The Heiress's Cruel Return

The operating table was ice-cold. A bone-deep chill crept up my spine, inch by inch.

This was the third time I'd lain here.

My husband, Dante Vane, stood on the other side of the sterile room's glass window. His eyes were flat and indifferent like he was looking at a pile of garbage.

Clean her up. I don't want Seraphina getting any bad luck from this.

He dropped those words and turned away, pulling Seraphina Rose gently against his side. She was pregnant?with his child.

And I the true heiress of the The Rose family had been slowly poisoned for three years through the prenatal medication he made me drink every single day. I died on that operating table, torn apart from the inside out.

Then I opened my eyes.

Salt-laced sea air hit my face.

I had gone back. Back to the night of the cruise ship gala.

The ocean wind screamed. Beneath it, the low, relentless thrum of the ship's engines.

My eyes snapped open. I gasped, dragging in breath after ragged breath.

It felt like my lungs still carried the thick, iron smell of blood from the operating room in my last life.

Every bone in my body ached.

"Liliana, look at the seagulls over there aren't they gorgeous?"

A soft, saccharine voice floated into my ear.

I turned stiffly. Seraphina Rose's eyes met mine eyes that looked innocent but harboring hidden calculations.

Her arm was hooked through mine. She was slowly, steadily steering me toward the unguarded maintenance zone at the edge of the deck. No railing. Nothing but open air and the sea below.

This spot.

Right here, in my last life.

She had faked a slip and shoved me with everything she had, sending me plunging into the freezing water.

And Dante heir to the Vane family, who was supposed to be entertaining guests in the top-floor VIP suite had "just so happened" to appear on the deck.

He jumped in without a second thought.

But in the pitch-black water that night, fate played a cruel trick. He pulled out the wrong girl. He pulled out me.

That night, a storm knocked the cruise ship off course. We spent the night on a deserted island nearby, huddled together just to survive.

When we were rescued the next morning, The Vane family pushed Dante into marrying me damage control for the rumors spreading through their elite social circles.

Meanwhile, Seraphina had stood on the deck and sobbed and Roman Vane, the Vane family's disgraced illegitimate son, had draped his jacket over her shoulders and walked her away.

From that day on, Dante hated me.

He was convinced I had staged the whole drowning incident on purpose all to marry into the Vane family and steal the title of Mrs. Vane right out from under Seraphina.

In his eyes, I had taken what belonged to someone else. I was scheming. I was vicious.

Three years of marriage. Three years of him punishing me in the most brutal ways he could think of.

He tampered with my food. He killed our three children with his own hands.

While I screamed on that operating table, he never once turned around.

"Liliana, what are you spacing out for? Come a little closer the view is way better from here."

Seraphina's impatient voice yanked me back from the dark.

A flash of cold, vicious urgency crossed her eyes.

The arm hooked through mine suddenly tensed, shoving me toward the edge.

The corner of my mouth curved into a slow, icy smile.

This life? That perfect match that was supposed to be yours?

I'm sending it right back to you.

Just as her hands were about to reach my shoulders

My eyes sharpened. I stepped aside half a step, quick and silent as a ghost.

"Ahh !"

Seraphina clearly hadn't expected me to move. I had always been the one who just took it.

She had pushed too hard. Her body lurched, completely off balance.

A piercing, broken shriek split the air.

She went over the edge of the deck and plummeted straight down, like a kite with its string cut, into the churning sea below.

Splash.

A massive wall of white water exploded upward.

"Help! Help me glug glug glug "

Seraphina thrashed wildly in the freezing water. Her carefully done makeup washed off in seconds. She flailed her arms above the surface, utterly undone.

I stood on the deck and looked down at her desperate struggle.

I felt nothing.

Actually no. It felt good.

"Seraphina!"

A raw, anguished shout erupted from behind me.

Dante was in a perfectly tailored couture suit. His eyes were bloodshot red. He charged toward the edge of the deck like a man who'd lost all reason.

He didn't even stop to pull off his jacket. He threw himself over the railing without a second thought.

Splash.

Another crash of water.

I watched the two figures in the sea with cold, dry eyes.

Dante fought through the waves to reach Seraphina and locked his arms around her shielding her completely as if she were something priceless he had almost lost forever.

In his previous life, he had jumped in without hesitation just like this.

What a shame. He saved the wrong person, and blamed the wrong one.

This life, I'll give you both exactly what you want you tragic, star-crossed lovebirds.

"Nice reflexes, Liliana Rose."

A lazy voice smooth but laced with dangerous amusement drifted out from the shadows.

My whole body went rigid. I spun around, every instinct on high alert.

Roman Vane.

The Vane's Family's darkest secret the illegitimate son they'd rather pretend didn't exist, cold-blooded and ruthless to the core.

He was leaning against the worn cabin door, a cigarette burning slow between his long fingers.

Through the curl of smoke, those dark, unfathomable eyes were watching me with something between a smirk and a threat.

He saw everything.

He saw me step aside on purpose. He watched Seraphina fall with his own eyes.

The ocean breeze swept away the smoke ring Roman had just exhaled.

He pushed himself upright and walked toward me, unhurried, one long stride at a time.

His shoes struck the wooden deck with heavy, deliberate thuds each one landing like a blow against my nerves.

"What's the matter? Aren't you going to call for help for your dear little sister?"

He stopped just half a step away, looking down at me.

He smelled faintly of tobacco, and his presence carried a suffocating, oppressive weight.

I forced the panic back down and held his gaze without flinching.

"You didn't call for help either, Roman."

Roman let out a low, quiet laugh, his chest barely shifting with it.

"I don't waste my time worrying about whether other people live or die."

He leaned in, bringing his mouth close to my ear, his voice dropping to barely a whisper.

"But that little sidestep of yours just now? I found that very interesting. Liliana Rose, you're a lot smarter than I thought."

His breath grazed the shell of my ear, and a shiver rolled through me.

I stepped back sharply, putting distance between us.

"I have no idea what you're talking about, Roman. Seraphina slipped on her own. I was terrified."

I put on my best look of shock shaken, helpless then turned and ran toward the cabin.

"Help! Someone's overboard! Help!"

I screamed as loud as I could, letting just the right amount of panic and urgency into my voice.

Within seconds, the cruise ship's security team and guests came rushing.

Spotlights swept the surface of the water, lighting up Dante and Seraphina clinging to each other in the waves.

A rescue boat was lowered and pulled them both aboard.

Seraphina was soaked through, shaking violently, pressed against Dante's chest and sobbing.

Dante stripped off his suit jacket and wrapped it around her, his face tight with anguish and rage.

He looked up. His gaze cut through the crowd like a blade and stopped dead on me.

"Liliana! Why did you push Seraphina?!"

He all but snarled the words through gritted teeth.

The guests around us sucked in a collective breath, every pair of eyes swinging toward me.

My eyes went red on cue. The tears followed without effort.

"Dante, you've got it wrong. She slipped on her own. I tried to grab her I just couldn't hold on."

"You're lying!" Dante exploded, pointing straight at my face. "Seraphina wouldn't even step on a bug why would she wander somewhere that dangerous on her own? It was you. You're jealous of her, and you tried to kill her!"

Inside, I almost laughed.

Jealous?

I'm the real daughter of this family. Why would I ever be jealous of a fraud who stole what was mine?

"Dante, you need proof before you make accusations." I stood up straight, keeping my voice cool and level. "There are cameras on the deck. Pull the footage let's see for yourself whether I pushed her, or she fell on her own."

Dante faltered. He clearly hadn't expected me to hold my ground like that.

Seraphina's eyes flickered. She grabbed his sleeve and cried harder, looking more fragile and pitiful than ever.

"Dante, please don't blame Liliana. I really did slip on my own... She only just came back to the Rose family, so it's natural if there's been some tension between us."

That carefully played retreat looking like she was defending me while quietly sealing my guilt worked perfectly.

The look Dante turned on me went cold with contempt.

"Liliana, you'd better hope Seraphina is okay. Because if she's not you'll be in trouble."

He swept Seraphina up into his arms and walked off toward the medical bay in long, furious strides.

The crowd slowly drifted away.

I stood there alone, the cold night wind against my skin and had never felt so light at heart.

This lifetime, I have finally escaped that ridiculous start. Dante saved Seraphina, and they consummated bond. Now, the Vane Family can never force me to marry him. I am finally free.

Don't celebrate too soon.

Roman appeared behind me without a sound.

He flicked his burnt-out cigarette into the sea and looked at me, the corner of his mouth curling into a slow, knowing smile.

"The waters of the Vane family run deeper than this ocean. Do you really think you can walk away from this unscathed?"

I frowned, staring at him in confusion.

But he said nothing more. He turned and disappeared into the darkened corridor.

The next morning.

The cruise ship docked. The elders of both the Rose family and the Vane family were already waiting at the pier.

Shaken and chilled to the bone, Seraphina was carefully carried off the ship in Dante's arms and taken straight to the hospital.

I followed behind, like a ghost nobody noticed.

When my father Edward Rose saw me, his expression darkened like a storm cloud.

"You're a disgrace! We barely brought you back and you're already causing trouble you can't even get along with your own sister!"

He raised his hand, and I could see the slap coming straight at my face.

I didn't flinch. I just stared back at him, cold and steady.

"Before you hit me, Father, you might want to check the security footage first. Seraphina was the one who tried to push me. It backfired on her."

Edward's hand froze in mid-air, his face cycling between pale and ash-gray.

He knew exactly what Seraphina was capable of but he didn't care.

All he cared about was the Rose family's reputation and interests.

"Whatever the truth is, people out there are already saying you're cold-blooded that you tried to harm your own sister! How is the Rose family supposed to show its face after this?"

I let out a cold laugh.

"Is the Rose family's reputation really worth more than my life your own daughter's life?"

My words left him with nothing to say. He could only yank his sleeve back in frustration and storm off.

Right then, a sleek black Rolls-Royce pulled slowly up to the pier.

The door opened, and Dante's mother Valerie Vane stepped out dripping in jewels leaning on her assistant's arm.

Her sharp eyes swept the crowd, and then landed on me.

My heart tightened.

In my past life, she was the one who had the final say the one who forced my marriage to Dante.

But this time, it was Seraphina that Dante had saved. Surely she would change her mind now?

Valerie walked up to Edward and gave a small nod.

"Edward, both girls had quite the scare last night."

Edward quickly flashed a smile.

"You're absolutely right, Valerie. Liliana had no sense. I'm sorry if it caused any embarrassment for Dante."

Valerie raised a hand, cutting him off.

"Let's not dwell on the past. I'm here today to announce the marriage arrangements between our two families."

My heart skipped a beat.

The assistant behind Valerie produced two gold-embossed marriage contracts.

"The eldest daughter of the Rose family, Liliana graceful and composed is a perfect match for Dante Vane, the eldest son of the Vane family. We are pleased to join them in marriage."

"The second daughter of the Rose family, Seraphina spirited and charming is well-suited for Roman Vane, the second son of the Vane family. A wedding date will be set in due course."

The words hit me like a bolt of lightning.

My mind went completely blank.

How could this be?

Everything had changed hadn't it?

It was Seraphina who had clung to Dante in the water last night, the two of them fighting to survive together!

So why why were the marriage arrangements exactly the same as in my past life?!

I snapped my head up and locked my eyes on Valerie.

"Valerie, there has to be a mistake."

My voice trembled. I forced the words out through gritted teeth.

"Last night in the sea, it was Dante who saved Seraphina! Everyone saw them holding each other! How can you still have me marry Dante?"

Valerie's expression turned ice-cold in an instant.

She looked down at me, her eyes full of contempt and mockery.

"A mistake? Since when does anyone get to question a decision made by the Vane family?"

She stepped closer, dropping her voice so only I could hear.

"Liliana, do you think a marriage like this is something to play games with? Dante is the heir to the Vane Group. His future wife must be the true heiress of the Rose family the one who holds full inheritance rights."

"As for Seraphina she has no blood ties to your family. She's a fraud. The fact that she even gets to marry Roman, illegitimate as he is, is already a privilege she doesn't deserve."

"No matter who Dante saved last night no matter who he loves the position of the eldest son's wife in The Vane's Family belongs to you, and only you!"

Valerie's words hit me like a dull, rusted blade, cutting clean through every naive fantasy I'd been holding onto.

I stood frozen, my whole body going cold.

So when it came to money and power, feelings and the truth meant absolutely nothing.

I thought that by surviving the fall into the water, I could escape this tragedy.

But fate had its chains locked around my throat from the very beginning.

Edward noticed me standing there in a daze. He walked over and shoved me hard.

"Go on, thank Valerie! Marrying Dante is the luckiest break you'll ever get!"

I stumbled, barely catching myself before I hit the ground.

I looked up at Edward's fawning face and felt my stomach turn.

"I'm not marrying him."

I forced each word out through clenched teeth.

Crack!

A sharp slap landed hard across my face.

Edward pointed at me, shaking with rage.

"You ungrateful girl! Who gave you the right to speak? This marriage is happening whether you want it to or not!"

Half my face swelled instantly. Blood seeped from the corner of my mouth.

I didn't cry. I just coldly wiped the blood from my lips, turned around, and walked away from the dock without looking back.

I wandered the streets with no idea where I was going, my mind a mess.

Dante's hatred. Valerie's schemes. Edward's cruelty.

The despair from my past life came crashing over me like a wave, nearly pulling me under.

Without even realizing it, I found myself standing in front of an underground boxing club.

Deafening heavy metal music and the raw, animal roars of men spilled out from inside.

I took a deep breath and pushed the door open.

In the dim light, two shirtless men were locked in a brutal fight inside the octagon cage.

Blood and sweat blurred together, filling the air with something primal and savage.

I spotted Roman Vane right away, sitting below the ring.

He had on a black tank top, his muscles lean and coiled with power.

He held a bottle of ice water loosely in one hand, watching the fight with a lazy, indifferent look.

I walked straight up to him and stepped into his line of sight.

Roman looked up. When he saw it was me, one eyebrow lifted.

"Liliana Rose. What brings you to a dump like this?"

His gaze dropped to my swollen cheek, and something in his eyes darkened.

"Got hit, huh? Rough."

I ignored his mockery and dropped into the empty seat beside him.

"Roman. I want to make a deal."

I turned and looked him dead in the eyes.

Roman let out a quiet laugh and twisted off the bottle cap, taking a long drink.

"A deal? You're about to be Dante's wife what kind of deal could you possibly make with me?"

"I don't want to marry Dante. And you don't want to spend the rest of your life getting stepped on by The Vane's Family a bastard son kept hidden in the shadows. Am I wrong?"

I lowered my voice. There was an all-or-nothing edge to it.

Roman went still.

He turned his head and fixed those dark eyes on me like he was trying to see straight through me.

"Do you even know what you're saying?"

"I know exactly what I'm saying." I held his gaze without flinching. "Marry me. Help me destroy the engagement with Dante, and I'll give you everything twenty percent of the Rose family shares, unconditionally. All of it behind you."

"I want Dante ruined. I want a complete change of power in the Vane Family."

The noise around us seemed to vanish all at once.

Roman stared at me for a full minute.

Then without warning, he reached out and grabbed my jaw, yanking me close.

"Liliana. Do you know what kind of man I am?"

His voice was rough and low dangerous, laced with warning.

"I'm a mad dog that bites. You really think you can use me and still walk away in one piece?"

Forced to tilt my face up, I looked into the wild fire burning behind his eyes and let a bitter smile cross my lips.

"To deal with someone like Dante, a mad dog is exactly what I need."

"As long as he goes down, I'm not afraid of anything."