No Second Chances

"Your love makes me sick." Those were the final words my husband, Vittorio De Luca, left me in my past life.

On our wedding day, Elara Hale had crashed my ceremony, begging Vittorio to run away with her. But he chose to stay by my side. Yet, when Elara died of an illness shortly after, he harbored nothing but hatred for me.

He detested that I had clung to him for over a decade, forcing him into a marriage he never wanted. More than that, he loathed himself for not running away with Elara.

When I opened my eyes again, I was reborn before everything went wrong.

I looked at him, "Vittorio, I'm getting married."

He looked a bit troubled.

"You know I’m busy with a critical territorial expansion. My mind is entirely elsewhere…"

“Never mind.” I offered a faint, indifferent smile.

Relieved, Vittorio leaned in and pressed a kiss to my forehead.

"Don't worry. We've been together for twelve years. I'll do the right thing and take responsibility."

He didn’t know what I meant, but I knew what I’d do in this lifetime.

I would never choose him again, let alone marry him.

Seeing me step out of Vittorio’s office, Elara stood up from her desk at the entrance. She wore a dazzling smile.

"Isabella, why do you look so pale? Did you quarrel with Vittorio?"

I didn’t even want to talk to her and just brushed past her, intending to leave.

"Isabella!"

Elara called out to me, her tone dripping with unsolicited advice.

"You'll be thirty next year. Don’t act as willful as a spoiled girl. Vespera Capital still hasn't budged an inch on the financing and Vittorio had been agonizing over it. Even if you can't help him, at least don't distract him at a critical time like this."

I frowned slightly, my gaze calm but piercing as I looked at her.

"Elara, you have to know this company is established by Vittorio and me. He might tolerate your presence, but I can easily have you removed."

"You…" Elara momentarily froze up. She hadn't expected me to be so ruthless. Stunned for a moment, she quickly shifted to a pitiful tone.

"I was just trying to give you some advice. You don't have to take it to heart. But why do you have to drive me out of…"

"Do I have the guts?" I arched my eyebrows.

Vittorio walked out, his voice laced with a cold reprimand.

"Isabella, she’s just a little girl, new to the city and all alone. Even if she said something improper, why can't you be a little more understanding?"

I almost laughed out loud. A little girl? Elara was only three months younger than me. A sharp, bitter sting rushed to my eyes. I took a deep breath to steady myself.

"Vittorio, I’ll give you the last chance. She leaves, or I do."

"Isabella Falcone, don't be unreasonable." Vittorio snapped.

I froze and tried to rack my brain, but I couldn't remember