Reborn: I'll Let Her Provoke the Don

Alessandra Colombo, the Donna of the Marchetti Famiglia, is a Malvorn native. Yet, during her 35th birthday celebration, Carina Esposito, my husband's foster sister, presents her with a bouquet of yellow chrysanthemums, which actually symbolize death in Malvorn. I choose not to warn Carina about it, though. It is because in my past life, I disregarded Leone Vittorio's, my husband's, objections and threw that bouquet into the trash for the very survival of the Vittorio Famiglia. Leone binds my hands and dumps me into the dumpster after the banquet and says, "Carina cried for five minutes because of your actions, so I'm punishing you with five days in the dumpster, Valentina. You should reflect on your mistakes during this time and stop crossing Carina." I spend five days without water, feeling rats bite at me in the endless darkness. On the sixth day, Leone's Soldati force me to kneel in the scorching 104-degree sun to apologize. Meanwhile, Leone is inside the house, picking up a piece of watermelon and feeding it to Carina. I eventually die in the midst of agonizing pain. I open my eyes again, only to find out that I'm back at the birthday banquet. I silently watch Carina step forward and present the bouquet of yellow chrysanthemums to Donna Marchetti. "Happy birthday, Donna Marchetti—here's to many more!" I make no move to interfere this time around. Chapter 1 Upon seeing the yellow chrysanthemums, the smile drops from the face of Alessandra Colombo, the Donna of the Marchetti Famiglia. Her face becomes clouded with displeasure. Carina Esposito, my husband's sister, saw that Donna Marchetti wasn't accepting the bouquet, so she thrust it into her arms. "I grew these yellow chrysanthemums myself, Donna Marchetti. I handpicked the prettiest nine blossoms and wrapped them especially for you. "You don't have to be polite with me, Donna Marchetti. It might be a lot of hard work growing these flowers, but the moment I thought about this bouquet bringing you joy, I didn't feel weary in the slightest." Upon hearing that, Leone Vittoria, my husband, instinctively pulled Carina into his embrace, his face etched with concern. Donna Marchetti scoffed and handed the flowers to the Soldato beside her. "Is that so? Why would you choose yellow chrysanthemums—a flower meant to wish death upon someone in our culture—if your intention was really to make me happy? She then ordered her Soldati, barking, "Get rid of everyone belonging to the Vittorio Famiglia this instant! Go place this bouquet right in front of Vittorio Group's main entrance and burn it to the ground!" Just as I thought Leone was going to speak up in Carina's defense, Leone slapped her hard across the face instead, drawing a trickle of blood from the corner of her mouth. "Have you lost your mind? Go apologize to Donna Marchetti right now!" He then bowed his head respectfully to Donna Marchetti and said, "I'm truly sorry, Donna Marchetti. It was an oversight on my part, so the Vittorio Famiglia is prepared to concede another two percent on the Novaburg project." Those around couldn't help but whisper among themselves after hearing that. "He's actually conceding two percent! That Underboss of the Vittorio Famiglia truly dotes on his sister!" Upon hearing that, Carina threw a massive tantrum. "How can you hit me, Leone? She's clearly the one trying to burn the flowers I grew myself—" Leone knocked Carina unconscious with a sharp strike before she could even finish speaking. I watched from the side, amused by her sheer stupidity. I couldn't believe that someone would actually dare to throw a tantrum at Donna Marchetti's birthday banquet. I immediately took a few steps forward and said, "I learned that you're from Malvorn a few days ago, so I asked a friend who studied in Malvorn to teach me how to make this sauce. I hope you'll like it, Donna Marchetti." Donna Marchetti studied me in silence for a long time before finally saying, "You're truly intelligent, Valentina. You've caught my attention, but today, I want nothing to do with anyone from the Vittorio Famiglia." Donna Marchetti turned and walked away after saying that, while we were driven out of the courtyard in utter disgrace. Carina tugged at Leone's sleeve the moment the doors closed on us. She sobbed pitifully, saying, "It's entirely Valentina's fault, Leone! She knew full well what yellow chrysanthemums signify and purposely kept it from me. She even deliberately showed off in front of Donna Marchetti after that! She has it out for me and just wanted to watch me make a fool of myself!" Leone didn't even give me the chance to explain myself. He grabbed me by the throat and hissed, "You've truly infuriated me, Valentina!" He tightened his grip as if he intended to break my neck. Just as I was suffocating, he finally flung me to the ground, took Carina's hand, and got into the car. They slammed the door shut right before my eyes and drove off. The exhaust fumes mixed with the roar of the engine as they hit me in the face. I merely thought that they were a bunch of fools—the real show had only just started. Chapter 2 It was the following day when Donna Marchetti suddenly called to call off the collaboration with the Vittorio Famiglia, citing the lack of harmony within Leone's Famiglia. Leone was enraged. He threw a vase that shattered right at my feet the moment I stepped into the room. "I truly underestimated you, Valentina, seeing that you managed to get Donna Marchetti to act on your behalf!" I stepped over the shattered pieces on the floor and walked toward Leone with a look of feigned timidity on my face. "I intended to build a relationship with Donna Marchetti, but she caught sight of the marks on my neck by accident. I believe she assumed that you were the one who did it, which is why she called off the collaboration. "Donna Marchetti is quite interested in me, though. She said she would ask me out for afternoon tea in a couple of days. How about I take Carina with me when that happens?" Leone's eyes darted to my neck, a flicker of guilt crossing his face as he cleared his throat. "Carina is pure-hearted, so Donna Marchetti will definitely adore her naive nature. You did well regarding this matter, Valentina." I acted as if I were deeply moved and rushed into Leone's arms. I had enraged Leone at the previous banquet, so my project's cash flow was cut off, forcing me to secretly sell the sapphire necklace Papa had given me. I had left with nothing but that single piece of jewelry when I eloped with Leone for love back then. I couldn't return to my Famiglia in such a disgraceful condition now that I had failed so miserably. I divided the proceeds from selling the necklace into two funds. I used one part to fund a new scientific research project, and the other part to hire mercenaries to follow Leone. I wanted to catch proof of his affair with Carina, the so-called foster daughter of the Vittorio Famiglia, while we were still married. Leone's hand started moving along my back, making me feel absolutely sick. I shoved him away, proposed to make dinner myself as a pretext for compensation, and hastily left the living room. Carina walked into the kitchen, glaring sharply at me. "I don't blame you for the incident at the banquet a few days ago anymore, Valentina. After all, Leone specially bought this sapphire necklace for me at an auction just to cheer me up." There was an unmistakable hint of provocation in Carina's voice. I glanced sideways at her neck, and sure enough, it was the necklace I had sold. "It's quite a pretty necklace, looking like it's worth a lot more than you." I cocked my brow slightly as I looked at her. Carina's smile stiffened before she ran off in a huff to complain to Leone. Leone didn't take her side this time. He brought up the birthday banquet that Nico Moretti, the Don of the Moretti Famiglia, was hosting at the end of the month instead. The Moretti Famiglia was the leading Mafia Famiglia in North Aurelia, and given Leone's status, he fell far short of the qualifications needed to attend the banquet. Leone said, "It's a very important banquet, Valentina. If we can get Donna Marchetti to introduce us to Don Moretti, it will definitely elevate the Vittorio Famiglia to the next level." I paused for a moment before voicing my agreement. Carina tugged on Leone's arm, saying, "I want to attend the banquet too, Leone. I swear I'll properly prepare the flowers this time so that Don Moretti remembers the Vittorio Famiglia." Leone patted her head affectionately and softly gave his assent. Chapter 3 Leone had been highly attentive lately, probably because he needed a favor from me. He even took me along to Vittorio Group to oversee operations. Carina and I sat on either side of Leone. "It's your first time attending a company meeting, right? If you have trouble understanding the presentation, you're welcome to ask me, Valentina," Carina said as he looked over at me with an innocent expression, her eyes filled with undisguised disdain. Upon hearing that, the employees chimed in softly as well. "Ms. Esposito is not only pretty, but she is also a very kind person." "Ms. Esposito would always bring a bouquet of flowers whenever she came with Mr. Vittorio, leaving the entire company smelling wonderful." Leone smiled and pinched Carina's cheek, saying affectionately, "You've won over everyone in the Vittorio Famiglia. What will happen to me if I ever upset you someday, Carina?" I watched their unabashed intimacy and remembered how considerate Leone had once been toward me. I let out a self-deprecating smile, thinking that if I hadn't chosen to cut ties with Papa and elope with Leone back then, perhaps I wouldn't have met such a miserable end in a foreign land in my past life. I was lost in my own remorseful thoughts when Carina suddenly turned the conversation toward me. "Why do you keep spacing out, Valentina? Did you hit a part you don't understand? It makes sense, though. After all, you grew up in the slums. If you hadn't happened to save Leone back then, you wouldn't have had the opportunity to marry into the Vittorio Famiglia. "But you're now representing the Vittorio Famiglia in public, so if you show this kind of ignorance in front of others, it'll only embarrass Leone." I offered a poised smile and countered, "I mean, at least I won't get dragged out of another person's birthday banquet." In that instant, everyone in the conference room fell silent, and Leone's gaze shifted to me, turning freezing cold. Leone helped Carina into the car after the meeting, then said coldly, "You'll be walking home yourself today." In that instant, the car door slammed shut right in front of me. I took off my high heels and walked the entire nine miles home. I finally made it back when dusk had already fallen. I pressed a hand against my throbbing stomach as I walked into the kitchen, where it was empty, just as I had expected. I cooked a bit of pasta, ate it, and went to take a bath. I silently counted down the days until I could exact my revenge as the water cascaded over my body. The mercenaries I'd deployed had already gathered proof of Leone's infidelity with Carina, and all that was left was to wait for the day of the birthday banquet. Chapter 4 It wasn't long before the end of the month arrived. Carina picked every yellow chrysanthemum in the garden in preparation for the banquet. "Valentina definitely bribed Donna Marchetti to go after me on purpose last time. How could anyone possibly dislike it, especially since yellow is such a delicate color? Besides, the bouquet I put together looks so pretty. "I'm going to give every guest present a handmade bouquet and thoroughly humiliate Valentina!" Carina burst into loud laughter in the garden. I, too, burst into laughter while in the gazebo. Carina pointed a finger at me and yelled, "You're actually eavesdropping on me, huh? It doesn't matter if you found out my plan! I'll absolutely capture everyone's hearts! I'm also going to leave a lasting impression on Don Moretti! You're merely a lowlife from the slums who could never measure up to me!" I ignored her provocation and turned to leave. After all, I had always loathed those who would bring about their own downfall. I was already eagerly anticipating the spectacle tomorrow. … On the day of the birthday banquet, as guests toasted one another and engaged in cheerful conversations, a truck suddenly pulled up at the front entrance. "Your flowers have arrived, Ms. Esposito." Upon hearing that, Carina hurried over to the driver. At her command, the truck door swung open, revealing hundreds of bundles of yellow chrysanthemums placed side by side and causing the expressions of the crowd to gradually harden. Carina completely ignored their reactions and had the Soldati hand out the bouquets to everyone. "I picked and arranged all of these flowers myself. I mean, aren't they beautiful, everyone? Have you all been touched by my surprise? Why aren't you taking them?" I stood to the side and overheard Carina's confident speech, bursting out laughing despite myself. "What are you laughing at, Valentina? Do you like my bouquets too? It's a pity I only made enough for the guest list, so I don't have an extra one for you. How about I go pick a weed from the side of the road to give to you once the banquet is over, Valentina?" Carina looked at me, grinning ear to ear. At that moment, Donna Marchetti walked up and slapped Carina hard across the face.