One More Day to Love Myself

My stepmother, Carmela, was visibly stunned, "Why did you suddenly bring this up?"

Just a few days ago, I had still held my ground, refusing to bow down. It was only when she threatened my birth mother's life that I had been forced to reveal the details of how I saved that man.

I never expect Jaxson to show up for the engagement himself just two month later. It wasn't until he arrived at our door that I realized the person I had saved was none other than the Mafia Godfather, Jaxson Rourke.

In the study, my father, Paul Koval, paced back and forth, demanding answers, “How did you get to know Jaxson? Why did her propose to you?”

“I…I don’t know him. I don’t know why he comes to propose to me.” I stammered.

My stepmother, Carmela Soprano, frowned with confusion, “Is that so?” She glared at me, her voice dropping to a threatening whisper, “Don’t lie to me. Tell me all the details.”

When she threatened to cut off my mother's medical treatment, I had no choice but to spill the truth.

[Flashback]

The memory of that day remained crystal clear. The rainy season always was pervaded by a lingering and inescapable scent of rust. I sat by the floor-to-ceiling window, unconsciously twirling a scalpel in my hand. Outside, the neon lights blurred into colorful patches in the curtain of rain, reminiscing about the peach blossoms shattered upon the river's surface in New Valetta that year.

Jaxson was hunted by a rival family that night. He was shot and fell into the freezing seawater. It was me who dragged him ashore through the torrential downpour. In that abandoned fishing shack, with trembling fingers, I extracted the bullets from his body and stitched up the gunshot wounds on his chest.

Burning with a high fever, Jaxson still clutched my wrist and glared at me yet carrying a trace of imperceptible vulnerability, "You saved me! Tell me your name...I will repay you.”

“I’m…Vale.”

He rasped, “Where can I find you?"

“I’m leaving for my home in New Valetta soon.”

He nodded, “I’ll remember you.”

I didn’t expect anything from him in return. After treating his wounds, I left him alone. Jaxson had no idea that Elena looked exactly like me as if we shared the same face.

[End of Flashback]

Carmela said, a pleased smile spreading across her face, “Now your sister is called ‌Vale. It was her who saved Jaxson.”

My sister, Elena Koval‌, flushed with shame and coughed softly, “I also have feelings for Jaxson. But I don't know what he's talking about. Who is Vale?" She hastily made an excuse and turned around.

Carmela turned her gaze to me. She knew Vale was my childhood nickname. But, few people called me that since my mother was hospitalized.

"It's you," Carmela murmured, stroking the long hair falling over Elena's shoulder, "From now on, you are Vale."

I was shocked, “How could you?”

“The person Jaxson wants to marry is your sister, not you.” With that, she signaled her underlings to shove me into a cell and lock the door.

Paul clapped his hands anxiously, desperate for a solution. "How could you do this?"

Carmela whispered in his ears, “‌The Rourkes are a well-known and influential family in New Valetta, and Jaxson Rourke is the designated heir. If we can bring together him and our daughter, you’ll never have to worry about the future again.”

Paul looked puzzled, “But, Elena is not ‌Vale. She is not the person Jaxson wants.”

Carmela smirked with ill intent, “Don’t forget they are so alike that even we can’t distinguish between them sometimes. We can make Elena impersonate Vale…”

Upon hearing Carmela’s scheme, Paul nodded in agreement.

Carmela forced me to let Elena marry Jaxson Rourke in my place. Coincidentally, Elena had been frail since childhood and had been recuperating away from home for two years. Jaxson believed her story, and proposed. Everything fell perfectly into place, but I became a hidden danger.

"You are sensible." Carmela smiled contentedly, "I will select a good husband for you and prepare a generous dowry. After the wedding, you can take your mother back home."

I let out a long breath and nodded softly. I must get my engagement settled as soon as possible. I knew Elena would die from illness after a few months. ‌If she died, I wouldn’t have a chance to leave.

[Flashback]

Elena had been weak and sensitive since she was young. When Jaxson proposed to her, she was devoted to Jaxson. The better Jaxson treated her, the more regretful she felt. She lived in constant fear that Jaxson would find out the truth. Unfortunately, a single cold wind left her bedridden.

Paul and Carmela hungry for fame and gains from the Rourkes compelled me to replace Elena as the bride, keeping the truth from him.

However, no one can wrap a fire in paper. Jaxson was informed of the news of Elena’s death, and he grieved and withdrew for months. But, he agreed to marry me for the sake of this similar face. He thought I was only after his wealth and power, so he had no affection for me at all.

On the wedding night, he stared at me for a moment and sneered, "I want to marry Elena. Since you have the same face, why did she have to die, not you?"

It was three years ago that I saved him. My memory was already blurred. What I said might not be clearer than what Elena had told him. But, I still gathered up my courage and asked him, "What if I had been Vale who saved you back at that night…"

Jaxson swept the scrolls off the table, the items clattering to the floor like a sudden storm. He furrowed tightly and sneered at me, “"You've gotten wealth and power just by looking a little like Elena, that's enough. Now you even want to steal the things she did. How despicable can you be?"

Jaxson thought I was deliberately imitating Elena. He flied into a rage and punished me to kneel on the steps. As fine rain drifted off the tiles, no one dared to hold an umbrella for me. I was soaked through and collapsed wearily at the foot of the steps.

When I woke up, only my maid was by my side. She looked hesitant and told me, “Jaxson was preparing himself with Elena’s funeral. No one dared to disturb him.”

[End of Flashback]

I lay with my back to the window and tears ran from my face down onto my lapel. And I regretted it so much. If I could go back a few years, I would never have saved him. If only I could go back a few months ago...