Chapter 2

It was my choice that night that would determine who would become the future Don of the Conti Famiglia.

There were plenty who had assumed that Simone would spare my dignity and walk into the hall by my side. He, however, had his arm around Clodia's waist as he made a high-profile entrance into the hall.

In that instant, everyone's attention was drawn to them.

Clodia was wearing a matching dress in the same color scheme as Simone. She was donning a large pink diamond ring on her ring finger, with her neck covered in hickeys.

Those present instantly murmured with each other while the men exchanged suggestive, knowing looks. They were all speculating that Simone and Clodia had just emerged from sleeping with each other.

There were even some who whispered mockingly, "It's so pathetic. I mean, even with the absolute power to choose her husband, she can't hold onto Simone's heart."

In my past life, such humiliation would have caused me to break down in tears.

In this life, I didn't even bother looking up. I sat quietly in the head seat, gently swirling the glass of red wine in my hand, completely ignoring them.

Simone had been waiting for me to lose my temper and cause a scene, so my complete indifference left him strangely irritated.

He strode over to me and said, "You'd better drop this high-and-mighty act of yours, Eva. If you behave yourself tonight, I'll allow you to come into my room once the ceremony is over."

Clodia tugged at Simone's sleeve and asked in a spoiled manner, "Isn't having me in bed enough, Simone?"

Simone burst out laughing. He reached out to cup Clodia's chin and asked, "You're determined to wear me out, aren't you, you little vixen?"

I suddenly recalled my past life. Simone and Clodia had publicly humiliated me in the exact same way back then. I had trembled with rage, but Simone had only laughed, telling me he loved watching me go crazy with jealousy.

I merely felt utterly repulsed as I looked at them now. I actually laughed instead of getting angry this time. I set my wine glass and mocked him without hesitation, asking, "Who would ever want to step foot in your room?"

In that instant, everyone in the hall burst out laughing.

Simone was laughing the most out of everyone. "Do you not intend to choose me as your husband, Eva?"

He stared straight into my eyes, asking, "Who are you going to choose, then? You ought to know that there isn't a single soul in the Famiglia who doesn't know you love me to the point of giving up your own life, Eva."

He looked at me with pure derision. "Do you actually intend to pick Aldo, then? It's clear to everyone that this uncle of mine is nothing but a psycho who uses brutal methods and doesn't have a romantic bone in his body."

He looked at me with absolute confidence, asking, "Do you actually have the nerve to pick him, especially considering how weak you are?"

I suddenly thought of Aldo. I remembered that when I died in my past life, the very last thing I saw before closing my eyes was that terrifying man.

He eliminated all my pursuers on his own and ran into the hospital holding me, completely covered in blood. He shook violently in that moment from the terror of losing me, and despite his cold nature, his burning tears streamed down onto my face.

Upon seeing me lapse into silence, Simone assumed I was scared. He scoffed and asked, "What's the matter? Did fear finally catch up to you, Eva?"

Clodia sauntered over with a swing of her hips. "Eva probably recalled the rumors about Aldo."

She spoke in a cloying tone, deliberately raising her volume for the guests present. "It's common knowledge that Aldo is exceedingly vicious when eliminating people.

"It is also known that he abstains from women. I recalled that some reckless woman tried to seduce him once, and he had her drugged and dumped straight into the trashiest red-light district."

She covered her mouth and said with a giggle, "Eva would probably be tortured to the point where death would be a relief if she actually picked Aldo just to be spiteful."

In that instant, another wave of roaring laughter broke out among the guests.