Ivan leaned in, his deep voice sending a chill down my spine. “Madeline, what is it that you truly want from me?”
I met his gaze and traced my fingers over his skull pendant. “Your support, of course.”
He let out a soft chuckle. “Interesting.”
We said nothing more, but from his actions, I could tell he would stand by my side.
When we returned to the banquet hall, Leonardo seemed to have regained his composure. Vincent placed a document in front of
- us.
“Sign it.”
It was a marriage contract that formally established our engagement.
The rest of the evening revolved around the discussion of our wedding details. Throughout it all, Leonardo’s gaze never left me.
His attention was so fixated on me that he didn’t even notice Dora clinging to him, pouting and whining for his affection.
As the family banquet concluded, I realized I had left my coat inside. Ivan immediately headed back to fetch it for me.
I was waiting at the entrance when Leonardo suddenly grabbed my arm. He was teary–eyed.
“Tell me! Why are you marrying my brother?”
I pried his fingers off me and asked coldly, “Why not?”
Leonardo’s grip tightened.
“Don’t be ridiculous, Madeline! You’re madly in love with me! There’s no way you’d agree to marry anyone else but me!”
I let out a soft chuckle. “And yet, as you can see, I have. Leonardo, I’m tired. I don’t love you anymore. And besides, the one you
love isn’t me, is it? Stop clinging to me.”
Leonardo had a pained expression.
“No, that’s impossible. You can’t stop loving me! In the previous lifetime, we–”
His expression suddenly shifted, his voice turning gentle.
“Alright, Madeline, you don’t have to be so stubborn. I’ll let you have full control over our wedding. The dress, the decorations-
whatever you want, it’s yours, okay?
“And even if i sleep with Dora, I’ll make sure you never have to see it. That should be enough, right?” 5
I stared at him in shock. I completely underestimated his shamelessness. He wasn’t upset because he loved me. He simply didn’t Want to lose the power and status that came with being connected to my father. He was addicted to the feeling of being adored by
“Leonardo, I’ll say this one last time. The only man I will marry is Ivan. Stop this madness.”
2/3
Chapter 6
“You dare to marry him? Try it and see what happens!”
+15 BONUS
Leonardo suddenly pulled out his gun, pressing it beneath my chin as he yanked me into his arms, forcing his lips toward mine.
In the next second, Ivan was there. The cold barrel of his gun pressed against Leonardo’s temple. Without hesitation, he yanked
me into his arms.
“Leonardo! Who gave you the audacity to lay your hands on my fiancée?”
Leonardo clenched his jaw, but a strange smile soon appeared on his face.
“My dear brother, ask anyone, who doesn’t know that Madeline has been chasing after me since we were kids? You really want
my little lapdog? Even knowing that?”
Ivan’s fury intensified, and he struck Leonardo hard across the face with his gun.
“I will not allow anyone to disrespect my fiancée! If you’ve had enough of being the heir, just tell me. I can take that title from
you at any time. Now get out of my sight!”
