Dario Morello came from old money in Santria City—but his family was cursed. Every guy in that bloodline dropped dead before twenty-five, like something sucked the life out of them.

The only way out? Marry someone with a rare fertility gene.

In my last life, my adopted sister Serena jacked my wedding dress and took my place at the altar. I exposed her right there in front of everyone.

She became Santria's biggest joke. Then she killed herself.

My parents said I was heartless. Cut me off without blinking.

Dario? He hated me too.

On the anniversary of Serena's death, he locked me in a basement, strapped me with explosives, and snapped, "That fertility gene lie? You made it up for clout and cash. Serena was pregnant with my kid. You killed them both. So now—you're going with her."

Next thing I knew, I was waking up on the morning of the wedding.

This time? I helped Serena with the veil and wished them a perfect life.

I strolled into the hall, swinging my bag like I had all the time in the world. Onstage, the couple had just swapped rings.

People near the aisle froze. Then came the whispers.

"Vanessa? What's she doing here?"

"Wait... wasn't this supposed to be Vanessa and Dario's wedding?"

"If she's here—who the hell's the bride up there?"

Every head turned. Especially the Morellos in the front row.

Alfonso, Dario's dad, shot to his feet, face turning stormy. "What is this? Vanessa was supposed to marry into our family. Who's on stage?"

Beatrice, Dario's mother, didn't wait. She stormed the altar and ripped off the bride's veil.

Gasps. Everywhere.

"Isn't that the adopted daughter from the Venier family?"

"Seriously? Did they just pull a sister swap?"

"But only Vanessa has the fertility gene, right? Serena's useless."

Serena's face went full panic.

Dario squeezed her hand, gave her a look like 'don't worry', then stepped in front of his parents.

"Dad, Mom, I love Serena. I'm not marrying anyone else. That curse? I don't buy it. All our guys had kids."

Alfonso slammed his cane down. "You think that was luck? They married women with the gene! Your twenty-fifth birthday's tomorrow. Stop this nonsense!"

Beatrice's eyes welled up. "We never lied. I have the gene too—that's why I married your father. Being a Morello means love isn't part of the deal."

Dario stood firm. "I'd rather die than be some emotionless puppet stuck with someone I don't love."

I stayed quiet, watching him.

So, he came back too.

And just like me, he made the same call—never again.

Alfonso's glare shifted to me. "So this was your plan, Vanessa? You let your adopted sister play us? Your whole family must be out of their minds. Either explain yourself, or don't expect to stay in Santria."

My mom rushed over, grabbed my arm, and shoved me toward the Morellos, all smiles like nothing was on fire.

"Vanessa, I know you weren't thrilled about the marriage and talked Serena into stepping in, but go ahead—apologize to Alfonso and Beatrice."

I sneered inside.

So this was the stunt they didn't get to pull in my last life. And now I got front-row seats.

Blood didn't mean a thing. Twenty years of raising Serena made her their real daughter. Me? Just the backup plan.

And with someone propping her up, Serena dove right in. Tears pouring. "Mr. and Mrs. Morello, Dario and I really love each other. Vanessa didn't want the wedding, so I—"

Beatrice shut her down. "So what? You don't even have the gene. You think love makes you enough? With your background? You're not fit to be his wife. You'll get him killed."

Dario jumped in front of her like he was protecting some helpless baby deer, eyes full of fire. "Vanessa Venier, that whole gene thing? Total scam. You bought it from some rando scammers! I'd never marry someone that toxic."

Serena clung to him, all shaky and fake-innocent. "Vanessa, you said you were letting us be together. Why are you blowing things up now?"

The crowd started murmuring, their looks slicing right through me.

I just smiled, pulled out my phone, and opened the receipts.

"Serena. Mom. Dad. Last night, you all said the wedding got moved to tonight. So why's it happening now?"

The wedding videographer zoomed in, and boom—my texts hit the big screen behind me.

[Mom: Vanessa, the wedding was moved to 8 p.m. Don't rush over.]

[Serena: Vanessa, the Morellos said it's delayed. Just wait at home for updates.]

[Dad: Wedding postponed. No need to come early.]

The room exploded.

"Oh my God, they totally set her up!"

"They tricked her so she couldn't stop the wedding!"

"Are Sebastian and Rosalia even her real parents? That's messed up."

Mom went ghost white and scrambled to save face. "No, no—it's not like that! Serena said Vanessa didn't want to go through with it, so we—"

"So what?" I cut in, ice-cold. "So you tried to hand my wedding to your favorite daughter behind my back?"

Dad, who'd been quiet this whole time, suddenly snapped. He stormed over and slapped me—hard.

"Shameless girl! You run off, then show up with fake texts and humiliate us? You think this marriage is some kind of game?"

I wiped the blood from my lip, smiled wider, and said, "Who said I'm not getting married? I'm here, aren't I?"

Beatrice's eyes lit up. "Yes! Our family only recognizes Vanessa as Dario's bride. We'll redo the ceremony—tonight!"

Serena went ghost-pale and grabbed Mom's sleeve, full panic mode.

Mom caught on fast and screamed, "No! She can't marry him! I need to tell the truth!"

She pointed at me, voice shaking. "Vanessa's been sleeping around for years. She caught something—something incurable!"

Gasps rippled through the room. People backed away like I was radioactive.

"That stuff's contagious!"

"The Morellos better run!"

"No wonder she bailed on the wedding—she's used up!"

I stood dead center while their lies circled like sharks, heat boiling in my chest.

Last time, I kept quiet to protect Serena's reputation. Not this time.

I reached into my bag, pulled out the photos, and held them up one by one.

Every shot showed Serena wrapped around different guys—in hotel hallways, parked cars, and beds.

I held them up. "Mom, these the guys you meant?"

Beatrice gasped and nearly hit the floor.

The room exploded again.

"Oh my God, that's Serena!"

"She's wild!"

"How many times has she cheated on Dario?!"

Serena snapped. She lunged at me like a psycho, grabbing for the photos.

"They're fake! All fake!" she screamed. "You photoshopped them! Swapped your face with mine!"

She shredded the pics, paper flying like confetti.

I stayed chill, pulled out a flash drive, and spun it between my fingers. "Got the originals right here. Full HD video too. We can call in experts to verify."

Serena went sheet-white.

Dario yanked her behind him, glaring at me. "Even if you ruin her, I'd never marry you!" He held Serena close while she sobbed. "You're the one with the dirty past. Don't act innocent."

I laughed, cold. "If those pics are fake, Serena—how about we both go get tested? Let's see who actually caught something."

Serena froze, shaking behind Dario.

He growled like I'd just threatened his precious princess. "Okay!"

Then he turned to Beatrice. "Mom, call Dr. Galvani. We're doing the test now."

Dr. Galvani, the Morellos' private physician, showed up in under ten minutes.

She pulled me into the lounge behind the hall. The exam was quick. Outside, I could hear Serena fake-crying while Dario played the hero.

"Don't stress, Serena. She's bluffing. Once we get the results, she's done."

"Dario, I'm scared..."

I didn't care anymore. I felt calm—cold, even.

Dr. Galvani came back out with the results and walked straight to Dario. Looked him in the eyes.

"Mr. Morello, Ms. Venier is completely healthy. No disease. No issues."

The crowd gasped.

I stepped out, smooth and composed, and locked eyes with Serena. She looked like death.

"Your turn, Serena."

Her face went fire-red. "I can't... because... I'm pregnant with Dario's baby!"

Voice shaky. Eyes all over the place.

I gasped, hand to mouth. "Wait, what? But Dario and I only got engaged seven days ago. So you two were hooking up behind my back while I was the bait for the alliance?"

The whole room froze. Then the whispers hit like a wave.

"This is next-level betrayal."

"Dario was hooking up with the adopted sister while the real heiress took the fall?"

"Shameless."

Dario didn't even flinch. He slid an arm around Serena's waist, all soft and sweet. "Serena, weren't we gonna wait 'til the third month to tell everyone?"

The way he said it made my stomach turn.

Beatrice was shaking, her voice like thunder. "I don't care if she's pregnant. Without Vanessa, you won't live long enough to meet that kid."