Chapter 1

The day the Ruscettis came to sign our marriage agreement, they brought an expired bottle of supplements instead of the medicine my mother needed to survive.

Enzo's childhood friend raised her diamond-studded nails to her lips and smiled.

“Don't be angry, Clara. All I said was that I wanted real red diamonds on my nails for my birthday. I never thought Enzo would actually trade the medicine for them.”

Enzo was the head of the Ruscetti crime family, but all he cared about was making excuses for her.

“It's Viola's birthday. She rarely wants anything this much. I've already sent my men to find another dose. We'll hear something soon. Your mother will be fine.”

In my last life, I believed him.

But my mother died before that medicine ever came.

When I went to the Ruscetti estate and begged for help, a guard told me, “Miss Conti says your mother is just run-down. There's no reason to waste such valuable medicine on her.”

Then they threw me out into the snow.

This time, I looked at the expired supplements and smiled.

“You haven't brought what you promised. The wedding is off.”

***

Every guest in the living room turned to look as the medical case opened.

They all knew my mother needed a dose of the R-9 antidote to survive. And in all of San Vito, the Ruscettis were the only ones known to have it.

But the case contained nothing except a bottle of supplements with a blackened rim.

Someone frowned.

“Where's the antidote?”

“Did the Ruscettis bring the wrong case?”

“Aren't they signing the agreement today? The Harts are putting up twenty million dollars, and the Ruscettis can't even keep their end of the deal?”

A rare toxic reaction to medication had left my mother gravely ill. Conventional treatment could only keep her alive for so long. According to her doctors, the antidote that could reverse the damage had been discontinued, and almost none of the remaining stock could be traced.

My father had used every contact his pharmaceutical group had. Nothing.

Then the Ruscettis approached us.

Enzo had just succeeded his father as don. He controlled port operations and casinos—and owed enough money to bring down the family.

He promised to deliver the medicine on the day we signed the marriage agreement so my mother could begin treatment immediately. In return, I would marry him, and the Harts would invest twenty million dollars in a joint venture with his family.

It was enough to save his port interests and get his creditors off his back.

Yet all he had brought was a bottle of expired supplements.

Viola leaned against him, tiny diamonds set into her scarlet nails.

“Don't look at me like that. I really only mentioned it in passing.”

She lifted her hand beneath the light. The red diamonds flashed.

“The broker said he'd only trade them for the medicine he needed. I didn't think Enzo would actually say yes.”

Enzo glanced at her with indulgent affection.

“Clara, Viola doesn't understand these things. It was my decision. Don't blame her.

“It's her birthday. She wanted something to make her happy. I couldn't deny her that.”

Then he turned to me as though we were discussing some minor inconvenience.

“I'll find another dose. My men are already contacting the original seller. Just sign the agreement.

“Once we're married, your mother will be my family too. Of course I'll save her.”

That was what I had believed in my last life.

That he would find another dose. That he wouldn't gamble with my mother's life.

Afterward, the Ruscettis kept claiming they had new leads, getting my father to pay one supposed sourcing fee or shipping charge after another.

My mother only grew worse.

Then, on the night she lay dying, I heard that Enzo had finally obtained the medicine.

I rushed to the Ruscetti estate through a blizzard, barely stopping to put on my coat.

“He promised to save my mother. Let me in. I need to see him.”

The guards stopped me at the gate.

“The boss took Miss Conti to the house in the mountains. He's not here.”

“Then call him! My mother doesn't have much time!”

The guard laughed.

“Miss Conti left instructions. Your mother's just run-down. That medicine could be useful someday. We can't waste it on her.”

I clung to the iron gate and begged them to give it to me.

“Whatever it costs, my father will pay. Please. Just save her.”

Inside, men sipped their drinks and watched me as though I were there for their entertainment.

“What have the Harts got besides money?”

“She really thinks she's going to run this place? The boss said Miss Conti has the final say in this house.”

“So we don't let her in. What, you think she'll get back at us later?”

I waited in the snow until my fingers went numb. Until my assistant, Mia, found me in tears.

“Clara, the hospital called. Your mother…”

I never got to say goodbye.

The cold of that memory sank into my bones. I dug my nails into my palms.

I had been given a second chance so I could save her.

Viola was still smiling.

“The Harts may have money, but you're still just suppliers. Do you think your shipments would get through the port so easily without Ruscetti protection?

“Enzo's willing to marry you. The least you can do is be understanding. The medicine will be a little late. Why embarrass him in front of everyone?”

Her eyes slowly filled with tears.

“Or are you blaming me?”