Chapter 3

When I was little, Dante used to hold my hand like this.

When I was twelve, my parents died in a car accident. I was devastated and hid away, not eating or drinking for three whole days.

Dante found me and took me home, barely alive.

He held my thin hand and said firmly, "Bella, from now on, my home is your home, my parents are your parents."

"Don't be afraid, I'm here. I'll always protect you."

His hand was still as warm and broad as before.

But it no longer belonged to me.

At the manor gate, a row of black SUVs were neatly parked.

Dante opened the door and gestured for me to get in.

Clara followed and sat beside me.

But Dante didn't get into the same car.

He stood by the door, looking at me with an expression I couldn't decipher.

“Bella,” he said, adjusting my veil with a smile, “Take good care of yourself.”

Clara’s tone was displeased: “What are you still standing here for? Get in the car!”

Dante smiled and pointed to the car behind: “I’ll take the other one. I’ll escort you from behind.”

With that, he slammed the car door shut.

Clara frowned, her confusion deepening: “What’s wrong with Dante today? Why is he acting so strangely?”

“Nothing’s wrong,” I explained softly, “He just wants me to be Serena’s substitute bride.”

“What?”

Before I could reply, Clara suddenly realized something was wrong.

“Wait, driver, stop!”

“You’re going the wrong way. Why are you driving that way? Turn around.”

“Clara,” I interrupted her, “the driver isn’t wrong. I’m going to Sinclair Manor.”

“Sinclair Manor?”

I told Clara the whole story.

Clara trembled with rage upon hearing this: "Damn it! How could Dante treat you like this? Has he lost all his conscience?!"

I remained calm: "The Moretti family raised me for so many years; consider it repaying a debt of gratitude."

"They raised you for over ten years, but you saved Dante's life back then. That debt of gratitude has long been repaid!"

"Besides, these past two years, when Dante had intermittent back pain and couldn't move, you took care of him without leaving his side!"

"You've given him so much; why should he treat you like this?"

Clara was right.

In terms of repaying a debt of gratitude, I had already repaid it long ago.

However, it no longer mattered.

Thoughts drifted by when my phone chimed with a message.

It was from Serena.

[Bella, today is truly a joyous day! Dante just gave me a wedding gift. Isn't it beautiful?]

I stared blankly at the emerald bracelet in the picture, feeling as if I had fallen into an ice cave.

This bracelet is a keepsake from my mother, passed down through generations in my family.

Because I was too young at the time, Dante's mother kept it for me.

They promised to return it to me after my wedding.

How could he give it to Serena without my consent?

"Stop!"