The Night Before the Wedding, He Wanted a Different Bride

On the night before the wedding, my fiancé suddenly asked me to give up the ceremony for his first love, Sofia.

I turned it down cold in my former life, only to become the Chicago mob’s godmother at a lavish wedding.

When Sofia heard the news, she was heartbroken and jumped into the sea to take her own life.

Vincent blamed me for Sofia’s death.

For the next thirty years, the words he said to me most often were:

“Elena, if I had married Sofia that day, she wouldn't have died.”

On his deathbed, he told our children:

“Don’t bury me with Elena.”

The year after he died, I fell gravely ill and passed away.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the night before the wedding.

Over the phone, Vincent's voice came again: "Sofia needs this title more than you do. Everyone knows I love you, so they respect you—but Sofia's different. She's just a poor orphan girl..."

Before he could finish, I calmly replied, “Fine, I agree.”

I turned and signed the papers to cut ties with the family.

I flew to Sicily, home to the Salk Institute that I had always looked up to.

In this life, I refuse to be his appendage.

"Elena!"

Consigliere Luca's voice pulled me back.

He placed a parchment document on the ebony desk in front of me, sealed with wax stamped with the family's golden crest.

"The Council of Elders approved your marriage application unanimously. Welcome to the Gambino family, officially."

"After all these years, he's finally giving you the title you deserve. Congratulations, child."

My eyes locked onto that crest—the symbol of ultimate power. And when I saw the date, I froze.

I had been reborn.

In my past life, I'd been overjoyed at this moment, thinking I would finally stand beside him, sharing his power and glory.

But that very night, Vincent's call came.

He asked me to give it all up—the wedding, the title—to his first love, Sofia.

A sharp ring from the internal phone shattered my memory.

Luca answered immediately, his posture respectful. "Don, yes, the documents have been delivered... Miss Elena is right here."

He covered the receiver, nodded at me, and lowered his voice. "It's the Don. He must be calling to discuss the wedding details with you personally."

I stood up and took the heavy antique receiver.

"You got the papers?"

Vincent paused for a moment, as if choosing his words.

"Sofia's back."

"You know her father just passed away. There's been infighting in her family—her uncles are all circling her shares and her port control. She needs the godmother title as protection, to hold her ground."

The exact same speech.

In my past life, I exploded with rage.

"I'm the one who's been by your side. You're marrying me, and only me!"

That stubbornness got me what I wanted—I married Vincent. And all it earned me was thirty years of his resentment.

Vincent's voice on the phone pulled me back.