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Lahat ng Kabanata ng I Came Back to Life and Traded up My Fiancé: Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 9

9 Kabanata

Chapter 1

I walked out of Don Guerra's private greenhouse and ran right into Aurelio Guerra and his right-hand men.They saw me, exchanged a look, then peeled off. One of them couldn't resist getting in one last jab."Wanda, are you stalking Mr. Guerra again? You've been neglecting your family's business for some guy. Aren't you worried your mother would be turning over in her grave, seeing you stoop this low?"Aurelio's gaze swept over me. He was impatient. "What are you doing here again? Hoping Don Guerra leans on me for you? Planning to trot out that century-old marriage pact between our families again?"You Santoros really need a new trick besides holding me to the long-standing ties between our families. Save it. Everyone's talking about you pursuing me, and it's killing my reputation."I'll be taking a hard look at this marriage arrangement. Begging won't get you anywhere."His gaze oozed arrogance.Just like in my last life, everything I felt for him only came across as desperate c

Chapter 2

On the day of my perfume sampling, the place was packed with socialites.Aurelio sauntered in, fashionably late, with Maeve on his arm. Her cheeks were flushed, and there was a lipstick smear on Aurelio's collar that definitely wasn't his.Anyone could tell what they'd just been doing.If this had been before, I would've fallen apart. I would've marched over, torn off their pretty little masks, and demanded to know why they had to do that to me.He was the man I loved, and she was my stepsister. Did my dignity mean nothing to them?Now, I just let my gaze slide over them, cool and steady. Then, I turned back to my guests and kept the conversation going as if nothing had happened.Aurelio noticed my gaze pause on the two of them, and, on instinct, eased Maeve behind him. He waited a long beat, but the meltdown he expected never came. Annoyance flickered across his face.He forced a scornful smile. "Wanda, you're not putting on this little 'tolerant' act because you're afraid I'll

Chapter 3

Every pair of eyes in the room turned to me, waiting for my answer.Just then, a figure stepped out of the shadows on the second-floor landing and came down the stairs.He wore a silver mask that hid half his face. He was tall, and his shoulders were squared. He had a quiet but commanding presence.It was the eldest Guerra heir, Cesare Guerra.The crowd stirred again. A low murmur of curiosity rippled through the room.I was about to say I'd chosen to marry Cesare when Don Guerra's warning rang in my head."I'll back you if that's what you want, but keep it quiet for now. The Guerras run deep. Tip your hand too soon, and you'll only invite trouble."I hesitated and held my tongue.Cesare's steps faltered. Behind the mask, a shadow flickered in his eyes.I understood Don Guerra's concern. Inside the Guerras, factions filled every corner. Everyone kept their eyes on the family fortune that would shape the future.I stopped trading barbs with Aurelio and let the harsh chatter sw

Chapter 4

A sharp pain shot through my wrist. I yanked back, trying to break free.Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a sea of flashing cameras below. It hit me. Aurelio had staged this to ruin me today, in front of the media and every one of our peers in the Mafia.I swallowed the rage and leveled a cold stare at him and Maeve. She smirked.Aurelio seemed to realize he'd overreacted, but he still wouldn't let go. He hauled me to the center of the stage.Reporters erupted and snapped pictures of me. "Isn't that the Santoros' oldest daughter? She's actually bullying her stepsister at a launch event. What a disgrace to the Santoros."Aurelio looked disgusted. "Wanda, apologize to Mae right now! How did I end up tied to someone like you? Unbelievable."One of his men immediately handed Maeve an inhaler."Ms. Wanda, this won't fly. You can't even tolerate your own sister? Mr. Guerra will have plenty more partners going forward. Are you going to go after them one by one?""Maybe Ms. Wand

Chapter 5

My words landed like a gavel. I looked past Aurelio at Cesare. Shock and humiliation were written all over Aurelio's face."I chose Cesare Guerra."The room went dead quiet. Eyes flicked between me and Cesare, stunned.Aurelio snapped out of it and jabbed a finger at Cesare. His voice was shaking with anger. "Wanda, you're out of your mind! Look at him. He's a monster. You'd rather marry a freak who won't even show his face than marry me?"His bellow ricocheted across the venue, harsh and grating.I met his gaze, flat and cold. "Mr. Cesare's ten times the man you are on the inside. He doesn't steal other people's work, and he'd never frame his own family."Every word was a knife, driven straight into Aurelio's heart. The color drained from his face. His lips trembled, and he couldn't get a word out.Maeve crumpled to the floor. Her eyes were wide with terror and despair.Right then, Don Guerra stepped onto the stage, leaning on his cane, with the butler steadying him.Don Guer

Chapter 6

Aurelio stood in the moonlight. He looked gaunt, and his eyes were bloodshot. As soon as he saw me, he rushed over and grabbed my shoulders. "Why would you do this to me? You loved me for years!"I shrugged him off. "Save it, Aurelio. You don't get to throw around the word 'love.'"Something in him snapped. He started laughing, and he sounded unhinged. "Wanda, stop acting like you're above everyone else. Aren't you curious how I know about Reverie?"He locked eyes with me and enunciated every word. "Because I was reborn!"I wasn't surprised when he let that secret slip. I'd suspected as much back at the perfume sampling, when he started making those bizarre demands.Seeing how flat my reaction was, Aurelio's face twisted even more. "You heard me right. I was reborn, and I remember my past life. I know every card you're holding!"In our last life, you shot to fame with Reverie and used it to rocket me to the top of my career. That formula should've been mine. You owe me!"His log

Chapter 7

Aurelio had no idea I'd already swapped out several key ingredients in Reverie. He got a pretty shell with nothing inside.Without my blending process and my signature heart notes, his so-called Reverie was just a cheap, nose-stinging synthetic. He completely blew it.After the botched launch, Aurelio's company went into free fall. The stock plunged instantly, and the cash flow dried up overnight. He became the butt of the joke in both the Mafia and the fashion world.Reverie's collapse left Aurelio's company on the brink. The media pounced, claiming he'd stolen someone else's idea and was a fraud.The people in his orbit couldn't back away fast enough. Collection notices poured in. He was in a full-blown panic, begging for favors and running into walls everywhere.Meanwhile, Renata pulled ahead, took over the domestic market, and attracted partnership offers from several top-tier global brands. Santoro Group's reputation soared to an all-time high.…That day, I was in my offic

Chapter 8

Aurelio's company filed for bankruptcy and started liquidating. He went from golden boy to pariah overnight, crushed by debt.Maeve saw the writing on the wall and turned on him. She quietly reached out to the Guerras' sworn enemies, the Lorenzi family. She planned to trade the company's core tech for a life of luxury.She thought no one would ever know, not realizing Cesare was watching her every move.The night Maeve met the Lorenzis to seal the deal, Cesare arrived with the police and caught them red-handed.Maeve was still screaming when they hauled her away. "It was Aurelio! He made me do it! He forced me!"Unfortunately, no one was buying her words anymore. The trade-secret theft charges were enough to put her away for years.The story hit the news fast. When Dad saw it, he was so furious he fainted and ended up in the hospital.He called me, and his voice was weak. "Wanda, I know I was wrong. I played favorites. I'm sorry. Can you... let Mae off just this once for my sake

Chapter 9

I held Aurelio's gaze, calm as ever. "No. You ruined yourself. Your greed, your selfishness, your malice. Those were the hands that pushed you over the edge."The bailiffs hauled him away, but his venomous stare burned into the room.I knew it was over. The case was closed.Aurelio was sentenced to life in prison, and Maeve received ten years for stealing trade secrets. Their names became a stain in the Mafia.With the scandal piled on top of mismanagement, Dad's company, Santoro Group, went under fast. I leveraged the Santoros' connections and took over the company without a hitch.I cleaned house, kicking out the leeches who'd been feeding off Dad and Maeve, one by one. Finally, the Santoros were back where we were meant to be.Once the family business was settled, I went to the prison to see Aurelio for the last time.Through a thick pane of glass, I saw him in a prison jumpsuit. His head was shaved, and he looked so gaunt that he was barely recognizable.The arrogance and s

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