Chapter 1

In my past life, my twin sister Vivian stole my fiancé, drugged me on my wedding night, and sold me to a trafficking ring where I was tortured for two years before they slit my throat and dumped me in the river.

Now I've opened my eyes three days before that wedding.

And the man I was supposed to marry — Luca Moretti, the most feared Mafia Don in the Western Hemisphere — is standing right in front of me.

"Miss Sera, your father has confirmed the arrangement. You'll be my wife by Friday."

His voice was a low rumble, dark and commanding. He stood six-foot-three in a black tailored suit, every inch of him radiating lethal power. Sharp jaw, cold grey eyes, a scar running from his left ear to his collarbone — the kind of face that made women wet and men beg.

In my past life, I'd been terrified of him.

Everyone said Luca Moretti was a monster. That he'd killed his first wife. That no woman survived his bed. That marrying into the Moretti family was a death sentence.

So when Vivian had cried and begged me to switch places — "Sister, I'm in love with someone else, please take the other arrangement instead" — I'd agreed like a fool.

I let her marry Luca.

I took the "safe" option: marrying the charming, handsome CEO, Damien Cross.

What I didn't know was that Vivian had already been fucking Damien for months.

On my wedding night, Damien didn't touch me. He slipped pills into my champagne. When I woke up, I was in a shipping container, headed overseas.

For two years, I was beaten, starved, violated by strangers, and branded like cattle.

Vivian visited me once — in a red designer dress, dripping in diamonds, smiling.

"You were always the prettier twin, Sera. Look at you now."

She'd married Luca, gained his empire, his protection, his wealth. Damien was her side piece all along.

The last thing I saw before dying was a news headline on a guard's phone: "Mrs. Moretti Hosts New Year's Gala — The Most Powerful Woman in the Country."

Now I was back.

And Luca Moretti was offering me his hand.

"Miss Sera? Your answer."

I looked up at this man the whole world feared, and I smiled.

"Yes. I'll marry you."

Behind me, I heard a gasp.

Vivian stood in the doorway of Father's study, face white as paper.

She was reborn too.

I could see it in her eyes — the same calculating, desperate recognition.

In her past life, she'd been the one to marry Luca. She knew exactly how powerful he was, how rich, how untouchable.

And she'd come downstairs to steal him from me again.

But this time, I'd already said yes.

"Sera!" Vivian rushed in, grabbing my arm, her nails digging into my skin. "You can't — you don't know what he is! He'll destroy you! Let me —"

"Let you what?" I pulled free. "Take my place again?"

Her eyes flickered — Loss. Rage. Fear.

Father walked in, oblivious.

"Ah, Vivian, you're here. Good news — Sera's accepted the Moretti arrangement. That leaves Damien Cross for you. He's a fine match, very handsome."

Vivian's mouth opened, but no words came out.

She knew what Damien really was. A traitor. A snake. A man who'd sell his own wife to traffickers.

But she couldn't say that without exposing everything she knew.

I squeezed her hand gently, leaned in, and whispered.

"Don't worry, sister. I hear Damien is very… generous on wedding nights."

The color drained from her face completely.