All Chapters of The Scarred Queen: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

10 Chapters

Chapter 1

Serena's POVAs the Don of Italy's most powerful mafia family, my father adopted two orphaned brothers to serve as bodyguards for my sister and me.The older one—tall, broad-shouldered, and watchful—fell for my sister the moment he saw her.That left me with his "autistic" younger brother.I didn't have the heart to send Edward back to the orphanage, where he'd surely be bullied, so I kept him.He never spoke, so I took him to the best psychiatrists money could buy.I spent two hours every day telling him jokes, even though he never once cracked a smile.He couldn't protect me, so I taught myself martial arts—and begged my father not to cast him out.I thought he was just deeply traumatized. That with enough patience, he'd come around.Then the cruise ship went down.He tore the last life jacket straight off my body.The first words he ever said to me:"Sorry, but Bianca's life jacket is defective."Bianca—my sister.He watched me slip beneath the waves, gripping my hand one last time:

Chapter 2

Serena's POVDad's brow furrowed."You'd rather go back to eating scraps than take fifty grand a month?"Donald didn't bother hiding his disgust at my scarred face."I'm not qualified to protect Miss Ferrari, sir."I sighed. Ever since I got these scars at ten trying to save Bianca, this face had been nothing but a source of revulsion for everyone. Maybe that's why Edward treated me like garbage in our past life too."Donald! You can't abandon my sister!" Bianca frantically grabbed his arm, trying to pull him to his feet.Donald looked at her with pure adoration: "I didn't come here for her."I remained silent.Bianca's momentary triumph vanished behind a practiced pout. "No! This is outrageous! I won't allow you to go back there!""Easy fix," I cut in. "Bianca can just keep both brothers. Problem solved."Bianca's cheeks flushed. "What are you even saying?"Both Cross brothers were gorgeous, and I knew Bianca's eyes had been glued to them since they walked through the door.Dad looke

Chapter 3

Serena's POVBianca froze."Bianca, what gives you the right to tell me to stay in my place? The family's pampered princess, the trust fund shareholder?""You're the one always sitting pretty on unearned privilege. Who are you to lecture me about not fighting for what's mine?""You—!"Her eyes reddened instantly."Serena, I—"Her eyes filled with crocodile tears on cue.But I wasn't done."And since you brought up my scar, let's talk about how I got it. Do you remember what you did to me when we were ten?""I was trying to help you stop that attacker, and if you hadn't pushed me, how would I have ended up crashing right into him? How would my face have gotten ruined?""That's not—I never meant—" she sobbed, tears streaming down her cheeks like she was the victim here."Save the waterworks. You got what you wanted—the pretty face, the money, the perfect life. Just be good and continue to be Daddy's little princess."I turned to leave, but she started sobbing, her voice breaking:" It was

Chapter 4

Serena's POVThankfully, all those self-defense classes paid off. I twisted out of Donald's grip and shoved him back."Get your fucking hands off me!""And what the hell does Bianca getting kidnapped have to do with me?""You have some nerve asking that!"Donald's eyes were bloodshot—clearly he hadn't slept all night."If you hadn't said all that cruel shit last night, Bianca never would've run out crying and gotten snatched by our enemies!""This whole shit show is all because of you! You're gonna help us switch her back right fucking now!"The front door slammed open. Edward appeared, his face ghost-white.He looked up at us on the stairs."Is Bianca back yet?"Donald grabbed my arm and yanked it up."No, but the kidnappers said they'd make a trade—one for one.""Since Serena's the reason Bianca got taken in the first place, it's time for her to make things right.""Let go of me!"I slapped Donald hard across the face."You're just a bodyguard—how dare you put your hands on me!"A re

Chapter 5

Serena's POVOn the third day after the kidnapping, the head kidnapper handed me a phone."Call your family. Get the money."I took it. Scrolled through my contacts. One by one.First, Dad. Rang out. Voicemail.Second, Stephen. Nothing.Third, Bianca—rang and rang and rang, then silence.I stared at the last name. Edward.Pressed call."Hello?""Edward!" My voice shot up, trembling on cue. "You need to bring money—now! They said—they said if they don't get it today, they're gonna cut off my fingers!"The music on his end was deafening—like some kind of party. I paused. "What… where are you?""Serena, it's Bianca's birthday party. I can't just leave."I gripped the phone tighter. "What the hell does that mean?""Just hang on. Soon as the party's over, I'll come get you.""But they said if the money doesn't come today—""Serena, it's one night. Don't be dramatic, okay?"I went quiet for a few seconds. Then, softly: "You promised. You said you wouldn't let anything happen to me."A beat o

Chapter 6

Edward's POVThe phone call kept replaying in my head. I couldn't focus on the birthday party.I told Donald—who was still chatting with Bianca—that I had some things to take care of, then walked off to find somewhere quiet.I tried calling the number back.[Sorry, the number you have dialed is not in service...]My heart clenched tight, and I tried calling again, but got the same automated message.The frantic voice was still ringing in my ears: "They injected me with something, and they're gonna cut off my fingers!" "You promised you wouldn't let anything happen to me..."But this was Bianca's birthday. She'd been looking forward to it for weeks. She even asked me to save her a dance.I clenched my jaw and made another call. "Get five million together. Now.""Edward?" A soft voice came from behind me.I turned around. Bianca stood in the moonlit garden like an angel, her white dress sparkling with diamonds. "Why'd you ditch me and run off?"She walked up to me, starlight reflected in

Chapter 7

Edward's POVThe fire raged as firefighters battled the flames."There's no other way out of there! If she tried to run, the only option would've been jumping into the ocean!""Let me go! I have to—" I fought desperately to leap into the water, but my men held me back with everything they had.But how long could they really restrain someone like me? Just as I was about to break free and jump, a fist slammed into my face."Snap out of it!" It was Donald.Donald's hand trembled as he pulled back, breathing hard. "You know how calculating Serena can be. How do you know she didn't fake her own death?""What are you talking about..." I clutched my face, my voice shaking as I stared at my brother.Donald's chest heaved as he doubled down on the lie. "They haven't found a body or the kidnappers. What if this is all just another one of Serena's twisted schemes?" "She's probably getting off on watching you lose your shit. If you actually jump, then she really will have played you like a fuckin

Chapter 8

Serena's POVAcross the ocean in a dimly lit room, I watched the Ferrari stock prices plummet on my screen while swirling red wine in my glass, settling back into the leather sofa with satisfaction.And sitting across from me now was the most powerful Mafia boss in Sicily—Lorenzo Rosetti."Congratulations, Mr. Rosetti. Soon the Ferraris will be crushed under your heel."Lorenzo's lips curved into a smile."Never imagined the spare Ferrari daughter would go after her own family this ruthlessly. Color me impressed.""You're giving me too much credit, Mr. Rosetti. What kind of family would just abandon their daughter and sister to die?" The truth was, when I'd called begging for help that day, Dad and Stephen weren't actually busy. For anything involving Bianca's celebrations, they always cleared their schedules completely to be by her side. And they'd just chosen not to answer my calls. Rosetti's spies at the party had confirmed as much.Dad had always seen me as expendable. Stephen had

Chapter 9

Serena's POVAs I stepped outside, someone handed me a handkerchief.I looked up to see Lorenzo's cold, calculating eyes. "Thought you came out here to sober up. What the hell took you so long?"I took the handkerchief, slightly surprised. "Never thought Mr. Rosetti would come looking for me personally.""Don't flatter yourself. I'm just curious—who were you meeting with?" He raised an eyebrow with obvious suspicion.I smiled. "Should've known nothing gets past you.""Miss Ferrari." He leaned in closer, his gaze intense: "Working with me requires absolute loyalty. Otherwise..."Ever since he'd caught me digging into Rosetti Industries' finances, he'd been watching me like a hawk. But I couldn't exactly tell him I'd been investigating him because I didn't trust him either. That would totally kill our partnership vibe.I placed my hand over his mouth: "Relax. I definitely wasn't sneaking around meeting your mortal enemy or anything like that."He raised an eyebrow but didn't push further

Chapter 10

Serena's POVWhen I reached the ground floor, the first thing I saw was bodyguards scattered everywhere like broken dolls, blood pooling on the marble floor. And Edward with his gun drawn."Stop!" I threw myself in front of Lorenzo. The barrel pressed right against my forehead, cold steel against my skin."Serena?" Both men froze. Edward stared at me in disbelief: "You'd rather die than let me shoot him?"His smile was cold and bitter. I glared back at him without flinching, my heart hammering in my chest. Lorenzo tried to pull me behind him, but Edward slowly lowered his weapon and turned away."Take her and go.""Edward?" I was stunned."Get out of here. Before I change my mind." Lorenzo kept his eyes locked on Edward as he guided me backward toward the exit, his arm firmly around my waist.Just as we reached the door, Edward called out: "Serena." I turned back. The distance was too great for him to see me clearly. "I can't protect you anymore."I turned and left. The moment we ste

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