The Red Roses Before the Grave

No one expected that after joining the production, Giselle would suffer a tragic accident. She was left permanently disabled and later died in a hospital bed.

At the time, Olivia and Luca’s wedding was less than a month away.

Initially, Luca showed no sadness at all. His voice was cold and detached when he said, "I never liked her. She was the daughter of the mistress my father brought into our family. I resented her from the start. If not for my father, I would have cut ties with her long ago."

"She’s been clinging to me for years. I was already sick of her."

Luca had no idea that years ago, Olivia had witnessed him kissing his so-called stepsister at his birthday party.

She never dared to question whether there had been love between them.

On their wedding night, Luca promised Olivia a surprise. Trusting him, she closed her eyes and waited, only to have a plate of mangoes placed in front of her, the very fruit she was deathly allergic to.

Luca pried her mouth open and forced the mango inside.

His eyes, burning red with fury, looked at her as though she were his worst enemy.

"It's all because of you. My Giselle died because of you. She was the one I loved the most. And you? Who do you think you are?"

Olivia's breath grew shallow, her throat tightening as an unbearable pain spread through her body. She collapsed onto the floor, gasping, pleading for mercy for the sake of the ten years they had spent together.

But all she received in return was a stinging slap across her face.

And then, Luca stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

Thankfully, she had been given another chance.

A plan for escape slowly took root in Olivia’s heart.

After finishing her shower, she dried her hair and made herself a cup of coffee.

Just then, her phone vibrated. It was a video call from Giselle Everett.

Olivia’s heart tightened. She hesitated for a moment before finally answering.

On the screen, Giselle beamed, her eyes alight with excitement. "Olivia, today is my wrap-up party. Why don’t you come?"

Olivia forced a small smile. "I’m not feeling too well..."

"Oh, I know!" Giselle giggled. "You must have been drinking again. My brother always comes to see you when you drink."

As she spoke, she tilted the camera slightly, revealing Luca beside her.

They were close, so close that their faces almost touched. Giselle leaned against him, her posture intimate.

"Luca, don’t you think so?"

Luca smiled indulgently, his voice carrying a helpless fondness. "You’re always causing trouble."

In her previous life, Olivia would have been consumed with jealousy, desperate to make Luca stay with her through any means necessary.

But this time, though a faint sting pricked her heart, the storm of emotions from her past life had faded.

Their relationship had always been shrouded in secrecy, tangled in shadows. Olivia’s sensitive nature had left her feeling constantly upset.

At first, Luca found her cute and was willing to soothe her emotions, but over time, his patience wore thin. Eventually, he stopped indulging her, leaving Olivia to deal with her feelings on her own.

"Oh, by the way, have I shown you the gift my brother gave me?"

Giselle stretched out her hand, revealing a dazzling snake-shaped ring encrusted with diamonds.

Olivia recognized it instantly. It was a newly designed piece from Luca’s luxury brand, a collection so exclusive that it had not even been released to the public yet.

She still remembered how much she had liked that very ring the first time she saw it and felt a special connection to its intricate design. Yet when she had mentioned it to Luca, he had casually told her that the brand had not sent him a sample yet and she would have to wait until its official release.

But now, here it was on Giselle’s hand.

Giselle admired the ring as if it were an afterthought, then chuckled. "Oh, my brother really doesn’t follow the rules. What if the brand finds out?"

Perhaps feeling guilty, Luca avoided Olivia’s gaze and instead reassured Giselle with a casual tone, "It’s nothing. I’m the brand ambassador. What’s wrong with giving a ring to my own sister? The company won’t mind."