The Don’s Heiress Vanished on Her Birthday

When I opened my eyes again, I knew I had been reborn.

I was back after the crash.

Back to the hospital room where everyone thought I was lucky to be alive.

I heard every word the guards whispered outside my door.

“Mr. Corleone just glanced in here and went straight to Miss White's room again, huh? Did he even stay two minutes?”

“Poor Miss Rossi. Seven days in a coma. Thank Christ her condition's finally stabilized a bit.”

“The Whites took bullets for the Capos. But Miss Rossi's a real soldier. She fought through it. Word is she was conscious when they brought her in, and she didn't flinch once...”

I tried to scream. I tried to tell them I was scared. That I hurt everywhere. That I needed him too.

But my body was lead, and only the pain in my chest grew sharper, sharper than any broken bone.

Vincent.

The one who’d knelt at my father’s grave and swore he’d protect me for the rest of our lives.

He was in the next room right now, holding another woman, whispering soft reassurances.

In my last life, I had screamed myself hoarse trying to make him look at me.

I had cursed Lilian White for stealing my man, begged Vincent to remember who his fiancée was, and fought for a place he should have protected without being asked.

In the end, all that noise won me nothing.

I picked up my phone from the desk.

“Professor Hartmann,” I said, my voice steady. “This is Isabella Rossi. I accept your invitation. I will be at the institute in one week.”

“I knew you would call eventually, my dear. We have been waiting for you.”

I hung up the phone and stared at my mother’s portrait on the wall.

She’d always told me that my mind was my greatest weapon, that no man was worth giving up my dreams for.

I ignored her.

But this time, I would listen to her.

I called our family’s most trusted asset manager.

“Liquidate every single asset in my personal portfolio. Cash only. No delays.”

“Understood, Miss Rossi.”

I hung up just as the study door opened.

Vincent walked in, his dark hair falling over his forehead.

He crossed the room in three strides and wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me close against his chest.

“Bella,” he murmured, kissing the top of my head.

“I’ve been looking everywhere for you. Lilian’s project is falling apart. The European syndicate is breathing down our necks, and she’s panicking. You’re the only one who can fix this.”

I closed my eyes for a second. Last time, I’d stayed up three straight nights rewriting her entire code from scratch.

She’d presented it as her own work at the syndicate meeting, and Vincent had pulled me aside afterward and said, “She needs this, Bella. She has no family name to fall back on. You have the Rossis. You don’t need anyone’s approval.”

This time, I pulled back just enough to look at him, and I smiled.

“Of course. Send me the files.”

His face lit up like a kid on Christmas. He kissed me hard on the lips. “That’s my girl. I knew I could count on you. I owe you one.”

He left, and I sat back down at the desk.

I didn’t open the files he sent.

I didn’t care about Vincent and Lilian anymore.

I had exactly one week before I would disappear forever. On my birthday.