Se connecterOn the night before the wedding, my fiancé suddenly asked me to give up the ceremony for his first love, Sofia. I turned it down cold in my former life, only to become the Chicago mob’s godmother at a lavish wedding. When Sofia heard the news, she was heartbroken and jumped into the sea to take her own life. Vincent blamed me for Sofia’s death. For the next thirty years, the words he said to me most often were: “Elena, if I had married Sofia that day, she wouldn't have died.” On his deathbed, he told our children: “Don’t bury me with Elena.” The year after he died, I fell gravely ill and passed away. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the night before the wedding. Over the phone, Vincent's voice came again: "Sofia needs this title more than you do. Everyone knows I love you, so they respect you—but Sofia's different. She's just a poor orphan girl..." Before he could finish, I calmly replied, “Fine, I agree.” I turned and signed the papers to cut ties with the family. I flew to Sicily, home to the Salk Institute that I had always looked up to. In this life, I refuse to be his appendage.
Voir plusNot a few days later, he showed up again, still refusing to take no for an answer."Elena, just look at me..." His voice was thick with begging, almost cracking into a sob. "I really know I was wrong. These past two years have been hell for me. I think about your coffee every day. I think about you sitting by the fireplace reading..."He fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a red velvet box, flipped it open—and there it was, the same Cartier bracelet he'd never given me back then."See? I still have the bracelet from our engagement. Elena, can we start over? Sofia's gone—I got rid of her! There's no one in the way anymore. Please, just give me one chance to make it up to you?"He looked at me, hope hanging on his face."Vincent." I looked down at him from where I stood. "You still don't get it. The problem between us was never Sofia."He froze. "Then what was it?""Your arrogance. Your selfishness. And the way you always, deep down, looked down on me."My smile faded, my eyes turning s
My life in Sicily went smoothly—more than smoothly, actually.As my research progressed, my breakthroughs in neurotoxins sent shockwaves through the international academic community. I became the youngest chief scientist at the Salk Institute.One afternoon, I was stepping out of the lab, heading back to my office to sort through some data, when I reached the main lobby and saw a security guard blocking a man who looked ragged and worn-out."Sir, this is a research facility. No entry without a pass.""I'm looking for Elena Costa! I'm her fiancé! Let me in!"That voice—hoarse, weathered—made me stop. I turned around.I almost didn't believe my own eyes.How did Vincent find his way here?When his eyes locked onto mine over the guard's shoulder, he went completely still."Elena..."He choked out my name, his eyes reddening instantly.He shoved the guard aside and stumbled toward me, throwing his arms around me in a crushing embrace.He held me so tight it felt like he was trying to press
Without Vincent's protection, Sofia couldn't keep up her fancy lifestyle at the harbor villa. Before long, she and her son Louis slunk out of that wealthy neighborhood with their tails between their legs.A month later, Vincent was back at the harbor to handle some paperwork for the family's properties there.That evening, he happened to pass through a narrow alley near the docks—and caught a voice he recognized.It was Sofia. But the tone—flirtatious, sleazy—was nothing like he'd ever heard from her.Vincent frowned and stopped in his tracks.He followed the sound and saw Sofia leaning against a wall with some lowlife. They were standing close, way too intimate.Sofia patted the guy's chest and cooed, "Oh, what's the rush? Vincent just got into trouble—I need to lay low for a while. Let things cool off first."The punk grabbed her waist, planted a kiss on her cheek, and grinned. "Cool off? Screw that. I've missed you like crazy. That idiot had no idea you were playing him the whole ti
Vincent had no idea how he even made it back to the city.All he could see in his head was the look in my eyes that night—calm, utterly void of emotion—and my words: "You're using my title to prop up your own good name."It hit him like a freight train—I wasn't throwing a tantrum. I was truly, completely done.He kicked open the front door of Sofia's harbor villa.Sofia was in the middle of trying on a Chanel suit, paired with the diamond necklace he'd sent over. She jumped at the sight of him storming in, his face full of fury."Vincent, what's wrong—""The suitcase I sent over—what the hell happened to it?!" Vincent's eyes were bloodshot, locked onto her. "I packed two sets of everything in that case—where's the half that was meant for Elena? How did it all end up with you?!"Sofia went pale, her eyes darting nervously. Then her face crumpled, tears streaming down her cheeks."Vincent, I... I don't know..." She twisted her fingers together, playing the victim. "When I went to pick up


















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