The hall was eerily quiet.

The smile on my father's face slowly disappeared, his grey-blue eyes turning sharp as he examined the young man kneeling before us.

He did not immediately take the parchment scroll. Instead, he stayed quiet, a heavy silence filling the space.

I stepped forward.

"Mr. Vitale, I see you're a man of deep loyalty. Anna may not come from much, but she's sweet and caring. She's always looked after me with dedication. You don't care about her humble background and truly want to marry her. That's pretty rare. You two are..."

I locked eyes with him, mine blazing with hatred.

I had planned to keep my feelings hidden, but his face brought it all back: the previous life where he shot my father, slit my brother's throat, and left my mother to die in a fire.

I forced the words out through clenched teeth. "A perfect match."

Sebastian froze for a second.

He looked up, and I saw a flicker of suspicion in his eyes.

He knew I was onto him.

However, it did not matter to me.

I took Anna's hand and held it out to Sebastian.

"Your love is so pure. Who am I to break you apart? Today, I'm entrusting Anna to you."

Sebastian's face was a mix of confusion and doubt, but then he saw Anna, her head bowed like a scared little creature, and his heart softened. He quickly took her hand, pulling her close and whispering words of comfort.

He apologized to my father and prepared to leave with Anna.

However, I was not done yet. "Wait," I said.

Sebastian turned, his eyes cautious.

"Anna has been by my side for years, as close as a sister. Now that she's about to walk down the aisle, it's up to me, her big sis, to hook her up with the most epic wedding gift ever, so she can make her exit in style," I said, my voice steady and clear enough for everyone up front to catch every single word. "And now that Anna's expecting, she needs extra care and protection. All the prenatal vitamins, baby clothes–nothing's going to be missing from the Caruso household."

The moment I finished, the silence in the hall shattered like glass.

"She's what? Pregnant?"

Eyes darted around, filled with a mix of mockery and scorn, bouncing between Sebastian, Anna, and my father.

Here was a guy with no real place in the family, barely tolerated, who knocked up the maid in the very house that took him in, and then had the nerve to propose on the spot.

That was not just some fling. It was a full-blown betrayal, a slap in the face of decency!

Dad's gaze at Sebastian was ice cold, stripped of any old family friend warmth, just pure, offended fury.

Sebastian was a statue, his grip on Anna so tight his veins were on the brink of bursting.

His eyes locked on mine, dark and stormy, swirling with shock, fury, and a touch of the humiliation of being exposed in front of everyone.

He never saw it coming, that I would not only see right through him but also play him like a fiddle, nailing him to the wall of shame in one fell swoop!

Anna was a wreck, tears streaming down her face, trembling like a leaf in a storm, practically trying to vanish into Sebastian's chest.

"Principessa Isabella, thank you." The words came out of Sebastian's mouth like they were being dragged over gravel. "Anna will be just fine with me. No need for you to... bother yourself."

"That's great." I flashed him a smile, nodding contently as my eyes briefly caught the sight of his and Anna's hands locked together.

"Well then, you two better hang on tight to each other and hope that this happiness you've snatched up..." I trailed off, giving Sebastian a mischievous look, "weathers the storms that are bound to come."

The second my words hung in the air, Sebastian–who had been trying to make a graceful exit–froze in his tracks.

He released Anna's hand, spun, and marched straight toward me. The chill and anger in his eyes were no longer concealed.

"Isabella Caruso." Sebastian stood a mere step away, bending down to murmur in my ear.

"You're looking pretty smug, aren't you?" His voice was icy, laced with challenge and menace.

"You think you can ruin me just like that?"

"Ruin you?" I held his stare, cocked my head to the side, and replied with feigned innocence.

"Mr. Vitale, I'm just helping you out! You begged on bended knee, and I said yes. What's with the act now? Don't tell me, all those heartfelt promises were just for show? You don't really want to marry Anna? You don't want to step up? Or maybe…"

I taunted, "You're just a thankless wolf, loving the drama, all thankful one minute and flipping the script the next?"

A muscle in Sebastian's cheek twitched, with my words hitting a nerve.

He inhaled sharply, dropping the pretense, his voice a low growl, like a ruler from another life demanding answers from a betrayer.

"Cut the act! You know exactly what I'm talking about! In a previous life, you were the one in debt to me! You caused Anna's death! And now, you've gone and aired her dirty laundry for all to see, embarrassing her, making me the butt of the joke!

"Isabella, you're still as jealous and spiteful as ever!"

I could not help but laugh as he got more worked up. It was like watching the world's biggest joke unfold. "Cut the victim act, Mr. Vitale. You're not owed anything. The Caruso family has been more than fair to you, and this is how you repay us? With accusations and betrayal?"

My words struck a chord with the other families in the room. Disapproving and scornful looks shot toward Sebastian.

"That's enough!" The room fell dead silent at my father's command. "Sebastian Vitale. I spared you some dignity for your mother's sake, but you clearly don't know when to stop or how to be thankful." He gestured toward the door with a firm hand. "Now, take your woman and leave my house. Immediately!"

Sebastian's face turned a sickly pale as he stumbled out of the hall, everyone's eyes on him.

Just then, the doors burst open, and a figure charged in. "Don Caruso! Hold on! You can't agree to Sebastian's terms!"

It was Anthony Russo, my lifelong friend.

He dashed over to my father, shouting all the way.

Anthony's sudden appearance made Sebastian freeze in his tracks.

"Anthony, what are you doing here..." My father was taken aback.

I watched Anthony, and memories of him fighting for my family in a previous life, unable to change our fate, flashed before my eyes. I felt a sting at the tip of my nose as emotions welled up.

Anthony gazed at me, his eyes wide and tinged with the threat of tears. "Isabella, what's going on?"

I sniffled and gave him a reassuring smile. "Silly, Mr. Vitale's proposal is for Anna. Why the panic?"

"Huh?

"Oh... got it."

As Sebastian took in the scene before him, something dark and savage stirred inside him. His expression seemed to say: 'Isabella Caruso! How dare you give that look to another guy! When we were married in your previous life, you never showed such feelings!'

Then, Anthony took his chance and popped the question right there in front of everyone.

The party, which had just started to settle down, erupted into excitement once more!

That night's spectacle was relentless, each moment more shocking than the last. First, the freeloader proposed to the maid, and then another mafia family's golden boy stepped into the spotlight to make his move.

I had not seen Anthony's bold move coming. My face flushed with a mix of surprise and delight, but a warm feeling bubbled up inside me.

I gave a small nod.

"Yes!" Anthony nearly leaped for joy, his face lighting up with a smile that he could not hide if he tried.

In the shadows by the door, Sebastian's expression darkened even more.

I took Anthony's hand and turned to face the doorway, locking eyes with Sebastian, whose gaze was filled with jealousy and a hint of danger. Without a sound, my lips formed the words clear as day.

"Well, Sebastian, the Carusos and Russos are joining forces in this lifetime. You won't stand a chance.

"The only fate waiting for you is to die without a trace."