Twice Crowned in Crimson

I gazed into the mirror at the face staring back at me, far too young to look this haunted. The icy grip of the lake water still scorched my lungs, a chilling reminder of my past. My fingers brushed against my ghostly pale cheeks as my teeth chattered uncontrollably.

God gave me a second chance at life, and I was dead set on turning Sebastian Vitale's world upside down.

"Principessa," came a soft tap on the door, the voice of our head maid.

"Are you feeling okay? The banquet's about to kick off, and Don Caruso sent me to tell you to get ready to head down."

A banquet?

Right, Dad's big sixtieth birthday bash!

It was all going down today!

Sebastian, the broody outcast who had been mooching off the Caruso family for two years, was going to pop the question to Dad tonight, asking to tie the knot in front of everyone.

In my previous life, I was the girl behind the velvet curtains, eavesdropping on his every word, my heart racing like it was trying to escape my ribcage.

I actually believed that bashful boy, who could not even look me in the eye, had a thing for me.

Talk about a rookie mistake: a deadly one at that.

His heart belonged to Anna all along.

Anna, with her honey-blond hair that fell in soft waves, those downcast green eyes, and that whispery voice of hers–always there to help me get dressed or whatever.

When she took that dive into the lake, she was not alone. Sebastian's baby was with her.

A double tragedy.

What did Sebastian say when he gave me the same cold plunge?

Oh, right.

He spat out, "Your jealousy's like a venomous snake, Isabella, and it's killed the most innocent soul."

Well, in this life, I was going to show him what a real snake looked like. That was the plan, at least.

I took a deep breath, straightened my back, and descended the sweeping staircase to face the music at the banquet hall.

The Caruso family's clout was enough to bring together the city's big shots from both sides of the law to celebrate Don Salvatore Caruso's birthday bash.

The glow from the crystal chandeliers, the merry clinking of toasts, the deep chuckles of the men, and the swish of the women's skirts all mixed into an opulent symphony of power and riches.

I weaved through the crowd, soaking up the compliments and curious looks, all while keeping a stealthy eye on the entire scene.

At last, in the shadows by a column, I spotted Sebastian.

The party hit its peak when my father climbed onto a makeshift platform to give his thank-you speech.

As his last words hung in the air and the clapping dwindled, Sebastian made his move. He strode through the parting crowd and came face-to-face with my father.

Then, he dropped to one knee.

Silence swept through the hall, every single eye locked on the young man who had always been in the background.

"Don Caruso," Sebastian's voice was not loud, but it cut through the silence, firm and clear, "I'm forever in debt to you and the Caruso family for taking me in these past two years. I'll never forget this act of kindness."

My father's eyebrows lifted in a flicker of surprise, and he motioned for Sebastian to stand. "Sebastian, my boy, there's no need for such formality. Your mother was a dear friend of mine, and looking after you is the least I could do. Stand up and let's talk."

However, Sebastian stayed put, his head bowed even lower in a gesture of deep respect, yet there was a determined edge to it: "It's because I value your generosity so much that I've got the guts to ask for an even greater honor here today."

He paused, inhaled deeply, and pulled out a small parchment scroll from his jacket, lifting it high above his head.

"I, Sebastian Vitale, in the name of my mother's bloodline and the rest of my days, humbly ask you to grant me the privilege of marrying the Caruso family's...

"Miss Anna."

That was the moment everything clicked for me.

Sebastian was from the future, just like me.