He Snapped After I Chose Another

Father, I choose Dante. I lowered my eyes to the name in my hand and almost laughed. Maybe fate never planned on giving Marco to me. Father sat behind his desk and watched me in silence for a long time. Isabella, are you sure? You know once I announce this to the family. there's no taking it back. Of course I knew, but Marco didn't love me. I couldn't force him to stay by my side forever. Besides him, it honestly didn't matter who I married. In the Bianchi family, marriage was never personal. It meant power, alliances, control. I've made my decision. Father let out a quiet sigh and signed Dante's name on the document. Three days from now, I'll officially announce the engagement. I nodded and left the study. The second I stepped into the hallway, I saw the four men waiting outside. So, Princess finally made her choice. Do we even have to guess? Everyone in this estate knows Isabella's only ever had eyes for Marco. The air suddenly went still. Marco looked up at me, but there was no excitement in his eyes—only restrained frustration. So, who? My gaze landed on Dante in the distance. You'll find out in three days. A faint smirk curved at the corner of his lips. I didn't stay any longer. Everyone knew I loved Marco, but the thing Marco hated most was having his life arranged by the family, especially marriage. No matter how hard I tried to get close to him all these years, he always kept me at arm's length, cold, distant, like I was something he could never accept. What he didn't know was I never had a choice either. Father had countless lovers. but only one legitimate heir, me To keep the four families balanced He created the heir training program One day I would marry one of them Whether I wanted to or not. Princess. A voice stopped me from behind I turned around Marco,

I need to talk to you. go. ahead. There's someone I like. Marco, did you just assume I was definitely going to choose you? You have other options. You don't need to force me into this marriage. Relax, I won't bother you anymore, you can do whatever you want, be with whoever you want. What's that supposed to mean. Before I could answer, someone suddenly rushed around the corner The next second, bang! I'm so sorry, I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to. I frowned at her, Sophia was Madame's niece, high status, powerful background, yet every time she saw me she acted terrified and Marco always thought I bullied her behind the scenes of course the next second Marco pulled her to her feet That's enough. It was just an accident. His tone carried obvious warning, like he was telling me not to go too far.

I almost laughed from beginning to end. I hadn't even said a word, but Sophia suddenly knelt again, eyes turning red. Princess. I know I was wrong. Isabella, she already apologized. You always use your status to pressure people. How are you supposed to earn the family's respect like this? I looked up at him and smiled. Pressure people. The next second, I grabbed Sophia's wrist and slapped her across the face. The sound echoed sharply through the hallway. Sophia froze. I looked at her coldly. This is what abusing power looks like. Marco's face changed. instantly. Isabella. I hit him too the entire hallway fell. silent Watch your attitude. Call me princess.

Marco looked completely stunned. Back then, I practically worshipped him. How could I ever hit him? His jaw tightened hard enough to crack. Sophia, let's go. The old Marco wasn't like this. The old Marco wouldn't have done this. Seven years ago. he saved me in a hail of bullets at the docks. Besides my cousin Vinny, he was the closest to me. He helped me study, encouraged me when tutors criticized me, even stayed by my side even when I got punished. Everything changed after he learned he was only being raised as my future husband candidate. Everything he learned, everything he trained for was all meant to help me someday. He hated it, hated feeling controlled, hated losing his freedom. So little by little, he pushed me away. Later, he met Sophia at a charity gala. He fell for her kindness, her gentleness. I let out a quiet laugh at myself. If he finds out I chose Dante, he'll probably be happy.

The next day was the family's annual summit. Father's health had been getting worse lately, so I had to run the entire meeting myself with the four men standing beside me. Margot was still angry about yesterday. He barely looked at me the whole time. I couldn't care less. After lunch, I went to the back lawn to get some air. Then I heard a familiar voice. I looked over. Marco, try this. I made the canoli myself. Marco didn't avoid her. He leaned down and took a bite. There was even a smile on his face, one I had never seen before. Sophia laughed softly and brushed crumbs from his lips. The scene made my stomach twist. I turned to leave. Then a few hitmen sprang out. Every nerve in my body tightened. Who are you? None of them answered. They charged straight at me. I'd learned combat for years, but there were too many of them. I couldn't fight back at all. Marco finally noticed the commotion. Marco, help me! He instinctively stepped toward me, but Sophia suddenly grabbed him tightly. Marco, don't leave me. I'm scared. Just for one second, a blade sliced across my arm. Pain exploded instantly. Cold sweat covered my back. I stared at Marco in disbelief. I never thought he would leave me to die. I gritted my teeth. Right then, Sophia suddenly screamed A hitman rushed toward them Marco immediately pulled her back protectively His entire focus was on Sophia He never noticed another blade coming straight toward me I slowly closed my eyes Ready to die.

I opened my eyes sharply. The knife stopped inches away from me because Dante had stepped in front of me. Blood poured down from his shoulder. Dante... Vinnie and Tony rushed in to join the fight. Within minutes, every hitman was taken down. Realizing the mission had failed, several of them immediately killed themselves. Blood splattered across my dress. Dante held my shoulders tightly and shielded me behind him. Only after everything ended did he turn around like the injury meant nothing. What you worried about me, Princess? I'm fine. He called a servant over and told them to take me back to my room before leaving. I looked back at him, then at Marco. He was still holding Sophia tightly in his arms, and in that moment, I knew I made the right choice. I used to think that even if Marco didn't love me anymore, at least we still had our childhood bond. But for Sophia, he watched me die without moving. Vinnie and Tony saw everything too. The way they looked at Margot became complicated. Soon, Father heard about the attack. An order to full investigation, Marco's family couldn't be touched yet, so father punished Sophia instead and placed her under house arrest that night, Marco stormed into my room. Isabella, Sophia had nothing to do with this. Why would you do that? This is obviously personal revenge. Marco, do you realize I almost died today? But you didn't die. You're the heir; plenty of people would protect you. But Sophia only has me. She almost got hurt too. She's a victim. Go talk to Don, lift her punishment. I endured the pain from my wound and answered coldly. No, Marco's chest rose violently with anger. I'm so disappointed in you. The next two days, he never returned to the estate until the night of the banquet.