The Acting Donna's Gambit

The memory of their distorted faces from my past life made my fists clench.

But God has given me a chance to start over. I will not repeat the same mistakes.

Before my return, I had already sent a letter to the family lawyer. Tomorrow, he would deliver the annulment papers.

Since Marco couldn't forget Bianca even in death, I will grant him his wish.

I walked up to Bianca and studied the seemingly fragile woman. I gave a faint smile and said, "So, you're the replacement Mamma that Marco found. You're quite beautiful. A good match for him. Why don't we just…"

Before the words "annul our marriage" could leave my lips.

Marco immediately rushed over, shielding Bianca behind him.

"What do you want with Bianca?"

I had returned from the brink of death, yet there wasn't a trace of joy in his eyes, only bone-chilling coldness and suspicion.

He habitually shielded Bianca behind him, his hand instinctively reaching for the gun under his suit.

It wasn't until he noticed the wounds all over my body that a fleeting look of pity flashed in his eyes.

His tone softened slightly. "Alessia, I know you've been through hell. But Bianca is only here to look after Nico. You will not use your position as Donna to intimidate her."

I hadn't done a thing, but in his eyes, I was already guilty. It was agonizingly clear where his heart lay.

"It's not like that..."

Before I could explain, a sharp pain shot through the back of my head.

A heavy metal toy car had struck my head, and blood trickled down my hair, dripping onto the floor.

Nico stood before me, glaring at me with hatred.

"Don't you touch my Mamma, you witch! Apologize to her! Kneel and apologize, or I'll make you sorry!"

His fearless demeanor truly had the makings of a future Don.

It reminded me of the past.

Family rules dictated that to become the heir, one had to pass a series of cruel tests.

That year, when Nico was only five, he was taken to the training grounds by the family's Capos for his heir's training, with no rest, from the blistering heat of summer to the freezing cold of winter.

It broke my heart to watch him.

So, every night, I trained with him. I would be covered in bruises from our sparring.

Marco would carefully apply ointment to my bruises, hold me in his arms, and whisper, "A wife as fierce and devoted as you… I'm the luckiest man alive."

Nico used to cling to me too, calling me "the best mom" over and over.

That warmth felt like it was just yesterday. But after only three years apart, everything had changed.

Marco had a new love and had completely erased me from his heart. The same ruthlessness I'd taught him was now aimed at me.

A bitter ache clenched my chest.

But having learned my lesson from my past life, I didn't scream or cause a scene. I accepted it all calmly.

I looked at the wary faces around me and said flatly, "You've misunderstood. Marco, I didn't come back to fight with Bianca over anything. I'm here to request an annulment."

When Marco heard this, an inscrutable expression flickered in his cold eyes.

Before he could speak, my mother grabbed my hand, her eyes welling with tears.

"No! Your marriage to Marco is sacred! You've loved him since you were a girl. How can you speak of annulment?"