Marrying The Ruthless Luciano (Luciano Brothers #1)

CHAPTER 9: DECISION

"I won't ask you to marry him." Her voice cracked. "I swear."

I closed my eyes. "Then what are you asking?"

"Just..." She struggled to speak. "Just help me buy some time."

I looked toward the window.

The neighborhood was quiet.

Normal. Completely unaware that my best friend was trying to protect the life she had chosen.

"I can't keep running," she whispered. "And I can't leave Franco behind."

I swallowed.

"You don't have to."

The words left my mouth before I could stop them.

Then silence. It stretched to a deafening silence.

"What?"

I looked down. I didn't know why I had said it. Maybe because I had already started understanding where this was going.

"You don't have to leave him."

"Jade..."

"If your family believes you're still preparing for the wedding..."

I stopped.

My own words frightened me.

Czarina understood immediately.

"No."

I heard panic in her voice.

"No, Jade. I can't ask you to do that."

"You don't have to ask."

I stared at my reflection in the dark screen of my phone. The same face people had mistaken for hers.bThe same features. The same height. The same resemblance that had seemed amusing when we were teenagers.

Now it felt like a curse.

"They already think I'm you."

"Jade, no."

"If you disappear, they'll look for you."

She started crying.

"If I take your place..."

I couldn't finish the sentence. I didn't want to.

Because once I did, there would be no pretending I hadn't considered it.

"You can leave with Franco."

"No."

"You can take care of your baby and go somewhere safe."

"Jade, stop."

"And I'll stay."

The silence that followed was even more deafening. I could hear my own heartbeat.

Czarina finally spoke. "You don't know what you're saying."

"I do."

"You hate this."

"I know."

"You hate the idea of marrying Connor."

"I know."

"You said your freedom was the one thing you'd never give up."

I closed my eyes. "I know."

"Then why?"

I didn't have an answer immediately.

Because the truth was, I didn't want to do this. I didn't want Connor. I didn't want the Luciano family. I didn't want their wealth.

Their expectations. Their world.

I wanted my apartment. My work, my ordinary mornings.

I wanted to wake up knowing that every decision I made belonged to me.

But I also wanted Czarina to wake up beside the man she loved.

I wanted her child to grow up knowing what it felt like to have parents who chose each other.

And if I walked away now... I knew exactly what would happen.

Her father would find them. Franco would lose everything.

Czarina would be forced back into the life she had spent years trying to escape. And the baby would be born into a family built entirely on obligation.

I couldn't do that. Not to her. Not after everything.

"I don't know if I can do this," I whispered.

Czarina cried softly on the other end.

"But I know I can survive one mistake."

I looked toward the garment bag still hanging on my bedroom door.

The gown from the gala. The one that had made me look like her.

"I don't know if I can survive losing you."

She didn't speak. Even me.

Then I whispered the words that would change both our lives.

"Let me marry Connor."

"No."

"Czarina..."

"No, Jade. I won't let you sacrifice your life for mine. I know I asked you but I know better now. I can't do that to you."

"I'm not sacrificing it."

I forced a smile even though she couldn't see me.

"I'm choosing."

Her breathing became shaky.

"You shouldn't have to."

"I know."

I looked at my reflection again. For the first time, I didn't see Jade Summer. I saw the woman everyone else expected to see.

Czarina Schuet. The heiress. The bride. Maybe I could become her for a little while longer.

"Give me your life," I whispered.

"And I'll give you enough time to build the one you actually want."

She looked at me with tears in her eyes. "What about you?"

I smiled at her assuringly. "Maybe I've been protecting my freedom long enough to finally walk in to the path that would take that away."

She cried again and hugged me tight. I hugged her back and tried to comfort her even though I

"Let your family think you broke up with Franco. Let them think we had a fight and I moved to a different place."

"But how?" Czarina asked, helplessly.

"I don't know. Just do whatever it takes to make them believe you're heartbroken but already accepted your fate. Stay in your house for days, and when we had the right timing, we'll switch."

"Will that work?"

"I'm not sure but I hope it will. Let's just wish they'll think the sudden changes in you is just because of the break up. So they wouldn't be suspicious of me."

"Okay." She said, determined to follow my instructions.

"Are you sure about this, Jade?" Franco asked.

I looked at him and nodded.

This is it. I have to do this so they could have their family.

"You can just leave. We'll figure this out." He said, assuring me.

"Leaving means taking away the chance for the both of you to have this beautiful family, Franco."

"But you'll lose your life..."

I sighed and smiled bitterly.

"I have nothing to lose. But Czarina... she has everything but she never wanted what her family wants for her. She wanted you and your baby."

"But there might not have any way out."

I froze. For a moment, I got scared. I haven't thought of that. Losing my freedom wasn't part of my plan, but I am willingly giving it up for them.

Now that Franco mentioned this, it is slowly sinking on me.

I am willingly giving up my freedom for their family. And now, I can't take it back.

Because taking it back means taking away their hope— their chance to become a beautiful family.

I took a deep breathe and nodded firmly, "I know. But I'll figure it out next time. They'll eventually kick me out of their family once they knew I wasn't really Czarina."

"But I can't let that happen to you, Jade." Czarina said.

"But if it's the only way to end the marriage, I don't mind..."

"Are you really sure about this?" She asked again.

I smiled—genuinely. At least I could feel that she genuinely thinks about me too. Czarina is like a family to me.

I have no one except her. So knowing that this is hard for her is enough for me to step in. I don't want her to lose her own family.

I reached for her cheeks and wipe away the tears, "Yeah. Just promise me you'll take care of your family no matter what."

Her eyes watered again, then she pulled me in for another hug.

-

When I reached home, I started packing my things. Before switching with Czarina, I had to make sure everything that connects me to my real identity must be hidden.

And even though I already made up my mind, I am still thrilled as I woke up the next morning.

Czarina already moved back to their house. Her dad already assigned some bodyguards for her and that would make it hard for us to switch but she assured me that she'll find a way.

While she stays there, I have to resign with my work at the coffee shop. Although it wasn't easy for me, I had to do it.

And when I passed my resignation letter to Hannah, the owner, she was shocked but still respected my decision.

"It was nice to have you here for 5 years, Jade." She said.

I nodded and smiled sadly—trying my best to surpress the emotion I had been feeling since I woke up.

"Just keep in your mind that if ever you wanted to be back, the coffee shop is always open for you." She said and hugged me.

"Thank you," I said and hugged her back.

"I hope you solve whatever problem you have right now, soon. And when you're ready to be back, we'll always welcome you here."

I left the coffee shop feeling both relieved and empty. But I have to be strong. This is for Czarina and her family.

After everything and I already managed to end the marriage, I will come back and reclaim my freedom.

For now... I'll do this to save a family I never had.

-

At home, everything is already packed. I have to move to one of Franco's small property in Batangas to support the story that we're plotting. That's where I'll stay as we wait for the right timing to switch.

I looked at every inch of the small apartment I've been renting for 8 years. Each corner hold a memory of me— and the freedom I had.

Now everything about it will vanish and I have to live as someone else.

An heiress.

I wonder if I could ever be Czarina. I wonder if I could really fool her family and the Luciano's.

Honestly, I think I can't but like I said... I have nothing to lose.

It could only be a month, or weeks— worst is days but that's okay compared to nothing.

It might be short time but at least, I could buy some time for them.

They just needed to runaway as far as they could while I keep everyone believe that I am fulfilling the agreement between the two prominent families.

That's it. Just a little time and I'll tell Connor. Then he'll dump me and I can go back where I truly belong.

I can be who I really am again.