Cursed: I Married the Don in My Sister's Place

Valentina was born a cursed living voodoo doll. At birth, her father's mole tried to strangle her and choked to death instead. Anyone who tried to harm her died the way they wanted her to die. Any harm inflicted upon her body reflected back onto the attacker. Her father wanted to throw her to the public sea, but her guileless sister Isabella saved her.

Fate later turned on Isabella. Their heartless father sent her to wed the brutal underworld Godfather, Don Alessandro Greco. In that past life, Isabella was chained and bled at regular intervals so the Godfather's mistress could live off her blood. Don Alessandro slaughtered Valentina's family. Valentina died alongside Isabella, alone and hopeless.

She opened her eyes and found herself back on the night of the alliance betrothal gala. She swore to avenge them. In her past life, she had married the gentle city councillor Mateo, the Vitale heir. This time, when both Don Alessandro and Mateo stood before her and Isabella, Valentina walked toward the Godfather without hesitation. Isabella clutched her hand, tears in her eyes, and said Valentina would die there. Valentina shook her head, clutched the marriage contract, and told her neither of them would die.

Three days later, two weddings were held at the cathedral. Mateo Vitale arrived in a white and gold suit to collect Isabella. Valentina watched him help her sister into the limo. Then she turned and stepped into her own car. Don Alessandro had not come to meet her. He had spent the previous night at a brothel house with his mistress.

At the ceremony, a servant informed Valentina that Don Alessandro had sent his most prized companion, a pit bull, to stand in his place. The Mama Greco, seated on the main chair, did not rebuke her son. She told Valentina her boy had just come back from business exhausted, and instructed her to show him grace and finish the ceremony. The guests were waiting. This was what Isabella had endured.

Valentina asked if she was expected to complete the ceremony with a bitch, and whether the Mama Greco's boy was equivalent to that bitch. The Mama Greco demanded to know how she dared. Valentina replied she dared nothing, she had come to wed the Padrino, not a dog. Silence fell, then scattered nervous laughter. The pit bull snarled at the change in the room and lunged, teeth bared. Valentina sidestepped, drew her revolver, and fired once clean through its shoulder. Blood sprayed across the stone, a dark red smear fanning from the wedding nave. Droplets dotted her white dress.

The doors swung open. Don Alessandro walked in, calm in a dark suit, his eyes sweeping the crowd and landing on Valentina and the dead animal. He asked quietly if she had killed his dog. His quiet voice was worse than shouting. Valentina met his gaze and said it started first. Don Alessandro told her he was going to kill her. Valentina smiled. He crossed the hall and beckoned a line of capos forward, guns leveled. She spoke again: Don Alessandro, kill me and you'll die.

As her revenge unfolds, Valentina is drawn into a forbidden connection with Don Alessandro's loyal nephew Lorenzo, a bond that entangles her in a perilous love triangle between the Don and his heir.