Chapter 2

"Where are you going?"

The next day, I had just dragged my suitcase out of the closet when Vincenzo appeared in the doorway.

Adriana stood behind him, that familiar angelic face wearing a feigned expression of concern as she looked at me.

"Marise." I continued packing my clothes without looking up. "For Fashion Week."

Vincenzo sneered, "Fashion Week? This trick again."

I stopped and looked at him. He wore a black tailored suit with his tie slightly loose. It was clear he had just rushed back from the party. The smell of alcohol wafted from him, mixed with expensive cologne.

"What trick?"

"This disappearing act of yours." He walked into the room, disgust lacing his tone. "Every time I don't do what you want, you vanish and strain relations between our two families. Then, you force me to compromise."

It was true in my last life.

When I was 16 years old, I caught him kissing the school's head cheerleader. In a rage, I ran to New Fay and hid for a month. The Moretti family thought I had been kidnapped and nearly went to war with the Marino family.

At 18 years old, he brought another girl to a charity ball. I 'disappeared' to Loseles. That time, the former Dons of both families personally intervened to mediate.

I admitted that my younger self was immature, always trying to get his attention this way. However, it was no longer like that.

Now that I had been given a second chance, I just wanted to cut ties quickly.

Adriana gently tugged at his sleeve. "Vincenzo, maybe Rosalie really just wants to go to Marise—"

"Shut up," I cut her off directly. "I'm not talking to you."

Adriana's face paled, tears instantly filling her eyes. "I was just trying to help mediate..."

"Mediate what?" I closed my suitcase and turned to face her. "You just want to pretend to care about me, don't you? Or show him how kind you are?"

I knew her tricks all too well. In my last life, she gradually won everyone's sympathy this way, including my family.

"Rosalie!" Vincenzo roared. "Are you insane? Adriana's just trying to help!"

"I'm perfectly clear-headed." I pulled up the handle of my suitcase. "Now, move. I have a flight to catch."

Vincenzo snatched my passport and tore it to shreds right in front of me. The passport cover fluttered down onto the marble floor.

"You're not going anywhere." His voice was low and dangerous. "There's an important family meeting tomorrow. You must attend."

I knew about that meeting. In my last life, it was to discuss the details of our wedding. I had sat there like a doll, listening to the Don and core family members discuss my future. I had been delighted.

Yet now, I simply pulled out my phone calmly.

"Tony, prepare the backup passport," I said to the person on the other end of the line. "Deliver it to the airport within ten minutes."

"You..." Vincenzo stared at me in shock, clearly not expecting me to have such measures in place.

"I told you, I'm going to Marise." I pushed my suitcase toward the door. "This is for work. Don't read too much into it."

In my last life, I missed Marise Fashion Week and let slip the opportunity to establish connections with directors of famous luxury brands. I missed all the career development possibilities that followed.

In this life, I would not make the same mistake again.

Adriana suddenly stepped forward and grabbed my arm. "Rosalie, please don't go. Vincenzo's just worried about your safety..."

The diamond ring on her hand was large and sharp. The moment I shook her off, the ring cut a bloody gash across my arm.

Adriana shrieked and fell to the ground, looking at me in fear.

"She hit me!" she cried to Vincenzo. "She's trying to kill me!"

I looked down at the wound on my arm. Blood was running down my skin.

This woman was still as skilled at acting as she had been in my last life. Every move was carefully calculated and perfectly timed.

Vincenzo saw Adriana lying on the ground and flew into a rage. He drew the Beretta from his waist, the weapon that had accompanied him for years. It gleamed coldly under the lights.

He aimed the gun at me and roared, "Rosalie, you're asking for it!"