessio, a guy that was already half-drunk. She walked towards him, a smirk on her lips and for a second I thought it was hysterical. But Marco didn't think it was funny. He was going from zero to a hundred in a jiffy. He lunged, grabbing Serena's wrist in a grip that felt almost painful. "Game over," he barked, his voice echoing in the room. “Now we’re going away.”He refused t
Valentina’s POVThe room seemed to be revolving around me, but I kept my chin up. Marco’s hand dropped from Serena’s arm like he’d been burned, his face pale. “Val,” he stammered looking at me like he’d been caught stealing. “I...I didn't think you were into these types of parties. I didn't think you'd want to come."I laughed, coldly, sharply. "Didn't you tell me you were coming, Marco, is that it? Because you were worried about my schedule, or because you wanted to bring her?Serena moved forward, her smile practiced, perfectly cruel. She pushed a lock of hair behind her ear, moving with such precision that it sent a shiver down my spine. "Oh, don't take it like that, Valentina. Everyone knows we have the same face, but I think we both know who wears it better, don't we?"People in the small circle of standing around us gasped. Bianca, the birthday girl, glanced back and forth between us, her face going from surprise to something much more uncomfortable. I’d been the quiet one, the
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