Chapter 2
Lydia's POV
My mother frowned when she saw Freya crying. "What's gotten into you? Moretti may have a temper, but he's wealthy. Countless women would kill to marry into that family, and you're crying?"
I knew why she was crying.
After Freya married him in my past life, the women Moretti kept on the side tormented her every day. She fell into depression and died.
Thinking about it, my own eyes began to sting.
In our past lives, we both married the wrong men. Neither of us was happy. This time, I wouldn't let that tragedy repeat itself.
"Mom, I need to talk to Freya alone." I spoke up.
My mother looked at me suspiciously. "What can't you say in front of me?"
"Girl talk." I stood and walked over to Freya, taking her hand.
Her hand was ice-cold. Just like in my past life.
I pulled her into the kitchen and shut the door.
Freya kept her head down, tears still streaming. I knew if I didn't step in, her gentle nature would force her to compromise.
"You want to marry Sebastian, don't you?" I kept my voice low. "You like Sebastian?"
Freya's pupils shrank. Then her face flushed red, the color spreading all the way to her ears.
I was right. Freya had feelings for Sebastian. But she was too soft-spoken to defy our parents. She didn't want me to suffer in the Vance family either.
We both tried to protect each other. We both fell into the abyss.
"You marry Sebastian. I'll marry Moretti." My tone was firm.
Freya stared at me in shock. "You're going to marry that mafia boss? He'll kill you! And Mom and Dad will never agree..."
"I'll handle them." I gripped both her hands and looked into her eyes. "Freya, this time, you have to live for yourself."
Her tears stopped. She whispered, "Could it be... you also..."
Before she could finish, my mother's impatient voice echoed from the living room. "Have you two decided yet?"
"We have." I picked up the red folder and walked over to my mother. I looked her in the eye. "I'm marrying Moretti."
My mother's eyes widened. "Have you lost your mind? With your temper, you won't last a day in the Vance family! Do you have any idea what kind of man Moretti is? He—"
"I know." I cut her off. "The Vance family heir. Ruthless. Merciless. They say he kills without blinking."
"If you know that, then why—"
"That's my problem." I smiled. "Either way, I'll make him want to marry me."
My mother's face went pale with anger. She turned to my father. "Say something!"
My father's gaze shifted to Freya. "Freya, what about you? Who do you want to marry?"
Freya stood in the kitchen doorway, fingers twisting the hem of her dress, head lowered.
After a long moment, she lifted her head and met my eyes. Her voice trembled. "I want to marry Sebastian."
My mother's expression darkened completely.
My father was silent for a long time. Finally, he sighed. "Then do as you wish."
Three days later.
I stuffed the last piece of luggage into my black travel bag and zipped it shut.
Freya stood in my doorway. She pressed a white envelope into my hand. "This is all the allowance I've saved over the years. It's not much. I hope you don't mind."
"Freya, I don't need—"
"You do." She looked up, her eyes red again. "You're going into a wolf's den. At the very least, I want to make sure you have enough money to run if you need to."
My throat tightened. I made a silent vow. This time, I would make sure both Freya and I lived happy lives.
I rode my motorcycle alone to the Vance Mansion.
As soon as I stepped into the living room, I heard a woman's flirtatious voice. "Moretti, this necklace is so beautiful. Is it for your fiancée?"
I followed the sound. On the couch sat a man in a black dress shirt, sleeves rolled up to his forearms, revealing strong, muscular arms.
His features were sharp and chiseled. Beneath his chestnut hair, his eyes were dark and unfathomable. Those eyes were half-lidded, lazy and indifferent.
I recognized him immediately. My future husband. Moretti.
Moretti leaned back on the couch, one leg casually propped on the coffee table. His posture was relaxed, but there was an undeniable, oppressive presence about him.
The woman beside him pressed her whole body against his arm. Her fingers toyed with a diamond necklace, her eyes sparkling. "Moretti, can you give me this necklace? Please?"
When I saw that necklace, my hand clenched. This woman was Rose Percy. Moretti's childhood friend. In my past life, she was the mistress who drove Freya to her death.
Moretti's gaze drifted lazily to the necklace. His voice was low. "If you like it that much..."
"I don't agree." I cut him off.
Moretti and Rose both froze. They looked up at me.
Moretti's eyelids narrowed slightly. There was no surprise in his eyes. Only the cold, detached look of a predator sizing up prey.
Rose looked me up and down for two seconds, then sneered. "Who are you? How dare you barge into the Vance Mansion?"
I ignored her. I walked straight toward Moretti and met his gaze. I smiled. "Let me introduce myself. I'm your fiancée. Lydia Spencer."
Then I snatched the necklace from Rose's hand. I smiled faintly. "This necklace is for me, isn't it? Why should she have it?"
Moretti didn't say anything. He just watched me with interest.
Rose wasn't having it. She stood up, stomping her foot. "You say you're his fiancée? Where's your proof?"
"That's easy."
I walked up to Moretti. I leaned down, reached out, and grabbed his charcoal tie. Slowly, I pulled him toward me.
Moretti didn't move. His dark eyes locked onto mine. His lips parted slightly.
I didn't give him time to react. I pressed my mouth against his.
It lasted only a second. But it was enough to plunge the entire living room into silence.
I left a faint mark on his lips. Like I was claiming what was mine.
I released his tie and straightened up. I looked at Rose, who was frozen in shock. "Need me to prove it again?"
