Chapter 1

A burning-hot figure lunged out of the shadows and slammed me hard against the door.

I struggled on instinct.

"Don't move."

Matteo Ricci's voice came, deeper and raspier than usual. His chest pressed firmly against my back, and I could feel the hard, insistent pressure through the thin fabric.

"Turn around," he ordered.

I obeyed, facing him.

He grabbed my chin and forced my head up. Then he kissed me, hard and punishing, his lips crushing mine and stealing every last breath from me.

My body went liquid under him, barely held up by his grip.

The sound of tearing fabric cracked through the silent room.

He scooped me up without warning, carried me a few steps to the center of the room where that massive bed waited, and threw me onto it without a hint of gentleness.

I lay there, completely bare beneath his gaze.

He came over me, driving his burning, rigid length inside in one deep thrust without hesitation or mercy.

I grabbed his wrist, my voice cracking with frustration that I couldn't swallow. "Could you… slow down?"

What I really meant was, "Don't rush this. Don't end it so fast."

But the words tangled on my tongue before I could let them out.

I was afraid that saying it out loud would shatter this brief, pathetic illusion of closeness.

"Slow down? Tesoro, your face is begging me to go faster…"

His whisper burned along my ear, and then he drove into me with a furious rhythm.

My moans tangled with his heavy, ragged breathing.

All I knew was that he pinned me to that bed and took me apart, again and again, dragging me to the edge of pleasure every time.

…

"Camilla, I'm here because I have something important to tell you."

When I finally caught my breath, he was already fastening the buttons on his shirt efficiently, not even sparing me a glance, like the intimacy we had just shared existed only to pave the way for this conversation.

"Camilla, Lydia's getting weaker. She can't continue the drug trial.

"The famiglia has set a hard deadline. The final phase must be completed within a month. You and Lydia are twins, practically identical. The doctors say you're the ideal replacement.

"If you refuse, the engagement is off. Lydia has been through an inferno for three months already, and I won't let her face another day of it."

I listened quietly, watching him say these insane things with absolute seriousness.

My family struck a secret deal with the multinational pharmaceutical giant, Lidohen Pharma, serving as their cover. Every year, we took a 30-percent cut of their yearly profits, but that also meant handling the shady, legally and morally questionable trials that no one else would touch.

After Nonno died, the Capone family's influence in Idale declined quickly. To claw our way back, my papa accepted the job without hesitation.

Originally, my parents wanted me to do it.

But Lydia Capone cried and begged to contribute to the family, and my parents were instantly moved by her "devotion", agreeing on the spot to let her take the role.

But three months later, she suddenly backpedaled, spending her days clutching her face and moaning about nausea and constant vomiting after the trials.

My parents and Matteo took turns trying to persuade me. Though honestly, persuasion was just a polite word for threats.

My parents told me that if I didn't replace Lydia in the trial, I was out of the Capone residence.

And Matteo brought up breaking off the engagement nearly 100 times, shoving the agreement in front of me each time.

Back then, I didn't know I had cancer. I only knew exhaustion clung to me like a shadow, and my appetite had vanished. So I refused flatly.

The moment the words left my mouth, the air in the living room froze. Disappointment flickered across every face, and my parents pointed at me, calling me cold and ungrateful.

"Lydia endured three months for you! She's frail, and she still pushed through! You're healthy, so why can't you take over?" my mamma yelled, trembling.

"Exactly! She's suffered so much already. You only need to finish the last month, and you won't even do that? I'm disgusted. If you won't protect Lydia or support this famiglia, then you're no daughter of ours."

Even now, remembering those words still tightened something in my chest, but that was all behind me now. I was dying. Whether I was cast out by the family or died on a cold laboratory table didn't make a difference.

No one cared either way.

Matteo's brows were still furrowed, like he wanted to throw more threats at me.

But I suddenly smiled and said softly, "Fine. I'll take Lydia's place."

He froze for a moment. Shock flickered through his eyes before giving way to pure relief. "Really? Great! Lydia won't have to suffer another day."

Watching his ecstatic expression, a bitter, faint smile tugged at my lips.

He looked like he wanted to say something else.

I turned away and pulled on my clothes in silence. "Take me home."

On the drive home, he asked about my day-to-day life as if he actually cared.

But I knew better. This wasn't care. He was just making sure I stayed alive long enough to finish the trial.

After all, I was now the only one in the Capone family who could take Lydia's place.

The moment I opened the front door, I heard my parents talking excitedly.

My mamma was clutching Lydia with bright eyes. "Lydia, tesoro, it's over. You don't have to suffer anymore. Camilla's agreed to take your place…"

My papa, terrified I might change my mind, immediately yanked a consent form out of a drawer and handed it to me. "Sign it. The lab's waiting on confirmation."

Only when they saw my name on the dotted line did they finally relax, their faces glowing with real happiness.

"Brava, Camilla! You finally understand what's best for the family. I always knew you were my good daughter," my mamma said, patting my arm with a sweetness that felt painfully fake.

"But we won't shortchange you," my papa added, his tone patronizing. "Once the trial succeeds, your share of the profits will be exactly what you deserve."

I shook my head, swallowing down the bitter taste rising in my throat. "Give it all to Lydia. I won't be needing it."