LOGINDimitrio's Pov Nadia was sitting on my bed. She was wearing a red dress. Her hair was carefully arranged. Her legs were crossed, she looked like she belonged there. She didn't. "What are you doing in my room?" My voice was low. Controlled. The kind of voice I used before something bad happened. Nadia stood up. She smiled. It was a confident smile. The smile of someone who thought they had already won. "My father said you agreed," she said. "About the marriage." "Your father lied." The smile faltered. "He said you took the ring. He said you were thinking about it." "I took the ring because he put it on my desk. I didn't say yes. I didn't agree to anything." "But you didn't say no." "That wasn't a yes." She stepped toward me. Her hand reached out to touch my chest. I grabbed her wrist before she could make contact. "You moved your things into my room," I said. "Without my permission. You told the servants we were engaged, without my permission. You sat on my bed. Without my
Serena's Pov I saw her everywhere. Nadia walked through the estate like she already owned it. She wore a red dress that matched the one I used to wear. Her hair was perfectly styled, her makeup was flawless. She smiled at the guards, she nodded at the servants. She looked like a queen inspecting her kingdom. And I hated it. I watched from the garden as she strolled past the fountain. Malak was standing a few feet behind me. He didn't say anything. He didn't have to. He knew what I was thinking. "She's been like this all morning," Elena said. She had come to bring me lunch. A plate of bread and cheese that I hadn't touched. "Like what?" "Like she's already the don's wife. She told one of the kitchen girls that the wedding is being planned. She said it's only a matter of time before the announcement." I felt something twist in my stomach. I told myself it was anger. Not jealousy. It couldn't be jealousy. I had walked away from Dimitrio. I had told him I was done. I didn't care
Nadia's Pov I was in my room when my father came to find me. I had been pacing for hours. Waiting. Hoping. Serena was gone. She had walked out of Dimitrio's room and gone back to the slave quarters. The guards were talking about it. The servants were whispering. The red-haired slave had fallen from favor. It was my chance. My moment. And I wasn't going to waste it. The door opened. My father walked in. His face was calm, but there was something in his eyes. Something that looked almost like triumph. "It's done," he said. "What's done?" "I spoke to the don. About you." My heart started beating faster. "And?" "He didn't say no." I stared at him. "What does that mean?" "It means he's considering it. He's vulnerable right now. The slave girl hurt him. He's alone. And in that state, he's more open to suggestion." "So he agreed to marry me?" "He didn't agree. But he didn't refuse either. In our world, that's as good as a yes." I felt a smile spreading across my face. Finally.
Dimitrio's Pov I woke up with Rossi's name on my lips. The dream had been the same as always. The throne room. Giacomo's smile. Rossi on the floor with blood spreading across her dress. But this time, when I ran to her, it wasn't Rossi's face I saw. It was Serena's. I sat up in bed. My chest was heaving. My skin was cold with sweat. The room was dark. Empty. Serena was gone. She had walked away from me hours ago. She had slapped me. She had told me she was done. I deserved it. I got out of bed and walked to the window. The sun was barely up. The estate was quiet. Somewhere in the slave quarters, Serena was probably awake. Probably still angry. Probably still believing every lie Antonio had told her. I had tried to explain. I had told her the truth. But it hadn't been enough. She didn't trust me. And I couldn't blame her. I poured myself a glass of whiskey. It was too early for drinking. I didn't care. I drank it in one swallow and poured another. Three days had passed since t
Serena's Pov I walked back into the estate just as the sun was rising. My legs were tired. My head was pounding. The things Antonio had told me kept repeating in my mind. "You're not Rossi. You'll never be Rossi and when Dimitrio realizes that, you'll mean nothing to him." I wanted to believe it wasn't true. I wanted to believe that Dimitrio cared about me. Not because I looked like someone he used to know. But because of who I was. But the doubt was there. It had been there since the beginning. And now Antonio had made it worse. I walked through the garden toward the main house. The guards saw me, they looked surprised. One of them spoke into his radio but I ignored them and kept walking. Dimitrio was in the hallway when I entered. He was dressed. His hair was messy. His eyes were wild. He had been looking for me. "Where were you?" His voice was rough. Angry. "I went to meet my father." "I know. I found the note." "Then you know where I was." He stepped closer. "You went
Dimitrio's Pov I woke up to an empty bed. My hand reached for her before my eyes opened. The sheets were cold. She had been gone for a while. I sat up and looked around the room. The bathroom door was open, the lights were off, but it wasn't there. "Serena?" No answer. I got out of bed and checked the closet. Empty. The balcony. Empty. I walked to the door and pulled it open. The guards at the end of the hallway straightened when they saw me. "The girl," I said. "Where is she?" The guards looked at each other. The taller one spoke first. "We haven't seen her, Don. Not since last night." "She didn't leave the room?" "No, Don. At least not through this door." I turned back into the room. My chest was tight. Something was wrong. Serena didn't leave in the middle of the night. Not without telling me. Not unless something had happened. I checked the room again. Her clothes were still in the closet. Her shoes were by the bed. But her dark dress was missing. The one she wore when







