The Don’s Heiress Won’t Choose Him Again Chapter 02
Dominic laughed coldly. “So that gives you the right to ignore Valentina’s safety? You’ve gotten too attached to that woman. Or did you forget why the Don adopted us in the first place?”
Roman looked flustered. He clearly knew he was in the wrong.
Just then, Sera moaned in his arms. “Roman… it hurts so much…”
Roman snapped back to attention and gathered her into his arms, his expression turning grim.
“Valentina’s fine anyway. What’s the big deal? I need to get Sera to a doctor. The rest can wait.”
He turned and walked out with her in his arms.
Dominic’s expression was glacial. When he turned to look at me, there was a flash of something bitter and furious in his eyes.
“That’s the fiancé you chose? He can’t even protect you when it counts.”
I shook my head. “I didn’t choose him.”
Dominic didn’t believe me. “Who else would you choose?”
“Fine. Pick whoever you want. Just don’t come crying to me when you regret it.”
I watched him storm off and called after him, “Look into the ones who attacked us today!”
He didn’t turn around, but he answered. “I’ll find out who they are.”
I laughed under my breath. I wondered what his face would look like when he realized the one I’d chosen was him.
A few days later, Roman showed up at my room looking gaunt and worn.
Before I could say a word, he dropped to one knee. “Please. Give me the Lazarus vial. Sera’s in bad shape.”
I froze, staring at him in disbelief.
He knew perfectly well what that vial meant to me.
My mother, Isabella, had been a black-market chemist.
When she was diagnosed with a terminal illness and knew her days were numbered, she worried about me growing up in my father’s world.
Using the last of her strength, enduring unbearable pain, she synthesized a single emergency vial. Just one. For me. To save my life if the day ever came.
Humiliation tightened Roman’s expression. “I’ll marry you. Just give the vial to Sera.”
“If it weren’t for you, Sera wouldn’t have gotten hurt in the first place.”
I laughed, cold and sharp. “It’s a leg wound. She’s not going to die.”
Roman didn’t move from his knees. “You don’t understand! I don’t have the patience to explain. Just give me the vial, and I’ll obey the Don. I’ll marry you. I’ll send Sera somewhere safe and never see her again.”
A short laugh escaped me. “That won’t be necessary. I never chose you.”
Roman’s head snapped up, incredulous.
“Valentina, stop pretending. I’ve already accepted my fate. Just give the vial to Sera.”
I looked at him without moving.
He gritted his teeth. “Understand this—Sera was hurt inside the estate. If she dies here, it damages the Moretti name. And I can’t guarantee I’ll stay with this family.”
He’d said it carefully, but I understood him.
He was telling me: if Sera dies, he’ll take his revenge whatever the cost. Even if it means betraying the family.
I didn’t waste any more words on him. I turned, walked to the concealed safe behind the fireplace, and entered the code.
Inside were two titanium cases—one held the Lazarus vial my mother had left me, the other a standard military-grade emergency shot the family kept on hand.
I picked up the second one and tossed it to him.
“Take it. Get out. As of today, we have nothing to do with each other.”
Roman glanced at me, then grabbed the vial and left without another word.
I leaned against the wall and let out a long, quiet breath.
In my previous life, I’d died without ever seeing him for what he was. What a waste.
For the next several days, Roman stayed at Serafina’s side until she slowly recovered.
Then came Sunday dinner. My father made his announcement at the table.
“In a few days, we’ll hold Valentina’s succession gala. That night, I’ll announce who will become her husband.”
The seven adopted sons around the table wore very different expressions.
Dominic knocked back glass after glass of bourbon.
Roman looked miserable, his eyes drifting toward the wing of the house where Serafina was staying, then flicking back again.
The other guards’ faces were carefully blank. They smiled at Roman and offered him congratulations.
“Congratulations, boss. Now you’ll really be family with the Don.”
“Take good care of Valentina, all right?”
My father listened to them, smiling faintly, saying nothing.
But his silence was taken by everyone as agreement.
Every single person at that table assumed Roman was my future husband.