Chapter 1:
Death Was My Wedding Gift
The rain fell like mourning tears the night Lianna Blackwood died.
She lay on the cold marble floor of the Blackwood estate, blood slowly soaking into her white dress—the same dress she had worn years ago when she married Lucien Blackwood, the most feared Mafia CEO in the city.
Her husband stood a few steps away.
Tall. Cold. Untouchable.
His black suit was spotless, as if her death was nothing more than an inconvenience.
"So this is how it ends," Lianna whispered, her vision blurring. "After everything I did for you…"
Lucien's eyes were dark, unreadable. There was no panic. No regret.
"You chose this path," he said calmly. "Don't blame me."
Her lips trembled into a bitter smile.
Chose?
She chose to love him when the world warned her not to.
She chose to give up her dreams, her family, her pride.
She chose to protect him, even when bullets were meant for her heart.
And in return?
Betrayal.
She watched as his first love, Isabella, stepped forward—alive, untouched, smiling softly as she clutched Lucien's arm.
Only then did Lianna understand.
She had never been his wife.
She had been a shield.
A disposable one.
Her heartbeat slowed. The chandelier lights above blurred into darkness.
If I had another life…
I would never love you again.
Her eyes closed.
—
Pain exploded through her chest.
Lianna gasped and shot upright.
Warm sunlight poured through unfamiliar curtains. The air smelled of fresh lilies, not blood. Her hands trembled as she looked down at herself.
No wounds.
No blood.
Just smooth, unscarred skin.
Her heart slammed violently.
"This… can't be…"
She rushed to the mirror.
The face staring back at her was younger—softer. No shadows under her eyes. No despair carved into her features.
She turned slowly, her breath catching.
The calendar on the wall read:
Five years ago.
The day before her engagement to Lucien Blackwood.
Lianna's knees nearly gave out.
She had returned.
Reborn.
A soft laugh escaped her lips—low, broken, dangerous.
"So the heavens weren't blind after all."
Her reflection smiled back, but the woman in the mirror was no longer naive.
This time, she would not beg for love.
She would not sacrifice herself.
And she would never become Lucien Blackwood's wife.
Not again.
Outside the room, footsteps echoed down the hallway.
Lianna's smile faded into icy calm.
Because she knew exactly who was coming.
And this time—
She would walk away before he could destroy her.