Chapter 22

The Brown family had twin daughters: an older sister who was arrogant and domineering, always bullying those beneath her; and a younger sister who was calculating and controlled, preferring to orchestrate her vengeance through others.

Initially, the Browns had invested all their hopes in the older twin, Leila. But they never anticipated that she would become so pathetically obsessed with Luigi Maggiore that she’d create constant drama over him.

Left with little choice, the family redirected all their resources and connections to the younger sister, Layla. When she turned sixteen, they sent her to London for an elite education, grooming her to take over the family empire before her thirtieth birthday.

To expedite this succession plan, Layla had never returned home. This explained why Ariana Collins had never heard of her before.

It wasn’t until Leila was imprisoned due to Luigi’s actions and the Brown family suffered a devastating blow from the Maggiore empire that Layla finally decided to return and salvage what remained of their business interests.

Within a week, Layla had meticulously traced the root cause of her family’s downfall. She didn’t absolve her sister of blame in this twisted game, which was why she had no objection to Leila rotting in prison.

The only thing that rankled her was that the true architect of their destruction was not only walking free but preparing for a lavish wedding. While Leila had indeed proposed the initial revenge scheme, it was Luigi who had repeatedly escalated it to dangerous levels.

His dozens of calculated revenge plots had nearly cost Ariana her life. The combined charges for these actions should have been enough to keep him imprisoned until death, yet somehow, he had escaped all consequences.

“This flash drive contains evidence of every crime Luigi Maggiore has committed over the years,” Layla explained, sliding the small device across the table. “And at your wedding, Boston’s entire elite circle and press corps will be in attendance.”

“If you broadcast this content during the reception, he’ll be behind bars before dessert is served,” she continued, her voice cool and measured. “Don’t worry about your safety—I’ll have my people strategically positioned throughout the venue. The moment you hit play, I’ll have the police storm in to arrest him.”

Her lips curved into a satisfied smile. “Besides, being sent to prison by the woman he claims to love most? That’s the kind of psychological torture that will break him for life.”

Layla’s proposal sent Ariana’s heart racing. She fought to maintain her composure as she studied the woman delicately sipping her coffee across the table.

“I’ll do it,” Ariana said, her voice steadier than she expected. “But I have one condition.”

“Name it.”

“Once this is done, get me back to London. And make damn sure the Maggiore family can never track down me or my parents—ever.”

Layla had anticipated more complex demands and seemed almost surprised by the simplicity of the request.

“Consider it done,” she nodded without hesitation.

“Then we have a deal,” Ariana extended her hand.

“Deal,” Layla confirmed, her delicate fingers gripping Ariana’s firmly in a handshake that sealed their fates.

Time accelerated relentlessly toward the wedding day. When the moment finally arrived, the venue was packed with Boston’s social elite. Television cameras and press photographers lined the perimeter, broadcasting every moment to audiences worldwide. Online, thousands of viewers flooded the live stream with congratulatory messages, completely unaware of what was about to unfold.

As Mendelssohn’s Wedding March filled the cathedral, Ariana appeared in a custom Vera Wang gown, her arm reluctantly linked with Luigi’s as they processed down the petal-strewn aisle toward the altar.

Despite the crippling anxiety that had consumed her in the days leading up to the wedding—fear that the plan would fail, terror that she might never escape Luigi’s obsessive control—something unexpected happened as she walked through the venue. Her racing thoughts suddenly stilled, replaced by an eerie, crystalline calm.