Chapter 1

The first snow had fallen in Manhattan.

The night before, unknown gunmen had broken into my estate.

They broke the legs of two guards and dumped a bucket of pig's blood in the hallway outside my bedroom.

The smell of blood made me pass out on the spot. It wasn't until morning that the IV fluids began to help.

Before, even the slightest trouble at the estate would have Arthur flying back within two hours to take care of it for me, even if he was in Miami on business.

Across the North American underworld, Arthur Cole's name alone made people tremble.

But with me, he was always gentle.

He used to report to me on every new block he'd taken.

I'd eat macarons and stamp the seal without looking.

"You're not even going to look? Aren't you worried I'll hide something from you?"

"No. You're the only one I trust."

When I was 16, my enemies kidnapped me during a power struggle in the family. It was Arthur who got me out.

Later, when my father was killed and people came after the businesses in my name, Arthur cleared out every traitor for me.

He swore that as long as he was alive, the Corsini family would be mine.

He always thought I knew nothing, that I was just a mafia princess under his protection.

But in truth, my father had been grooming me as his heir since I was little.

I knew the family's assets, rules, and connections inside and out.

For ten years, I stayed behind the scenes.

When Arthur went after the docks, I paid off customs officials and judges for him through anonymous accounts.

When he angered the family council, I stayed up all night calming them down for him.

He thought he'd gotten where he was on his own. He had no idea I'd cleared the way for him.

Back then, Arthur's loyalty made it all feel worthwhile.

But this time, the man guarding me after the attack was Carl, one of Arthur's most trusted men.

Carl was adjusting my IV drip.

Arthur's voice came through the speakerphone. He sounded gentle, but his concern felt rehearsed.

"Helena, are you feeling better? I heard about last night. I've already had the blood in the hallway cleaned up."

I rubbed my temples, my voice hoarse. "Arthur, why did you pull the guards from the estate? Those men were obviously after me."

He paused, then sighed.

"There was trouble at the docks last night, so I pulled some men at the last minute."

He sounded like he was coaxing a child who didn't know any better.

"It was just a little accident. I've sent Carl over. Let him handle things like this from now on.

"I have a family of my own now. I can't spend my whole life looking after you like I used to. Helena, I've sheltered you too much. It's time you learned to stand on your own."

Then he hung up.

For ten years, he'd handled everything himself. That changed after the assassination attempt six months ago.

In that shootout, Arthur took several bullets and almost died.

After he pulled through, he lost his nerve.

He'd met Vivian, the senator's daughter, in the hospital. After that, he wanted to go legit and enter politics.

He was desperate to shed his slum roots and his ties to the mob.

And I, the mafia heir, had become his biggest obstacle to entering high society.

Carl pulled out my IV and put the bag away.

I looked at him.

"How long did Arthur tell you to guard me?"

"Until Christmas Eve."

My gaze dropped to the family tattoo just visible on his wrist.

"Did he tell you to protect me or watch me?"

"I just follow the family's rules."

He stepped back to the door and didn't say another word.

Early the next morning.

Vivian walked in with two bodyguards.

She pulled out a can of disinfectant and sprayed it into the air.

Vivian covered her nose and mouth with a handkerchief.

"Open the windows. The smell in here is making me sick."

I leaned against the headboard and looked at her coldly.

"Arthur's not here. Don't waste your energy putting on a show."

Vivian gave a scornful laugh.

"Helena, did you really think I was nice to you before the wedding because I thought you were worth my time?"

Back then, she'd linked arms with me while we picked out jewelry and sweetly called me family.

I'd even given her one of my mother's diamond necklaces.

"Arthur told me a long time ago that you're adopted. He took you in. And that Christmas Eve ceremony? It's just a game he plays with you because he feels sorry for you.

"He's spent ten hard years raising you."

So Arthur had told a huge lie to protect his pride.

He couldn't admit he was only the acting Don, so he'd painted me as a parasite living off his charity.

It was absurd.

I looked up at her.

"So Arthur lied to you about that?"

She snorted.

"Lied? Helena, your delusions are getting worse and worse."

She tossed a file onto my blanket.

It was a psychiatric evaluation and a guardianship petition.

According to the report, I had a severe delusional disorder and lacked legal capacity.

Vivian's name was listed as my guardian.

She'd take full control of everything in my name.

At the very bottom was a marriage contract.

She was sending me to Mexico.

To marry General Juárez, a 62-year-old drug lord.

In exchange, he'd give her father ten million dollars for his Senate campaign.

"Do you know who dumped that blood in the hallway? I did. It was a warning to show you who really runs this place."

Vivian lit a cigarette.

"Start packing. In five days, on Christmas Eve, your life as a parasite is over."