Blurb：
I died for Adrian Vale—taking a bullet meant for him—only to hear him reserve his burial plot for Elara Quinn, the woman he truly loved. Reborn to the day the Vale family forced him to choose between us as his mafia wife, I vowed not to repeat my past mistakes. This time, I pushed him toward Elara, exposing their hidden affair. But as Adrian coldly agreed, I realized: even in this new life, his hatred runs deeper than any bullet wound. Can I escape the fate of being his sacrificial shield, or will the Vale syndicate’s secrets destroy me again? A tale of betrayal, revenge, and second chances in the brutal world of New York’s most powerful crime family.
Content：
The Vale family was the most powerful mafia syndicate in the New York City. And I—along with a few other carefully chosen girls—had been handpicked to join their ranks, trained from the ground up so that the next head of the family could choose his wife from among us.
Wife. That was the kinder word for it. The truth was whoever got picked would become his shield, his weapon, his most loyal protector. Someone who would kill for him. Die for him.
Years passed. One by one, the others fell away. In the end, only Elara Quinn and I remained.
And then, Elara died—killed on a secret mission. After that, there were no more choices left. I became Adrian Vale’s wife by default.
I had given everything to Adrian. And I loved him.
I thought he loved me too until I took a bullet to the chest—meant for him. As I lay there, barely breathing, I heard Adrian talking to his assistant, “Don’t bury her in the Vale cemetery. My half is reserved for Elara.”
That was it.
Elara—who had never even lived long enough to marry him—still had a space carved beside him in death.
I? I had taken the hit that should have ended him… and yet I wasn’t even good enough to be buried near him.
I slowly closed my eyes. And when I opened them again, I was back on the day the Vale family formally announced Adrian as their new head.
The day everything began.
He Love my Sister
Selene’s POV
I never imagined that the man I had loved with every breath of my being would turn out to be the one who despised me the most.
Even after I died for him—after I threw myself in front of a bullet meant for him—he still chose another woman to stand in my place.
And now, I was reborn. Brought back to that moment in my past life—the moment I chose Adrian Vale to be my husband.
“Adrian,” Mr. Vale said, his voice cool, rehearsed. “You’ve known since the beginning—if you’re to become the head of the Vale family, your wife must come from the girls we’ve raised for that purpose. She is not just your partner. She is your shield. Your final line of defense. Someone who will die for you, if it comes to that. That’s why we handpicked girls your age, trained them from the ground up.”
He paused, then added, “Now that it’s your time to inherit the Vale, you must choose between these two.”
These two—meaning Elara Quinn and me.
We had started as twenty. One by one, the rest had been eliminated—some for lack of beauty, others for failing in strategy or combat. Only Elara and I remained.
Mrs. Vale smiled, “Selene is the perfect candidate,” she said smoothly. “She’s not only beautiful, but brilliant. And she’s our strongest fighter.”
“Agreed,” Mr. Vale nodded.
In my past life, I had stood here certain of my fate. I was the perfect choice. I had the grades, the training, the blood, and—most importantly—I loved Adrian. Everyone could see it. That love made me willing to throw myself in front of danger without hesitation.
But now, I turned to look at Adrian—and caught something I hadn’t seen before. A flicker of disdain in his eyes. Cold. Warning. As if I was already stepping out of line just by standing here.
Had he always hated me this much? Or had I simply been too blind to see it?
Regardless of Adrian hated me or not, this time, I wasn’t about to let myself walk that same path again.
“Mrs. Vale,” I said calmly, “I believe Elara is the better choice. She surpasses me in more ways than one. If we’re choosing the ideal partner for Adrian… it should be her.”
If I was right, Elara and Adrian were already entangled.
Adrian’s eyes flared, startled, but only for a heartbeat. Then his expression smoothed back into practiced indifference.
“I agree,” he said quietly and stood. “Father. Mother. If you’ll excuse me, I have something to attend to.”
He walked out. Never once looked back.
Maybe he was in a hurry to see Elara.
And I stood there, breath caught in my throat, as if that same bullet from my past life had found me again. I had promised myself I would be calm—but I’d clearly overestimated my heart. Because the moment he said he agreed, all I could see was the image of my past self—collapsing in front of him, bleeding out for a man who wouldn’t even bury me on Vale grounds.
…
After Adrian left, Mrs. Vale turned to me, her brows knitting with concern. “Selene,” she said gently, “you’ve trained with the Vale since you were four years old. I’ve never seen a girl more suited to become Mrs. Vale. And I’ve seen the way you look at Adrian. Why would you give up that chance?”
She had always been kind to me. In my past life, she had even helped me get close to Adrian. Arranged shared missions. Paired us for training. Whispered encouragements when I faltered.
“Mrs. Vale…” I hesitated, then forced a soft smile. “I don’t think Adrian likes me.”
“That’s nonsense,” she said with surprising fierceness. “He likes you. And you’re everything we hoped for—you trained harder than anyone, arrived first, left last, never once complained. You’ve proven your loyalty, your strength.”
I couldn’t tell her the truth. I couldn’t say: Because I gave him my life in my last one. I bled for him. Loved him. Buried myself in the shape he wanted—and he still never chose me. So this time, I’m choosing me.
Instead, I said, “If Adrian spends his life with someone he doesn’t love… that’s not a life either of them deserve. And Elara—she’s just as capable. Maybe more. I don’t want to stand between that.”
Mrs. Vale sighed and didn’t argue more.
Mr. Vale, quiet until now, added, “Let’s not rush this decision. But Selene—regardless of how things turn out, the Vale will always take care of you. We’ve seen your devotion. That won’t go ignored.”
…
I packed what few belongings I truly owned. The rest I left behind—clothes, jewelry, books. They had all been paid for by the Vale, and it felt wrong to take them with me now.
Life became… lighter, in a strange way. No more 5 a.m. combat drills. No more late-night surveillance shifts at the casino. For the first time, I was free from the shadow of trying to become Mrs. Vale.
I thought I was finally clearing away the remnants of my old life—until a single envelope shattered the illusion.
An engagement invitation. Adrian and Elara.
So soon. Had he convinced Mr. and Mrs. Vale that quickly? Or had they always been on his side?
The card featured a photo of Elara leaning into his chest, both of them smiling for the camera as if they hadn’t broken someone to get there.
And then came the calls. Friends asking if I’d really dropped out of the “run” for Mrs. Vale. Whispers, murmurs, all tinged with surprise. I realized Adrian must’ve sent the invitation to nearly everyone we knew.
…
The moment I stepped into the Vale casino, I could feel the shift in the air.
The glances. Sharp, sideways. Pitying. Judgmental. Curious. I knew those looks. I’d worn them on my skin for years in this world.
I took a steadying breath and made my way toward my office—only to pause at the sound of voices inside.
Adrian’s voice. And Mr. Vale’s.
“Father,” Adrian was saying, “it wouldn’t be fair to Elara if you keep Selene so close to our family’s business. She’s not my wife. She’s an outsider now. How can you still trust her with the core of the Vale?”
Who I can Trust
Selene’s POV
Core business in his mouth was the very casino I’d been running for the past three years—Vale’s beating heart. And right now, it was balancing on the edge of one of the most lucrative, high-risk collaborations in our history.
A secret alliance with the Northern mafia. We were laundering their money through the casino, camouflaging it so cleanly the authorities wouldn’t even get a scent. If it went well, the Vale family would walk away with billions. And more importantly, with unshakable dominance in the NYC’s underworld.
And I was the one who’d built this deal from the ground up. Every meeting. Every clause. Every loophole and forged signature.
Mr. Vale’s voice was taut with frustration. “Well, if I can’t trust her, then who the hell am I supposed to trust? You?” he snapped at Adrian. “Can you handle a casino of this scale on your own?”
He didn’t wait for an answer.
“Selene has done more for this family than you ever have. If you want to marry Elara so badly, fine—make her your girlfriend, your mistress, I don’t care. But Mrs. Vale? That title belongs to someone dedicated. Loyal. Proven. And Selene was the perfect one.”
“I don’t care!” Adrian shouted back, eyes blazing. “I’m marrying Elara. No one else.”
…
I waited until Adrian stormed out, the echoes of his footsteps still pulsing down the hall, before I knocked on the office door.
“Come in,” Mr. Vale called.
I stepped inside, chin high. “Mr. Vale,” I greeted with a respectful nod.
His eyes lit up at the sight of me, though there was something different behind his smile this time. Pity. “Selene.”
“I came to hand in my resignation,” I said plainly.
“Resignation?” His voice faltered. “From the casino?”
“Yes. I’ve given it a lot of thought.” I smiled gently, giving him the most polite excuse I could offer. “With Adrian and Elara getting married, it’s no longer appropriate for me to be here. I know I only had the privilege of managing the Vale casino because you once hoped I’d become Adrian’s wife. But now… I’m not. And I wouldn’t feel right continuing to oversee something this important.”
He was silent for a long moment. “I understand what you’re saying,” he murmured at last, “But you’ve been the one leading the North deal. It’s a delicate operation. Too delicate to risk—what if your replacement can’t…”
“Adrian is more than capable,” I cut in gently. “And if you ask me, this is a perfect opportunity for him to prove that to you. Let him finish what I started.”
Mr. Vale studied me for a long moment. He saw the decision already written in my posture, in the calm set of my jaw. He gave a short nod, brows drawn. “If that’s what you want.”
I turned to leave, the weight on my shoulders somehow lighter and heavier all at once.
Before I could leave, the door creaked open again.
Adrian. With Elara in his arms.
He stopped dead in the doorway when he saw me, a flicker of confusion in his eyes. “What are you doing here?”
I turned to face him, my voice even, unshaken. “Just tying up loose ends.”
“Selene, I want to ask you something—”
Mr. Vale cut in smoothly. “No need. Selene’s already handed in her resignation. Son, you’d better focus on securing that Northern deal.”
Adrian’s brows lifted, his surprise flickering across his face. Maybe he thought I’d cling a little—fight for him, or at the very least, the casino I’d built with my own hands.
But I had let go of the title Mrs. Vale. And now, I was letting go of the Vale itself.
Elara leaned forward, her smile all sugary grace and carefully timed innocence. “I… We appreciate your… compromise. There’s no need to resign from everything. Even if you’re not Mrs. Vale, we’re still family, aren’t we? We grew up together. Adrian and I can treat you like a little sister.”
So sweet. So generous.
I returned her smile, just as polished. “Nonsense. My last name never was, and never will be, Vale. I’m not qualified to be part of the family business anymore. But…”
Adrian’s gaze sharpened. “But what?”
I met his eyes evenly. “But the Northerners aren’t like us. They’re blunt. Brutal. If you’re planning to play clever games or skim a little extra on the side, don’t. They don’t take kindly to being lied to.”
His jaw locked. “Are you implying I’d steal like some backroom rat?”
“No,” I replied calmly. “I’m giving you a warning. Don’t lie to them. Don’t get clever. That’s all.”
Then I turned to Mr. Vale and offered a polite nod. “I’m finished here. Thank you for everything. I’ll be leaving now.”
I had just turned to go when Elara’s voice stopped me again.
“Selene—will you come to our engagement party at least?” Her tone was soft, hopeful. “You were my closest friend all these years. I want you there.”
I paused, then nodded once.
Fine. Let that party be the ending—clean, final—for everything I had once hoped for.
…
Adrian and Elara’s engagement party was held at the Grand Hyoo, the most opulent hotel in New York City. When I arrived, the ballroom was already overflowing—politicians, mafia leaders, old-money billionaires. Nearly a thousand people had gathered under its crystal chandeliers.
It was extravagant. Overwhelming.
Compared to the small, private dinner I once had with Adrian—a quiet, ten-person affair that barely felt real—this was a coronation.
I glanced down at my dress. It was the best one I owned. Still, I felt out of place. Like I was walking into someone else’s world.
But I smiled anyway. Then stepped into the light.
Elara spotted me instantly and waved. “Selene!” she called, drawing every eye in the room. Heads turned. I caught a few expressions—curiosity, pity, even disdain.
“I’m so happy you came,” Elara beamed. “I spoke to Adrian, and we both agreed—you should give a speech. To celebrate our engagement, of course.”
I blinked.
A speech? Was she serious? Did she truly think it was wise to hand me a microphone, in front of this crowd, when everyone here knew what stood between the three of us?
“Sorry, Elara,” I said gently. “I didn’t plan on giving a speech tonight. This day belongs to you and Adrian.”
She tilted her head, blinking those wide, innocent eyes. “Really? But I insist. Adrian wanted it too.”
There had been a moment—a heartbeat, really—where I wanted to stand here tonight and tear him down. Make him feel the sting of everything he put me through in my past life.
But I knew better.
What could I really do against the Vale?
Maybe this could be the ending I gave Adrian and me. A clean one. A kind one.
Then I’d disappear into the world and build a life of my own—on my own.
Could You Mind?
Selene’s POV
Dinner came and went. Mr. Vale delivered his toast. Then, just as I expected, Elara caught my eye and gave a subtle nod.
It was time. She handed me the microphone with a smile so bright it nearly burned.
I stepped onto the stage. Straightened my spine. And faced the glittering crowd.
“I’m honored to be standing here tonight,” I began, voice steady. “I’ve known Adrian and Elara nearly all my life. Seeing them find their way to each other… it’s a rare kind of magic. Elara is, without a doubt, the perfect woman for Adrian. They’re magnetic. Undeniable. It was always meant to be.”
I had barely finished that sentence when a mocking voice rang out from the crowd.
“So why are you still here, Selene? Jealousy doesn’t suit you.”
Another chuckled, louder. “Isn’t she supposed to be gone by now? Wasn’t the whole reason she stayed with the Vale to win Adrian’s hand?”
“I bet she just didn’t want to lose the lifestyle,” a woman in the front row added, her voice dripping venom. “Her father’s dead, and her mother’s a cripple. Who else would pay her bills?”
Laughter rippled through the room like a poisoned tide.
I turned my head slightly—just enough to catch Elara’s expression. She looked radiant. And utterly pleased.
So that was the plan. Bring me here. Hand me a stage. Pretend to honor me… just to watch me fall. Even now. On her engagement night.
I straightened. Calm. Cold. Clear.
“To those concerned,” I began, tone light but cutting, “I graduated from Columbia. Undergraduate and graduate degrees. Full scholarship. Every credit earned. I don’t need anyone to fund my life, and I never have.”
The room quieted slightly.
“I’m deeply grateful to the Vale family for their training and trust. But I didn’t come here empty-handed either. I led negotiations for the Vale casino’s highest-grossing partnership. I managed the entire Northern deal. I imagine many of you have visited the Vale casino, whether for entertainment… or other transactions.”
I turned to a sharply dressed woman near the front. “Mrs. Salr, I assisted you with yours. You may not recall the exact figure—but I do. Let’s just say, it wasn’t a favor just anyone could manage.”
A few in the crowd shifted uncomfortably.
“And since I stepped in, not a single deal at the Vale casino has fallen through. I do hope, Elara,” I said gently, turning back to her, “that you’ll lend Adrian your strength now. That is, if you’re not too busy focusing on… other things.”
I raised my glass, smile never wavering. “Forgive me. I got a bit emotional. Let’s get back to the reason we’re here.”
I turned to the room.
“To Elara and Adrian. May your future be as perfect as tonight looks.”
Applause broke out, hesitant but polite.
I turned to leave the stage.
But Elara caught up, her cheeks flushed with something far less innocent than champagne.
“Selene,” she said, loud enough for half the room to hear, “if you don’t need the Vale, then what’s with the diamond necklace on your neck? Are you going to say you bought that with your scholarship too? And the couture gown you’re wearing—wasn’t that paid for by Mrs. Vale?”
I didn’t answer right away. Instead, I turned and looked at Adrian, still standing offstage, silent as stone. “Adrian,” I asked, my voice calm, “would you mind?”
His silence told me everything. He wasn’t about to take Elara away from her little performance.
I laughed—soft, bitter. I’d thought stepping aside for him and Elara would be enough. That if I gave them their perfect little fairytale, they’d let me go in peace.
But no. Some people couldn’t let go without trying to shred you first.
My gaze swept the room before finally settling on Elara. Even with layers of makeup, she couldn’t quite mask the jealousy burning in her eyes.
“So what?” I said coolly. “Mrs. Vale thought I looked good in this dress and gifted it to me for my graduation party. Is that a crime?”
Elara’s lips curled. “You said you didn’t need the Vale to support you. So why not prove it? Leave everything they ever gave you before you call yourself modest. Otherwise, aren’t you just another hypocrite?”
I simply reached for the necklace around my throat and unclasped it and handed it to her.
Then, without flinching, I pulled at the zipper of my gown. The fabric slipped off my shoulders and floated to the floor.
Gasps rippled through the room.
Beneath the couture gown, I’d worn a simple nude slip. I had worried the dress might be too revealing and had layered for comfort. Now it felt like armor.
“This,” I said quietly, “I bought for myself. I assume I’m allowed to keep it?”
Elara’s eyes narrowed, but she shrugged. “Sure.”
Then she gestured toward my shoes. “What about the heels?”
I slipped them off. Walked to the edge of the stage. And kicked them gently toward her.
“Are you satisfied now?”
“Very,” she said, linking her arm through Adrian’s. “Babe, I’m tired. Can we call it a night?”
Adrian looked at me for the briefest moment. His expression unreadable. Then he nodded. “Of course, babe.”
The hosts had vanished. The guests were leaving in murmuring waves.
I stood barefoot on the stage, my head high.
Elara might thought she’d won, that humiliation would break me.
But the truth? I felt… free. Elara could have her crown. It had never fit me anyway.
In front of everyone, I had severed my final tie to the Vale. And that was the only closure I needed.
Just as I stepped into the warm night, a sleek black car slid to a stop at the curb. The passenger window rolled down.
“Selene Moray?” a voice called. A man’s, low and smooth. His face half-shadowed by streetlight.
“I’m Elias Knight,” he said. “Would you mind having a word with me?”
I blinked. The Elias Knight? The one from the Southern mafia?
In my past life, I’d only heard his name once—when I tried to broker a deal and was shut down without a second thought. Why was he here now?
“I’m… not exactly dressed for a business talk,” I said lightly. “Maybe another time?”
“There’s a new dress in the backseat,” he said, unfazed. “Get changed. There’s a bar just around the corner. I can buy you a drink there.”
He insisted.
So I smiled. “Sure.”
Download the GoodNovel app, Search 【 344237 】reads the whole book.
