Chapter 2

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.

Chapter 3

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."

Chapter 4

She continued, "Dario, just this once—listen to me. Marry Vanessa."

His face darkened, eyes cold. "Serena's carrying my child. I'm not hiding her or the baby. You all just want Vanessa for her body, right? Fine. She can be my mistress."

Then he looked at me like I was dirt. "Not like I'd ever touch her. She's filthy. Wasn't she always throwing herself at me anyway?"

Serena's face twisted. "Dario, she's still my sister—at least in name. If you marry me, how can she be your mistress? I thought you didn't believe in the curse?"

Dario shot me a glare. "You're not even good enough to be my mistress."

I laughed. Actually laughed. Couldn't believe how shameless he was.

The crowd stared at me—some with pity, most with judgment.

Beatrice's voice cracked. "Dario, how could you say that? Vanessa was your fiancée!"

I stayed cool. "Well, since everything's out now, let's wrap this up."

I dropped the flash drive on a wine table. "Dario, here's your wedding gift. Enjoy."

Then I grabbed my bag and walked.

Behind me, my parents and Serena were screaming.

"Vanessa, if you walk out now, don't come back! You're no daughter of ours!"

"Don't think you can ruin me and Dario! He'll never believe you!"

I didn't look back.

At the entrance, someone was waiting—tall, calm, leaning against a sleek black luxury car.

Marco Morello.

When he saw me, his expression softened. "Vanessa Venier."

He stepped forward and opened a jewelry box—inside, a diamond ring catching the light like fire.

"Marry me," he said. "Everything I have—my estates, all of it—it's yours. I know what they've done to you. But I'll protect you. Love you. For real. For life."

I didn't even blink. "Okay."

We went straight to the County Clerk's Office and walked out with a marriage certificate, the staff staring like they'd just seen a plot twist in real life.

That night, I leaned into Marco's chest. My phone buzzed.

Serena.

[Vanessa, you're pathetic. Your real parents only love me. Your "fiancé"? He'd die without me.]

[Oh, and that $1 million cash gift and the Morello shops? Dario gave them all to ME.]

[Your parents cut you off. You're broke now.]

[If you beg, maybe I'll toss you a few bucks.]

I laughed out loud.

"Marco," I said, still grinning, "someone just told me I'm a broke nobody. What should I do?"

He smiled, totally unfazed, and handed me all his bank cards. "Babe, you saved my life. Everything I have? It's yours."

Right as I was about to say something back, the clock struck midnight.

My phone lit up and started buzzing like crazy.

It was Dario.