Chapter 6

Once news of the engagement got out, Marcello and I started putting on a high-profile show.

Racing bikes, taking out yachts, hitting up underground casinos and nightclubs.

Like two rebel kids, we showed off our union to the world in the loudest way possible.

I acted like I didn't care. I acted happy. I acted deeply in love.

But deep down, I knew it was all fake.

Chloe changed. She was no longer that gentle, elegant mafia princess. She became depressed and bitter, withering away day by day.

But on the day Marcello and I announced our wedding date, Chloe made a decision too.

"I'm getting married on the exact same day," she suddenly said at a family meeting. "I'm marrying Julian. Right on Aurora's wedding day."

It was a blatant provocation.

I didn't care. We were never real sisters anyway.

The wedding day arrived. They set up two venues at the estate. Mine was insanely lavish. Chloe's was much simpler.

In the dressing room, wearing a six-figure gown, I stared at myself in the mirror.

I looked like a princess, but inside, I was as hollow as a puppet.

Outside the door, my oldest brother was waiting to walk Chloe down the aisle.

He saw me, and his face tightened.

"Brother," I spoke first. "Aren't you going to walk me down the aisle?"

He was silent for a long time. Finally, he shook his head. "Aurora, I..."

"I get it." I cut him off. "I don't need you to."

I've walked alone my whole life. Today wasn't going to be any different.

But just as I was about to step out the estate doors, Mother suddenly appeared beside me.

"Aurora," her voice was soft. "Wait."

"Your brother... it's not that he doesn't want to walk you." Mother's voice choked up a bit. "The second he could get out of bed, he went and threw a punch at Marcello. He felt that letting his sister marry a guy like that dragged his pride through the mud."

My heart skipped a beat.

"He's not a machine. He can't change how he feels overnight. But he did do something for you."

Under my veil, my eyes started getting wet.

"You have such beautiful makeup on today. Don't cry," Mother said softly. "It'll ruin."

I took a deep breath, forcing the tears back.

"Thank you," I said quietly. Then I walked toward the waiting stretch limo without looking back.

The moment the car door shut, I couldn't hold back my tears anymore.

Not because I was moved, but because it was so damn sad.

They always did this. Giving me tiny bits of warmth at the very last second, just enough to stop me from hating them completely.

But that warmth was too little. Not nearly enough to erase all the pain.

"What are you crying for?" Marcello sat next to me and handed me a handkerchief.

"Family is twisted. They make it impossible for me to fully hate them, but they never give me enough to love them either." I wiped my tears.

The wedding went smoothly. The priest's blessing. The applause. And that kiss meant for eternity.

Everything was perfect. Except for the hearts of the bride and groom.

After the reception, we went back to his penthouse. Extravagant decor, expensive furniture, and a massive European king-size bed.

"You're not happy." Marcello poured himself a whiskey at the bar. "You've had a long face this whole time."

I turned to him. I decided to lay it all out.

"Marcello, I'm going to ask you a question. I want an honest answer."

"What question?"

"When you first decided to marry me, did you get a kick out of the revenge?"

His smirk vanished instantly. "Aurora, tonight is our wedding night. Don't bring up this buzzkill."

That evasive, conflicting attitude made my blood run cold.

I stared right into his eyes. "Answer me."

He stayed quiet for a long time. Finally, he turned his back, refusing to face me.

I got it. His silence was the best answer.

I ripped the gorgeous veil off my head and let it fall to the floor.

"Let me tell you something, Marcello." I said, dead calm. "Before this switched marriage, I was doing fine. I gladly accepted Chloe as my sister. I never wanted to hurt anyone. And I never wanted to steal anyone's fiancé."

His shoulders went stiff, but he still didn't look back.

"But you ruined my life." I went on. "And more importantly, I can't be married to a man who holds a grudge against my family."

I pulled the insanely expensive Vitiello wedding ring off my finger and slammed it on the table.

"Starting tonight, our marriage is nothing but a shell." I glared at him coldly. "I will never be a submissive Donna. And don't expect me to play the loving wife. Our war has just begun."

Marcello finally turned around. His face looked awful. A dark, provoked glint flashed in his eyes.

"Fine," he sneered. "Aurora, this is the karma you asked for. Don't regret it."

I closed my eyes.

There was one more thing I didn't say out loud.

I hated my family's fake sense of "fairness."

Real fairness would mean making up for the dozen years I lost first.

Like splitting mob turf. If I was supposed to get 99 blocks but only got one, they owe me 98. Don't tell me to split fifty-fifty with the thief.

I needed massive favoritism to let go of the past.

But they couldn't give it to me.

I opened my eyes and looked at a furious Marcello.

"Since it's karma, then let's torture each other," I said calmly. "Let's see who breaks first."