An Underboss's Priceless Regret

He held her protectively, his eyes filled with a fierce possessiveness that he didn't seem to realize was there.

My brother, Lucian, walked over to my side, gossiping excitedly. "Loraine, I think we guessed right. Looks like we'll be attending their engagement party soon!"

His voice was just loud enough for Valachi to hear, and Valachi’s head snapped up. When he saw me standing next to my brother, a flash of guilt crossed his eyes. He hurriedly explained, "Engagement party? No, you've got it wrong. I was just helping Reyan—"

I gave a faint smile and shook my head, cutting him off. "I understand, Lucian. Miss Caruso doesn't look well. You should see her home."

Lucian froze. "What did you just call me? Since when do you call me 'Lucian' again? And you want me to take her home?"

Ever since we became lovers, I'd only ever used his nickname. Hearing his given name from my lips again clearly unsettled him.

I used to be extremely possessive. I never allowed him to be alone with other women, yet today, I was telling him to escort Reyan home.

He opened his mouth to ask something, but Reyan suddenly cried out in pain and collapsed against him. "Lucian, my stomach..."

His expression immediately darkened. He swept her into his arms, his instincts as the family's Underboss kicking in, and vanished down the corridor. Before he disappeared, he reminded my brother, "Don't let Loraine wander around. Get her home early."

I watched his retreating back, my heart feeling as if it had been pierced by an icicle. In my past life, I had gotten my wish and prevented his engagement to Reyan, but I never received the happiness I craved.

If I couldn't have his loyalty, I didn't want him at all.

From that day on, I acted nothing like I had in my past life. I stopped looking for Lucian, stopped asking about his whereabouts.

Instead, I threw myself into my application for the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD).

Previously, I had given up that opportunity to be by Lucian's side. I had stayed in Chicago, taking care of his every need, abandoning everything for love. In the end, I had died alone in a cold apartment from an "accident."

This time, I would never let that opportunity slip away.

I figured if I stopped reaching out, we'd naturally drift apart in a city this big.

That evening, when my brother and I went to a restaurant, we walked right into Reyan, who was arm-in-arm with Lucian Valachi, laughing and talking.

When Valachi saw us, he instinctively pulled his hand away from hers.

Reyan's expression stiffened for a second before an elegant smile bloomed on her face. "What a coincidence. Since we're all here, why don't we sit together?"

Before we could answer, Valachi had already slid into the seat beside me. My brother's eyes widened, and he immediately pulled me to his side.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" my brother demanded of Valachi. "You expect me to sit with your childhood sweetheart? How is that appropriate?"

A flicker of displeasure crossed Valachi's eyes as I was pulled away. He stared straight at me, as if waiting for me to say something.

In the past, I would have done anything to reclaim the seat next to him. Now, I had no intention of moving. I sat calmly beside my brother and handed the menu to Reyan.