Chapter 1

The diamond ring on Julia's finger glittered beneath the lights.

I stared at it for a long time.

A month ago, I took a bullet for Leonardo.

When I woke up in the hospital, he was sitting beside my bed.

He held that ring, his expression more serious than I had ever seen before.

"Sofia, it's time I gave you a wedding."

I had waited five years to hear those words.

When I finally heard them, I was as giddy as a child. Despite the dull ache from my wound, I checked myself out of the hospital, tried on dresses, and planned our wedding.

Now, my ring was on another woman's finger.

I drew a slow breath and looked up at Leonardo.

"Explain."

The moment my expression hardened, Julia's smile vanished. She ducked behind Leonardo and murmured, "Leo, she's scaring me. Maybe I should give the ring back to her."

Leonardo immediately pulled her into his arms. The last trace of apology disappeared from his face as he frowned at me.

"You see? That's exactly why. I have to keep my promise to Julia. If I'd told you beforehand, you would've argued with me and scared her. Today's ceremony is just a practice run. Stop making a scene. I'll make it up to you later."

Make it up to me?

I'd heard those words countless times over the past five years.

Two years ago, one of his men brought over a jewelry case. Leonardo let Julia take the eighteen-carat sapphire, leaving me with a pair of earrings covered in tiny stones.

Last year, for my birthday, he promised me a sports car. Julia begged for it, and he gave her the red one I'd wanted.

Now he expected me to give up the wedding I had waited five years for.

Once, I couldn't help asking him, "Why is she always your first choice?"

Disbelief flashed across his face.

"Julia is my family. You're actually jealous of her? Her family died in an enemy raid ten years ago. She has no one but me now! Other people might not understand what that means, but surely you do?"

Then he saw my darkened expression and sighed. "Sofia, stop being jealous over nothing. Don't worry. You're the only woman who will ever become Donna."

Less than a month later, he broke that promise.

Now Julia had both my wedding and my ring.

Julia bit her lip and looked at me.

"Sofia, you're an outsider, so you don't understand. Everyone at a family wedding could be in danger. What if there's a security breach? I'm going through the ceremony to make sure it's safe for you."

She lowered her eyes as tears filled them.

"Even if I have to sacrifice myself, I'm willing..."

I looked at her and laughed softly.

So somehow, I was supposed to be grateful to her.

Leonardo's eyes filled with concern for her. Then he turned to me, his voice firm. "You see it now, Sofia? Stop being difficult. You should be thanking her for being so generous."

Yesterday, I might have lost control and made a scene.

But as I watched them cling to each other, I suddenly felt exhausted.

One person couldn't hold a relationship together alone.

I could no longer live on empty promises.

I tore off my veil.

Then, with all the guests staring in shock, I stepped down from the altar.

I had barely taken a few steps when a hand clamped around my wrist.

Leonardo's gaze was dark and unreadable.

"Sofia? You're leaving?"

I swallowed the ache behind my eyes.

"What else? Should I stay and applaud the two of you?"

He studied me for a long moment. Then one corner of his mouth lifted.

"Are you trying to spite me? If you really want to leave, take off the wedding dress. Julia has had her eye on it for a long time."