Chapter 2
“Welcome, Miss Aliana. Master Ethan has been expecting you inside.”
An elderly Zavier family butler opened the car door and bowed respectfully.
Aliana stepped out calmly. Her stride was slow but assertive, the long black coat she wore adding to her air of mystery. She walked forward without expression, though her sharp eyes scanned every corner of the courtyard, catching the stunned glances of the
“They’re identical whispered an elderly woman to her companion.
“She looks exactly like Alicia. murmured another in awe.
Alana ignored the whispers. She was used to being the center of attention, and she hadn’t come to satisfy anyone’s curiosity. Her priority was uncovering the reason behind her sister’s suicide.
As she entered the mansion, the mourning atmosphere thickened. The living room was filled with extended family and close relatives. Several stared at her in shock and curiosity.
She looks just like Alicia. I had no idea Uncle’s family had twins. It’s like seeing Alicia come back to life,” one cousin whispered.
“There’s no difference between them,” another added.
Again, Aliana ignored them. She had no time for small talk.
The butler led Aliana into the family room, where Ethan and Olivia, her biological parents, awaited her.
“Aliana.”
Olivia immediately stood and rushed toward her. Her face was swollen, eyes red from crying. She opened her arms to embrace Aliana- but stopped short as Aliana took a step back.
Olivia froze in place, realizing the daughter she hadn’t seen in decades wanted nothing to do with her
“I’ve missed you,” Olivia whispered.
Aliana’s face remained blank, unmoved by her mother’s sentiment. She had never received affection from Olivia, so treating her like a stranger felt only natural.
“What really happened to Alicia?” Aliana asked coldly, not bothering with pleasantries–not even for her parents.
Olivia began crying again, her body swaying. Ethan, who had been sitting gloomily on the couch, stood and walked over. He approached Aliana with no warmth in his expression.
“Alicia couldn’t handle the pressure she was under. Last night, she ended her life.”
Aliana didn’t flinch. She stood silently, face unreadable. Death was no stranger to her. As the adopted daughter of a mafia boss–revered and feared in the underworld as the “Goddess of Death–she had seen many lives lost, some by her own hand.
n sister’s funeral.
But this time. Aliana couldn’t deny the pain blooming in her chest. She never imagined she’d be attending her twin
“Why did she do it?” Aliana asked in a voice so low it was almost a whisper.
Ethan exhaled heavily. “Alicia was overwhelmed. She was supposed to marry Andrian Velor
r tomorrow.”
Aluana raised an eyebrow. She knew who Andrian Velor was–a young CEO notorious for being ruthless and ambitious. His reputation alone made rivals tremble
You arranged for Alicia to marry Andrian Velur?” Aliana asked in disbelief
“Yes Our family Inniness is on the brink of collapse. Titan Group is our only lifeline. As a condition of their support. Lucian Velor- Andrian’s late father–asked me to betroth Alicia to his son, Ethan explained
“Lucian was a dear friend. Before his death, he made it clear to Andrian, if he wanted to lead Titan Group, he had to marry a daughter of the Zavier family. That’s why the match was arranged.”
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Chapter 2
“And Alicia’s feelings didn’t matter to you?” Aliana cut in, her voice sharp.
“We had no choice!” Ethan snapped. “If the marriage failed, we’d lose everything.”
Aliana scoffed bitterly. “Is that why you called me back? To replace Alicia?”
Ethan didn’t deny it.” “You and Alicia are identical twins. There’s no difference in your faces. It’s the only way to save our family. You must marry Andrian”
“I’m not part of this family,” Aliana retorted coldly. “You threw me away when I was a baby. You never cared whether I lived or died. And now you want me to save this family! You’re shameless.”
Ethan tried to remain calm, though his patience was thinning.
“Do you think we abandoned you for no reason? You and Alicia were twin girls. In our ancestral belief, female twins are a bad omen Raising you together would’ve doomed us all.”
“That curse already came true.” Aliana replied. “And not because of me or Alicia. But because of your own actions.”
The room fell into tense silence. Olivia, momentarily composed, began sobbing again. Ethan said nothing.
won’t marry Andrian Velor. I won’t involve myself in this family’s mess,” Aliana declared firmly.
Ethan’s voice dropped to a low tone. “You should know, Aliana, Alicia’s suicide is directly tied to this marriage. She was threatened.
Humiliated.”
Aliana’s eyes widened in shock.
Olivia, still crying, finally spoke.
“Perhaps death wasn’t a bad thing for Alicia. Her life was too heavy to bear. Rather than suffer endlessly, maybe it’s better she rests in
peace.
She took a shaky breath before continuing.
“Alicia was assaulted. That night, she was left on our doorstep. Her body was covered in bruises. She carried a threatening note and forged documents meant to destroy her reputation.”
Aliana clenched her fists, her body rigid.
“Threats? What kind of documents?”
“Photos, falsified evidence.. They made it look like Alicia embezzled company funds,” Olivia explained haltingly.
They framed her for crimes she didn’t commit. They threatened to expose everything if Alicia went through with the marriage to
Andrian”
Alana felt her world unravel. Anger and sorrow churned inside her. Her sister hadn’t just been threatened–she’d been broken.
“From that night on, Alicia could never live in peace. Fear haunted her. She thought she was a burden to the family.” Olivia added.
“She tried to take her life several times but last night, she finally succeeded”
Aliana’s bists trembled with rage. She never imagined her sister had endured such cruelty. With ellort, she restrained the pain tearing through her
“Who did this to Alicia! Do you have any leads?” she asked, her voice like ice
“We believe it was Bianca Lorraine,” Ethan answered confidently. “She’s the one behind this”
“Bunca Lorraine?” Aliana narrowed her eyes. “And what makes you suspect her?“.
“Bianca is Andrian’s lover Ethan explained. “But his late father disapproved of their relationship and demanded he marry into our family instead. Bianca’s also the Vice CEO of Titan Group A woman like her wouldn’t sit still while her position was threatened by Alicia”
Aluna hatened without reacting. She refused to believe assumptions
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Chapter 2
“You have no proof. Just speculation. How can you be so sure?”
Olivia, her voice hoarse from crying, added.
“We don’t have evidence… but who else had a motive like Bianca?”
Ethan sighed and continued,
“The people who hurt Alicia were hired from out of town. Professionals. No witnesses. No clear traces. But days before the incident, we heard Bianca issue veiled threats to your sister. She said she’d make sure Alicia never married Andrian.”
“And you think that vague threat is enough to accuse her?” Aliana interjected coldly.
Ethan met her gaze,
“Bianca had everything to lose. She’s ambitious and has a history of solving problems through manipulation.”
Aliana gritted her teeth but remained composed.
“What if it wasn’t Bianca? What if it was Andrian himself? Didn’t you say he was forced into this marriage?”
Olivia gasped
al
the suggestion, while Ethan shook his head firmly,
“Andrian may be cold and ruthless in business, but he’s not the type to orchestrate violence or ruin a woman to escape a marriage. I’ve known him since childhood. He has honor and principles.”
Aliana clenched her jaw, frustrated by her father’s defense of Andrian. Her mind spun with doubt. Everything felt like a tangled game, and she couldn’t draw conclusions without investigating herself.
“Why didn’t you go to the police? Why didn’t you investigate this?” Aliana asked, her voice calm but cutting.
“Did you care more about the family name than justice for Alicia? She’s dead, and you did nothing”
Olivia sobbed harder, while Ethan bowed his head.
“We didn’t want Alicia remembered as a victim. That would only tarnish her legacy,” Ethan replied.
“No one knows what happened to her except your mother, me, and a few trusted staff. Now, we let the world believe she died in an accident
“Your reputation or Alicia’s?” Aliana sneered. “Sounds like you didn’t care about her at all. She wouldn’t have taken her life if you’d handled this properly.
Silence fell
Eventually, Ethan spoke again
“No matter what you think of us, I’m convinced Bianca is responsible. If you want the truth about Alicia’s death, get close to the Velor family”
Alana glared at him with hatred.
“You still want me to marry Andrian?“)
“Yes.” Ethan said firmly. “It’s the only way. The Velors don’t let outsiders in eadly. This marriage is your only chance to gain access, gather evidence, and punish whoever is responsible. If you refuse, you’ll never uncover the truth.”
Olivia reached for Alana’s hand with trembling finger
“Alijana, this isn’t just about the Zavier family. It’s about Alicia. She has no one else now but you”
Altana pulled her hand away. She knew this was einotional manipulation–but deep down, she also knew it was true Alicia had no one else. And if Aliana didn’t land the person who hun her, no one would
She looked at Ethan, her breath heavy.
“Fine: 111 marry Andrian But remember this—I’m doing it for Alicia. Not for you.”
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Chapter 2
Ethan nodded, relieved though still solemn.
“I’ll make the arrangements. Andrian must accept you in Alicia’s place to proceed with the marriage.”
Aliana said nothing. She just stared at Ethan coldly–until a bitter smile curled on her lips.
– make sure–whoever is responsible for Alicia’s death dies by my hand.”
AD
