Chapter 2

2.

Even though Marco Moretti was Sonny’s uncle, he was only four years older than him. I had known him since we were kids.

But after a car accident left him unable to walk, he slowly faded from everyone’s sight.

In my last life, when Sonny had me locked in the wine cellar, Marco was the first one to find me.

He kept yelling, "Don't be afraid!" as he threw his body against the door over and over. I could clearly see that when he hit the door, his legs didn't look paralyzed at all.

Then Sonny arrived with his men and beat him half to death.

I remember Sonny’s vicious words. "Old man, I can’t believe the guys I hired to hit you didn't just kill you."

"First, you tried to steal business from my dad, and now you're trying to steal my woman. Why are you so pathetic?"

Marco wasn't angry. He actually knelt before him. "Let Serena go. I'll do anything you want!"

Sonny just laughed and slammed Marco's head against the wall, again and again.

I'll never forget what Marco said to me. "Serena, I've been looking for you for so long."

So, how could choosing Marco be nonsense?

As for Sonny, I would make him pay for everything.

I came back to the present and looked at Angelo and his wife. "I've made up my mind. I'm marrying Marco Moretti."

Seeing my firm resolve, they stopped arguing and finally agreed.

After the decision was made, I felt a wave of relief. I decided to go find Marco at the private club where he usually spent his time.

But at the entrance, I ran into Sonny and Tina.

Sonny’s happy expression vanished the moment he saw me. "Serena? Why are you so damn annoying? Do you have to follow me everywhere I go?"

The men behind him burst out laughing. "Told you she'd show up tonight!"

"I bet if Sonny told her to lick his shoes, she'd drop to her knees right now!"

A wicked grin spread across Sonny’s face. He looked at me, then suggestively tapped his foot.

A wave of disgust washed over me. I tried to walk past him. "Move."

Sonny froze for a second, then grabbed my arm. "Serena, I know all about you using your family's money to force this marriage. What kind of act are you pulling now?"

"You don't actually think pretending to be cold is going to make me look at you twice, do you?"

I gave him a flat look and told him the truth. "I'm not marrying you."

Sonny was silent for a moment, then let out a cold, mocking laugh. "You're not? The Moretti family already received the first payment from my father. And you're telling me you're not?"

"Do you have any idea how cheap you look, desperately begging me to marry you like this?"

I nodded. "I know. That's why I'm not marrying you."

Hearing my words clearly for the second time, Sonny just stood there, stunned.

Finally, Tina spoke up softly. "Sonny, I think Serena just doesn't want to see me here. If you don't marry her, the Moretti family will..."

"It's okay, I'll just leave."

Sonny immediately let go of me and pulled her into his arms. "Who the hell is she? Even if she gets her wish and marries me, I'll never love her."

"It's okay, Tina. We'll go take wedding photos tomorrow. In my heart, you're the only wife I'll ever have."

His men whistled and started calling Tina "Mrs. Moretti."

Sonny shot me a smug look, as if waiting for me to break down.

He always loved to see me miserable. But this time, I felt nothing.

"Marry whoever you want," I said. "I don't give a damn."

As I turned to leave, Tina stepped in my way. "Serena, stop pretending. The news of the Falcone-Moretti marriage is all over the underworld as of this afternoon."

"I can forgive you for hiring those street thugs to humiliate me," she said, her voice full of false sincerity, "but I'm begging you, please be good to Sonny in the future..."

The incident with the thugs was a complete lie she made up to frame me and get sympathy from Sonny.

I tried to prove my innocence, but Sonny never believed me.

Now, I couldn't be bothered to explain.

Hearing her words, Sonny’s face darkened. "Why are you begging her? A woman like her, who'll do anything to get what she wants, isn't fit to touch the dirt on your shoes."

He turned to me with a warning. "Marrying you is just a business deal. If I find out you've been bullying Tina again, I swear I won't let you get away with it..."

I cut him off. "Right, got it. If there’s nothing else, I'm leaving."

Without another word, I walked into the club.

Mrs. Moretti? Please. In a few days, Sonny will have to respectfully call me "auntie."