Chapter 2

Sofia's kind expression froze.

Luca was also stunned, a flicker of surprise flashing through his eyes.

"No," Papa said in a deep voice. "Sofia, you are the most honored Principessa of the Moretti family. Both the Colombo and Rizzo families are spying on you from the shadows, so the one who protects you must be able to fight on the battlefield. Luca can't even hold a gun steady, so how could he possibly protect you?"

Sofia was about to respond, her lips parting. But Luca beat her to it.

"Don Moretti, I have fully recovered from PTSD and can carry out any mission for the family."

I stared at him.

In my previous life, during the three years we were married, I consulted every top psychiatrist in all of Lexingville, learned to recognize every sign of an impending episode, and kept watch outside his door night after night. However, he had never been able to pick up a gun.

But now, just to stay by Sofia's side, he couldn't even bother with the pretense anymore.

It seemed like he, too, had been reborn.

I almost wanted to laugh.

The last thing I saw before I died in my previous life was him storming into the enemy's stronghold alone, putting a bullet perfectly into their heart, just to steal the antidote for Sofia.

That was when I realized it wasn't that he couldn't pick up a gun; he just wouldn't do it for me.

Papa didn't respond right away. Instead, he scrutinized Luca heavily and said, "Talk is cheap. Prove it to me."

Luca moved.

The personal bodyguard at Papa's right side didn't even have time to reach before the gun at his waist was taken. The magazine was ejected, the gun disassembled into three parts, and everything was laid out neatly on the table.

The whole process took less than ten seconds.

Papa raised an eyebrow.

Sofia's eyes lit up, and the way she looked at Luca carried something that hadn't been there before.

In the previous life, she'd found the scar on Luca's face displeasing and had chosen Dante's aloof, unblemished face instead. This time around, she didn't seem to mind at all.

"Very well then," Papa said with a nod. "Luca will take Sofia. And Dante, you'll be responsible for Isabella."

Dante hadn't moved from where he stood. When he heard that, the muscles in his jaw tightened.

"Don Moretti, forgive me for speaking plainly." He knelt on one knee and lowered his head. "I come from humble origins and am unworthy of marrying Ms. Isabella. Please choose someone else."

His tone was respectful, but he hadn't been able to hide the look of disgust he shot at my wheelchair before he knelt.

I'd been wheelchair-bound for 12 years now.

When I was eight years old, Sofia was chasing a cat on the dock and ran onto the road. I threw myself forward and pushed her out of the way, only to have both my legs run over by an out-of-control truck.

And it was precisely because of these useless legs that I lost my place as the successor.

Sofia gained an intact life and, as a matter of course, took the position that should have been mine.

Papa's expression turned dark and stormy.

Nothing mattered more to him in this life than his pride. Yet, here was a trusted subordinate he had raised since he was young, openly refusing to marry his daughter, and in front of so many people at that.

"Are you saying Isabella isn't good enough for you?"

Sofia quickly rushed over and crouched beside Dante. Then, in a lowered voice, she said urgently, "Dante, apologize to Papa right now. This is no joke."

Dante lifted his head, his gaze toward Sofia, obedient yet resolute.

"Principessa Sofia, rest assured that I have never harbored any disloyalty toward your family."

It was the same act again—one desperately pledging loyalty, and the other anxiously mediating.

The two of them played off each other seamlessly, as if terrified that no one would notice the unspoken understanding between them.

I didn't want to watch anymore.

"Papa, let Dante and Luca both go to Sofia," I said evenly. "With the two of them protecting her, I can rest easy."

Papa turned to look at me.

"I don't want to think about marriage for the time being," I added. "Let me go to Uncle Vittorio's side and learn how to manage the business from him. I promise I won't cause any trouble for the family."