Chapter 1

When I walked into Marco and Liliana's engagement party, everyone braced for chaos.

The little principessa was going to flip the table, refused to accept an orphan girl as her Cognata.

Marco felt a bit guilty, a trace of remorse flashing across his face.

He avoided my gaze.

But the moment he saw me walking toward Liliana, his expression darkened instantly. He stepped in front of her, shielding her with his body.

His eyes held a silent plea, trying to soothe me:

"Serana, mind your manners. This is Liliana... my fiancée."

But I just smiled—bright and sweet. Perfectly behaved.

"I'm so happy my Cognato found someone he truly loves. I was wrong before, I hurt Liliana, and I want to apologize. I brought her a gift."

Then I raised my hand and clapped gently.

Behind me, my bodyguards filed in, each carrying a velvet box—jewelry, haute couture, designer bags. All priceless.

The room went dead silent. Everyone was stunned by my sudden turn.

Even Marco looked surprised.

I turned to Liliana, gathered my skirt, and dipped my head. Then—

I walked up to her, watching her shocked face, and pressed a light kiss to her cheek.

"Very soon, you'll be my Cognata. I wish you happiness."

Marco came back to himself and patted my head, relieved.

I could read the confusion on Marco 's faces.

After all, I had been glued to Marco's side since I was a child.

I would bake cakes for him, nervously following recipes and adding the ingredients, only to end up burning my hands.

Every year, I prepared gifts for him and meticulously arranged his birthday banquets.

‘I was going to marry you.’ I had been saying it for four years.

But now... those words were nothing but a child's naive jokes.

The party buzzed with warmth. Everyone followed my lead, offering their blessings.

Only I knew—this wasn't how it went before.

In my past life, I cried and screamed. Marco could only soothe me, make promises:

"I'm just repaying a debt. Her parents saved my life. I need to compensate her. I swear, I'll divorce her afterward and marry you."

He said it so many times.

But on the engagement day, I still couldn't take it. I caused a scene—a disaster.

Marco had no choice. He broke it off with Liliana and agreed to marry me.

On our wedding night, Liliana threw herself into the sea right in front of us.

Marco shattered. Completely collapsed.

He blamed himself for failing to protect his savior's daughter. And he blamed me—for my jealousy, for pushing Liliana to her death.

After that, he wouldn't even look at me.

I cried. No matter how hard I cried and begged, he turned a blind eye.

I finally broke down, and in a daze, I tumbled down the stairs.

I didn't expect to wake up again.

This life, I won't make the same mistakes.

Feeling Marco's warm hand on my head, I swallowed the bitterness rising in my throat.

I held out my hand to him with a forced smile—cheerful, light even as my nose burned with tears:

"I accept her as my Cognata, Cognato. Now can I have my mother's ring back?"

I'd given it to him when I was sixteen. Everyone at school was talking about summer flings, but my heart was already his.

The campus queen who never gave any guy a chance—they all wondered why.

It took me everything I had to work up the courage to confess.

That ring was my mother's—meant for my wedding. I thought he wouldn't accept it.

Didn't expect him to say yes.

Marco froze.

His eyes went to my hand. He remembered that night too.

"Serana... you mean this one?"

Liliana pulled off her glove. That emerald ring was on her finger.

Before I could speak, Liliana's eyes went wet. Panic flooded her face.

"Oh no—I'm so sorry. I'll return it right now. Please don't be upset."

She slipped it off, and as she handed it to me, her fingers went slack.

Clink!

The emerald hit the floor and cracked in two.

The whole room gasped. That was the Moretti family heirloom!

I felt the blood drain from my face. Stared at the shattered gem on the floor.

Liliana grabbed Marco's sleeve, helpless, tears falling: "I'm so sorry... I..."

She crouched down to pick up the pieces—and sliced her finger on a shard.

A drop of blood bloomed.

I immediately crouched down and reached out toward her—

"Wait!"

Marco grabbed my arm, his touch gentle, just like always, as if he were afraid I might hurt myself.

But I could see nothing but wariness in his eyes.

"Serana, it's just a ring. Don't do anything rash."

My heart gave a sharp, needle-like sting. Was he really that terrified I'd hurt Liliana?

"Cognato, you misunderstood."

I simply twisted my wrist, revealing the band-aid in my palm.

Marco froze, a look of confusion and disbelief crossing his face.

Swallowing the bitterness in my heart, I smiled as I pulled my hand back, placing the band-aid into his palm.

"It's... just a ring, Cognato. Hurry and tend to her wound."

Marco anxiously pulled her hand toward him. Still, he didn't use the band-aid; instead, he called for a doctor to examine her.

Then his tone softened. He patted my head, coaxing me like a child:

"Good girl, Serana. Don't be sad. I'll buy you your favorite strawberry cake."

I nodded numbly. Took out a handkerchief and wrapped the broken pieces.

It was my mother's last gift, and the promise ring that sealed our vow.

A wave of sourness stung my nose, and I could barely hold back my tears.

I no longer liked strawberry cake. Just like I no longer loved a certain someone.

Marco saw the grief on my face. He seemed almost surprised that I stayed so quiet that I didn't throw Liliana to the sharks.

This docile, still version of me was a stranger to him. It made him uneasy.

A voice in his head whispered: you're about to lose something precious.

As his eyes swept over my reddened arm, his breath hitched.

Almost instinctively, he offered to walk me back to my room.

But Liliana tugged his sleeve, pleading softly:

"Darling, it hurts so much... Can you stay with me? For the disinfectant?"

He glanced at me. Then nodded.

The butler led me back to my room.

Finally—silence. The noise of the party faded.

I didn't have to pretend anymore. The tears came, hot and fast.

Thinking about how Cognato looked at Liliana now…

the same way he used to look at me. Another woman was taking that love away.

"Principessa is hurting so much... why not fight harder? The Don adores you. We all know that."

I wiped my tears and shook my head.

"Cancel my identity. Buy me a new one. Book a flight to Italy."

"And don't—don't tell Marco."

The butler nodded. He opened the door—

And found a tall figure standing in the doorway.

Marco stared at me, his voice rough, wrecked:

"Don't tell me... what?"