Chapter 1

In my fifteenth year of growing up alongside three future mafia godfathers, when all three proposed to me at once, I chose Luca.

And they cast me out at my own wedding.

Luca stood before the altar and threw my veil aside in disgust.

I was stunned.

Ten minutes ago he'd been holding my hands, reciting his vows, looking at me with those heavy eyes.

"Luca..." I called to him.

He'd already turned and walked away.

I instinctively looked for Dante.

He doted on me most, treated me like his own little sister, panicked out of his mind every time I cried.

Dante's face was pure impatience:

"What are you looking at? This whole lie needs to end."

I didn't understand. "Dante, what are you three doing? Explain it to me."

"There's nothing to explain." He cut me off. "Sofia is the real princess. She's back now. Your good days are over."

I opened my mouth, then turned to look at Sebastian.

He was still smiling—that gentle smile I'd known my whole life.

But when he spoke, his voice was colder than the rain outside:

"Elena, you were nothing but a little pet we kept for amusement. Stop making a scene."

They hauled me out of the church by the arms and threw me into the downpour.

Luca instructed Dante: "Take her back to the estate. She's not allowed out to see anyone before Sofia's official return."

He paused, tone going colder. "So she can't hurt Sofia."

The long-missing system finally came online:

【Wedding ceremony between host and Luca Morandi detected as valid. Main mission complete!】

【All three courtship targets at affinity levels above 95%!】

【Upon death of the host's body, return to the real world, receive payout, and heal all real-world injuries!】

Rainwater ran down my chin, but I didn't feel cold. I only wanted to laugh.

Any later and I'd have forgotten I never belonged here to begin with.

Dante grabbed my arm, his face like stone. "Move."

I shook my head, climbed to my feet, and walked in the opposite direction.

Priority one was finding a way to die.

He strode over and dragged me toward the car by my arm.

"Where do you think you're going dressed like that? Have you no shame?"

I struggled, and he pulled me into the car anyway.

The whole drive he radiated black moods, knuckles white on the steering wheel.

"You don't have to drive me if you don't want to," I said flatly.

"Shut up!" He cut me off, irritated.

Only when Sofia messaged him did his brow finally ease—the corner of his mouth even lifted a little.

Noticing me watching, he immediately frowned:

"Don't get any ideas about touching Sofia."

"I know what you're thinking. Last time you were this calm, you turned right around and took Sofia to the red-light district. If we hadn't gotten there in time... She was lost out there for years. She's finally home. If you dare lay a hand on her again—"

I wasn't listening at all. I stared out at the rain.

When I didn't fire back, it only agitated him more:

"Look, on the day Sofia officially rejoins the family, you'll apologize to her in front of everyone, and then we'll let you stay with us. Like before."

I ignored him.

I was watching the road outside.

Mountain road. Cliff on the right. No guardrail.

I asked the system silently:

【As long as I die, I go back to my original world. Correct?】

【Correct.】

I hit the door lock—nothing. He'd locked it from his side.

Then there was only one option.

I suddenly lunged forward from the back seat, seized the wheel, and yanked it right.

"Are you insane!"

Dante roared, wrenching at my hands, the car swaying violently.

One hand clamped hard around my waist, dragging me back; the other fought the wheel.

The hood pulled back from the cliff edge by inches and slammed into a stone post at the roadside.

The airbag deployed and knocked my vision black.

By the time I came around, Dante had already crawled out, come around to the back door, ripped it open, and dragged me out.

He was shaking all over, rain streaming down his face.

There was blood on his chin—from the airbag or broken glass, I couldn't tell.

"Do you actually fucking want to die?"

He gripped my shoulders hard enough to crush bone:

"Over an apology? We really have spoiled you rotten!"

I twisted free and ran for the cliff edge.

"Elena!"

Dante's shout cracked. He tackled me from behind and pinned me flat to the ground.

Gravel dug into my face, his full weight on my back, my ribs hurting so badly I could barely breathe.

"Let me tell you something—you could die right in front of me and I wouldn't soften!"

He snarled, rain mixed with blood dripping onto the back of my neck:

"Put away those little schemes of yours. Stop fucking using your life as leverage!"

I lay there with my cheek against cold gravel.

And suddenly felt very calm.

"Shouldn't you all be happy if I die?"

My voice came out light under the hammering rain, but he must have heard, because the weight pinning me down went rigid.

"It clears the way for your Princess Sofia."