Chapter 3

3.

I walked straight to the back room of the club.

Pushing the door open, I saw Marco sitting in his wheelchair.

His back was to me. "Why didn't you choose Sonny?"

I didn't hesitate. I leaned down and pressed my lips against his. "Don't you want to marry me?"

His Adam's apple bobbed. After a moment, he whispered, "I do."

The next day, Mrs. Moretti sent someone to pick me up and take me to the Moretti estate.

She explained that the matriarch of the Moretti family traditionally wears the same wedding dress, and I needed to be fitted for it.

The butler carefully took the dress, a symbol of the family's honor, from a mahogany wardrobe. His eyes were filled with joy. "Mr. Marco won't be able to take his eyes off you when he sees you in this."

"What did you just say?"

A sudden voice made my heart jump.

Sonny was standing at the top of the stairs, with Tina right behind him, a triumphant look on her face.

Before the butler could speak, I cut in. "It's nothing."

Sonny stared at me for a few seconds, then scoffed. "Don't think you can act like the lady of the house just because you're about to marry me."

With that, he snatched the wedding dress from my hands. "Tina will wear this first. You can have it after her."

The butler’s face went pale. "Young Master, this is a family heirloom! It can only be worn by the matriarch of the family..."

Tina suddenly burst into tears. "See? Serena has her methods. The moment she arrives, even the staff dares to talk to me like this..."

Before she finished, Sonny pointed at the butler and yelled, "Are you deaf?! Get Tina fitted first!"

I took a deep breath. "No."

My wedding to Marco was already on a tight schedule. I didn't have time for their games.

I reached out to take the dress back.

But before my hand could touch it, Tina screamed and threw herself backward, tumbling down the stairs.

She lay at the bottom, blood trickling from her forehead.

Her face was pale as she pointed a trembling finger at me. "You... why did you push me!"

Sonny rushed down, scooped her into his arms, and ran outside without a second glance. "Tina!"

Tina had pulled cheap stunts like this countless times before.

And every single time, Sonny believed her.

I sighed. Just as I was about to leave, my phone buzzed. It was a message from Marco, telling me to meet him at our usual spot.

My mood instantly lifted, and I walked with a lighter step.

But as I stepped out of the Moretti estate's main gate, Sonny, who had returned, grabbed me and dragged me into his car.

I frowned. "What are you doing?!"

I struggled to get out, but he held me down firmly. "Tina's lost too much blood. You're going to give her a transfusion."

"Are you insane?" I gasped. "It's just a scratch! It just needs a bandage! I want out!"

When I took out my phone to make a call, he snatched it and threw it out the window. "Serena, you got your wish to marry me, so why are you still doing this to Tina?!"

As the car started to move, I screamed, "Sonny! I'm anemic and I faint at the sight of blood! A major transfusion could kill me!"

Sonny just laughed. "Stop acting. That shit doesn't work on me."

Soon, we arrived at the family's private clinic. Sonny dragged me straight to the transfusion room and told the doctor, "Draw her blood. Give Tina as much as she needs!"

The first needle went in, and my body instantly went cold. My vision started to blur.

I don't know how much time passed, but I found myself lying weakly on the floor. I tried to call for help, but the room was empty.

Sonny had taken all the medical staff to take care of Tina.

Just as I thought I was going to die, I felt a pair of strong arms lift me up. "Don't sleep! Serena, don't close your eyes!"

When I woke up, I saw Marco. His eyes were red. "I'm sorry I was late."

Then, he took out a delicate diamond ring and placed it on my ring finger. "Serena, marry me."

That's when I realized he had planned to propose to me at our spot this afternoon.

He said all the proper rituals were necessary.

I nodded.

The next second, he made a phone call. "The wedding is moved to tonight."

I was a little shocked. "But the dress is with Tina."

Marco smiled, his eyes full of affection. "Don't worry. I've had one prepared for you for a long time."

That night, I arrived at the hotel wearing a one-of-a-kind wedding gown.

Sonny rushed in, his face etched with impatience. "So you're going to pull this disappearing act just because I asked you to give a little blood?"

"You were just jealous I was with Tina, right? Well, I'm here now. Are you happy?"

Just as he finished speaking, Marco's voice came from behind him.

"Sonny, is that any way to talk to your aunt?"