Chapter 1

After I shouted to choose Matteo, my mother, Sofia, looked down at me in shock. "Lia, what are you talking about?! You just told me yesterday that Vincenzo treats you the best. Why are you choosing Matteo now?"

Matteo had a terrible reputation among the Families. Everyone said he was bloodthirsty and ruthless, with enough blood on his hands to stain the entire river red. I used to hide whenever I saw him, crying and begging my mother to hold me. But they would never know that in my last life, the terrifying Diavolo Sanguinario was the only one who avenged my mother and me.

I gritted my teeth and grabbed my mother's clothes with my hand. "No! I want Matteo! Vincenzo is a bad man. You can't choose him!"

My grandfather, Giuseppe, had just started to speak when he suddenly started to cough violently. The private doctor immediately rushed over and quickly helped him away.

Before he left, my grandfather looked at Mom and me for a long moment, his eyes full of worry as the guests around us started whispering.

"Don Rossi's cancer has already progressed to Stage Three, yet he's still forcing himself to hold this birthday party. He's obviously doing this to pick a husband for Sofia."

"Why did Lia suddenly choose Matteo? That is a man who won't think twice before murdering someone."

"Vincenzo is a good choice. He's gentle and cultured. Not to mention the Bello family is powerful, too. Sofia can't go wrong with him."

The discussion was just underway when the doors to the banquet hall swung open, and Vincenzo walked in. He was dressed in a black suit, wearing an easy smile on his face, looking harmless to anyone who did not know better.

The moment I saw him, the fear from my last life came rushing back, and I shrank into Mom's arms. His gaze scanned the room before finally falling on my mother, a hint of displeasure in his voice.

"It's just a little girl's birthday party, yet the Don made it so grand and invited every VIP from every family. Isn't that a little unwarranted?"

As soon as he finished speaking, something near the dining table caught his eye.

Carla was holding a glass of red wine, and she then pretended to lose her balance as she stumbled toward my mother. The wine splashed across Mom's expensive gown, a large patch of red blooming across it, staining it.

Vincenzo's expression immediately changed as he hurried over and caught Carla. It sounded as though he was scolding her, but I could hear pity in that voice. "Why are you so careless?!"

Then, he turned to Mom and roared, "Sofia! What is the meaning of this? Carla came over to offer you a toast out of the kindness of her heart, but you shoved her on purpose? Where are your manners as a host?!"

Mom frowned and coldly said, "I didn't even touch her as she ran into me herself. I don't think she even has an invitation. She probably snuck in."

Carla's eyes immediately turned red, and tears welled up in her eyes as she grabbed Vincenzo's arm. "Vincenzo, don't blame her. It was my fault. I just heard that it was Lia's birthday, so I specially prepared a gift and came to celebrate. I just wanted to offer Sofia a toast. I didn't think I would upset her. I'll leave right now and stop bothering everyone."

She raised a hand as she spoke to wipe away her tears and turned around, looking as though she had suffered some terrible injustice and wanted to leave.

I was so angry my body trembled. Hanging onto my mother's arm, I shouted, "She's lying! She did it on purpose! She's the one who ran into Mom!"

Vincenzo immediately stepped in front of her and shouted at my mother. "Apologize! Sofia, you have to apologize to Carla!"