Betrayed and Betrothed

When my father asked me who I wanted to marry for the sake of our family alliance, I made a different choice in this life. I no longer chose Leonardo Vittorio. Instead, I chose his older brother, Ivan Vittorio.

My father looked confused. After all, everyone in Chicago knew that Leonardo and I had grown up together. I had chased after him for ten years. As the eldest daughter of the Lucien family, my name had long been inscribed beside his on the list of arranged marriages. Everyone believed our union was destined.

Recalling my past life, I forced a bitter smile. Back then, I had indeed married Leonardo as I had always wished. But after our wedding, he never once touched me. I thought he had some unspeakable illness and went to great lengths to cover for him.

It wasn't until our sixth wedding anniversary that, by chance, I opened the safe in his study.

Inside, neatly arranged, were photos of him with the orphan girl I had begged my father to adopt. In those pictures, there was also a two-year-old boy—their son. They were a happy family of three.

It was at that moment that I finally understood. He wasn’t sick. He had never thought of me as his wife.

To get rid of me, he and my adoptive sister plotted my murder.

Now that I have been given a second chance, I chose to give them my blessing.

But when I walked down the aisle in my wedding dress, my hand resting on Ivan’s arm, Leonardo burst into the church with a gun in his hand. He looked deranged and completely out of control.

"Madeline!" His voice was hoarse and nearly breaking. "How dare you?"

A week after the engagement was finalized, I boarded the most luxurious private yacht in Chicago.

As I reached the entrance of the banquet hall, I happened to see Leonardo sitting on a sofa with a voluptuous woman in his arms. He was fastening an emerald necklace around her neck.

"This is too expensive. Can I really accept it?"

"My sweetheart, I bought this just for you. My woman should wear only the best," Leonardo Vittorio said indulgently as the woman snuggled against him coquettishly.

"I'll change into a dress that matches this beautiful necklace," she said.

Just then, I pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Leonardo’s friends exchanged a knowing look before bursting into laughter.

"Leonardo, your shadow is here!"

"She’s like a guard dog, watching you every second!"

"The engagement is already set, and she’s still keeping such a close eye on you? It’s just a friends' gathering, and she had to show up?"

Leonardo held his wine glass and frowned at their words, the impatience in his eyes barely concealed.

"Madeline, you just couldn’t wait, could you?" His tone was laid-back, but it was as cold as ice.

"You had our families finalize the engagement without my consent. Now, everyone in Chicago knows you’re marrying into the Vittorio