Ariella’s POV

Bang! Bang!

The sound of gunshots broke through the still night that day. Putting everyone in fear in the city of Naples.

My coffee felled from my hand, dropped to ground and shattered. My hands began to shake and my heart dropped in my stomach.

People started screaming from the neighborhood. Everyone in the Romano villa was shaking in fear.

They were here.

My pulse thundered in my chest as the sound of boots was approaching the door. I could see men, dressed in black unform, with guns, and their faces covered with masks. My fingers were shaking and I held the edge of the table beside as if it was going to save me.

Despite this, Dad and Mom were relaxed inside their room comfortably like nothing was happening.

This was supposed to be a fake abduction. A Mafia tradition. A show of power.

But in that moment, with the sounds of glass breaking and bullets flying outside, nothing felt fake.

The Morettis and the Romanos had been enemies, fighting for power for years now. Two names whispered in fear across Naples. Both families had spilled blood for control of the city. To stop the endless war, our fathers, Don Moretti and Don Romano, has reached an agreement.

A marriage deal.

A truce sealed not with peace, but with a wedding ring.

Vincenzo Moretti, heir to the Moretti empire, a ruthless, cold and feared man would marry Luciana Romano, my older sister.

Luciana was everything I wasn’t. She's beautiful, proud and very stubborn, with a voice that could cut glass. She was born to rule. I was the quiet one, the soft whisper behind her arrogant life.

But Luciana never wanted this marriage. She wanted to live a life full of freedom, not with a Mafia husband whose name made grown men tremble. A man she would never control.

And that’s why, tonight, I was the one they’ve come to take. Because Luciana and I had switched places.

……..

That fateful night, She had banged into my room with force that almost threw me out of couch. Just as the clock struck midnight. The air smelled of jasmine from the garden outside, soft and warm. She was dressed in silk, her hair long scattered in different directions, and her eyes were looking tired.

“They’re planning to take me tomorrow,” she said, her voice filled with anger, pacing the room. “The Morettis. They call it tradition a show of strength before the marriage.”

My expression changed immediately. “You mean the fake kidnapping?”

She stopped pacing and turned to me, and nodded. “Yes. They’ll come with their guns and masks, pretend to steal me like a trophy. I just heard Dad speaking Don Morettis about it over the phone. What a joke.”

She laughed bitterly.

“You don’t have to go through with it,” I whispered.

She looked at me, eyes burning with anger. “Don’t you see Ariella? I have no choice. Dad would rather kill me than let me embarrass him. He wants this alliance more than his own soul.”

Then she sat on the edge of my bed, her voice softening. “But you, Ariella… you could help me.”

My heart skipped, and they was silent for a moment.“Help you? How?”

“Yes.” She said and took my hands in hers. “I want us to switch. Just for the night. You wear my dress. Pretend to be me. They’ll never know the difference until it’s too late. I just need time to disappear.”

Luciana had always been smart in things like this. I pulled my hands away, shaking my head in disbelief. “No Luciana, that’s madness. They’ll find out!”

Her lips curved into a sad smile. “Not when you play your part very well. Everyone underestimates you, little sis. They think you’re the calm one, too kind, too quiet. But I know what you're capable of doing. You see everything. You think faster than you speak. You can do this.”

I paused for some seconds, my head filled with confusion. My chest tightened. “But why? Why me? I asked.”

Her gaze softened. “Because I trust you. And because… maybe you’ll find out what the Morettis are really hiding, their secretd.”

I frowned. “What do you mean?”

She leaned closer, her voice almost like a whisper. “They’re not just after peace. There’s something darker, old secrets, blood money and power. Dad's hiding something too. Maybe this marriage isn’t just to end the war. Maybe it’s to hide it.”

Her eyes glimmered in the candlelight. “Find out for me, Ariella. Find the truth.”

I should’ve said no. But the other part of me was curious. I wanted to know too.

Okay it's fine, I will do it. I finally said.

And now here I am.

The door burst open with a thunderous sound.

Before I could attempt move, a man, dressed in all black with a black mask stormed in and corned me. His arm wrapped around my waist, strong and rough.

“Don’t scream,” he commander, his vibrating through the room.

But I never, I screamed. A high, frightened sound that didn’t look as if it was faked.

He covered my mouth, dragging me out of the room with force. My feet scraping against the marble floor. My heart was beating so fast I feared it might explode.

Through the hallways, they were saw flashes of chaos, broken glass, servants crying, guards shouting. The villa that had always felt too big, too rich, now looked like a cage burning from the inside.

They forced me into the back of a black car. And slammed the door shut.

My wrists were tied with ropes, so tight that it hurt me. My eyes covered with with a black cloth. The car roared to life.

The engine hummed, but all I could hear was my heartbeat.

I kept thinking of Luciana, my sister where she could possibly be. Running for the freedom she had craved for?

All I knew was that I had become the wrong bride.

The ride felt endless. Every turn, every bump made my stomach twist. I could smell the faint scent of cologne and gunpowder.

When we finally got to the Morettis's estate and the car finally stopped, someone yanked the door open and dragged me out.

Cold air slapped my face so hard that it hurt me. My feet sank into gravel. The cloth was taken off my head, and I blinked hard against the sudden light that I haven't seen for some minutes.

What I saw stole my breath.

The Moretti mansion standing before me, a fortress of stone and iron, with tall gates and strong securities with weapons guarding the entrance. The air smelled of sea salt and rain.

And standing by the entrance of the house was him.

Vincenzo Moretti.

He was taller than I imagined, his shoulders broad, his face carved like marble. His black suit fit him like armor. His eyes, cold, gray, and sharp. He looked straight into mine.

Even though I was shaking, but I tried not to look away.

He took a slow step forward, the kind that made men move out of his path. The guards bowed their heads.

When he spoke, his voice was low, steady and dangerous.

“Leave us. He commsnded.”

The men obeyed at once. The air between us grew heavy, filled with silence.

His gaze dragged over me like a blade. “So,” he said quietly. “This is the Romano princess.”

I swallowed hard. My throat was dry. “Your bride,” I managed to whisper with my shaking mouth.

Something flickered in his eyes, a sign of amusement, maybe doubts. “My bride,” he repeated softly. “The one who’s supposed to hate me.”

I forced a small smile, pretending to be Luciana. “Maybe hate and fate sound the same in this city.”

He stared at me for some seconds without saying anything. Then his jaw tightened. “You’ll stay in this place from today. Do not make an attempt to escape. The wedding is in a week time. This house doesn’t forgive curiosity.”

Then he turned to his guards. “Take her to her room,” he ordered, his voice calm but filled with commmd.

“Yes, boss.”

Then he turned away to leave, his shirt shifting as the serpent tattoo flexed with his muscles. “Welcome to your new cage, Luciana,” he said over his shoulder.

And he disappeared inside.

The guard gripped my arm gently but firmly.

I stood there alone, surrounded by silence. The night wind brushed against my face.

My knees felt weak, my heart sank with fear and something else I didn’t understand.

This was supposed to be a game. A trick. A mission for truth.

But as I looked around that dark, beautiful mansion, I realized something:

I had just stepped into a world where love and death slept in the same bed.

And the devil I was supposed to fear… had eyes that made me forget how to breathe.

Ariella's POV

My head was still aching from a night of restless sleep. The morning light cut through the heavy curtains, spilling onto the marble floor in golden stripes.

And the unfamiliar softness of the bed beneath me felt strange, as if it belonged to someone else.

I blinked as I scanned through the entire room. It was spotless, lavish, and suffocating at the same time, everything about this place screamed of wealth and power. The walls were decorated with gilded frames, and paintings of men in dark suits staring at me as if it knew somebody was inside.

Then I realized that I wasn't at home.

The air was filled with the smell of leather and something sharp. Guards stood in the shadowed hallways outside, their rifles polished, eyes alert. They were smart, cautious and accurate. They existed only to remind me that I was trapped.

I got up from the bed slowly, my toes brushing against the cold marble floor. I moved to the window, the sea stretching beyond the iron gates. Waves crashing violently, a rhythm of chaos that mirrored the pounding of my heart.

After some seconds, a knock at the door made me shiver and it brought me out of my thoughts. One of the guards stepped inside. His black eyes met mine, he never smiled. His expression looked serious.

“The Don will be with you anytime soon. Until then, stay in your quarters. Don't go anywhere.”

“Okay,” I whispered with a faint voice, barely loud enough for him to hear.

He nodded once, then left. The door clicked shut behind him, and silence took over the place again.

I sat back on the bed, trying to breathe. My mind refused to stay calm. I thought about Luciana, about the switch, about Vincenzo….. his presence haunted me. I could still feel it in my bones. The raw, dangerous energy of him standing on those marble steps, his tattoos coiling over his chest and arms like dark fire.

He wasn’t just a man. He was powerful himself. And I found myself standing inside it.

Hours passed as I paced inside the room, trying to calm my nerves. I didn’t know what would happen next until a soft knock came on the door.

When I opened the door, a young lady, maybe in her early twenties, walked in. She is beautiful.

Her black hair was pulled into a neat bun, a few loose strands falling against her soft cheeks. She wore a simple white blouse tucked into a pair of tight denim shorts that clung to her hips. The shorts were so short that she was almost naked and her blouse neckline hung too low.

It didn’t take long to realize she wasn’t dressed that way by choice. She looked like someone that is being used as a plaything. She looked innocent. Her smile was warm and gentle as if she was using it to hide her exhaustion.

Her eyes, deep brown and tired, held a softness I hadn’t seen since I left home.

“Good morning Angel. Don Moretti invites you for supper,” she said quietly, her voice smooth but careful. “Please, follow me.”

There was kindness in the way she spoke. I nodded, almost whispering, “Thank you.”

I followed her down the long marble hallway, my heart beating loud in my chest, the faint scent of perfume mixed with cigarette smoke hit my nose. She looked back, her lips curved into that same warm smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

“You’ll be fine,” she murmured softly, like a secret meant only for me.

But I didn't have to believe her.

The dining hall was large, with a long table that could host an army. Vincenzo sat at one end, dressed in black suit. His gray eyes met mine the moment I entered. Marco sat beside him, playing with a knife like a child as if it was a toy. And at the center was Don Moretti himself. Their father.

His eyes were cold, sharp, and dangerous, the kind of eyes that saw right through lies.

“Sit,” Vincenzo said.

I sat down, my hands shaking slightly under the table. The silence between us was thick.

“You’re quiet tonight,” Marco said, a smirk showing at his lips. “I thought the Romano princess that I know had a sharper tongue.”

My heart skipped. I could see the suspicion in their face. “There’s a time to speak,” I managed to say, forcing Luciana’s arrogance into my voice, “and a time to keep quiet and observe.”

Don Moretti gave a short, humorless laugh that I could tell it didn't reach his heart.

“Hmm. Observation is good. But the Luciana I know doesn’t observe, she bites.”

I froze, pretending to sip my wine. My palms were soaked with sweat.

Vincenzo’s eyes never left me. He studied me every second, like a hawk studying its prey.

“You’re eating like you’ve never seen a table before.”

I swallowed hard.“I’m not hungry.”

Marco’s grin widened.

Their laughter came like slow poison, creeping under my skin. I tried to act stubborn, lifting my chin the way my sister always did. “Maybe I’ve changed,” I muttered.

The Don’s knife clinked against his glass. “People like us don’t change. We only hide.”

The air was so thick that I couldn't stay there anymore. My heart raced in my chest and I pushed the plate slightly away. “Excuse me,” I said, I stood up quickly. “I don’t feel well. I want to go and ease myself.”

I turned to leave, but I could feel Vincenzo’s eyes following me like a shadow. I barely made it to my room when I heard the sound of footsteps behind me, fast and angry.

“You think you can fool everybody huh?”

I froze.

He followed me inside my room. The storm in his eyes made my knees weak.

“I want you to tell me why you’re pretending?” he demanded.

“What do you mean I'm pretending?,” I lied, trying to sound defiant, to sound like Luciana like I didn't know he meant.

“Really?” He pulled his phone from his pocket, tapped the screen, and turned it toward me. My breath caught.

Luciana’s picture showed on the screen, her confident smile, her fiery eyes.

My voice broke. “I……”

He cut me off sharply. “Don’t speak. You think I wouldn’t know the difference? The woman in this picture would never lower her eyes. She would never show weakness in front of anyone.”

His voice caught Don Moretti and Marco's attention on the dinning. Immediately they stepped inside. Vincenzo showed them the picture.

I stepped back, my heart pounding like a drum. I thought he was going to bounce on me but he never did. “Please, I…..”

Before I could finish, Marco lunged forward. His hand gripped my hair so hard it burned. I screamed, my knees hitting the marble floor as he began to hit me.

“You little liar!” he snarled, yanking harder. “You think you can fool the Morettis, huh?”

“Marco, stop!” Vincenzo shouted with a loud voice that vibrated through the room, but Marco didn’t listen. His hand flew across my face, the slap resounding through the room.

I gasped, the pain spreading like fire through my cheek. Don Moretti just quietly at the doorway, watching. But there was no shock in his eyes. Only cold amusement.

“Enough!” Vincenzo’s voice roared again like thunder. He grabbed Marco by the collar and pulled him off me, shoving him against the wall.

“Touch her again, and I’ll break your damn neck,” he growled, his eyes burning with anger.

Marco jerked away, breathing hard. “You’re getting soft, bro. She’s just a Romano brat. And she deserved death for trying to fool.”

“Leave!” Vincenzo snapped.

Marco spat on the floor and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

Don Moretti stepped closer to Vincenzo, his face looking disappointed. “You disappoint me, Vincenzo,” he said, his tone sharp as a knife. “This isn’t what I taught you. Weakness will ruin you.”

Vincenzo turned slowly, his voice low but firm. “She’s not the one who planned this. It’s her parents. And they’ll pay for the betrayal. We’ll return her quietly.”

Don Moretti stared at him for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then he nodded and walked away, while I lay on the floor, tears burning in my eyes.

Ariella’s POV

Pain was the first thing I felt when I opened my eyes.

It burned across my shoulder through my back as if I was thrown into fire . Every breath I took sent a sting through my body.

The memory of the beating came rushing back. Marco’s anger, his hands grabbing my hair, dragging me down, the sound of his palm against my cheek.

His words were still echoing in my head. “You little liar!”

I tried to sit up, but the pain in my ribs made me mourn. The room was quiet now. The heavy footsteps and shouting had faded. Only the soft tick of a clock filled the air.

Vincenzo was still standing by the door.

His gray eyes looked colder than steel, but there was something else beneath them. Something I couldn’t name. Guilt maybe, or anger……

He didn’t say a word. He just looked at me, his jaw tight, the veins in his hand visible.

Finally, his voice came out low. “Are you hurt?”

I didn’t answer. I was shaking in pains.

He turned slightly toward the door and called,“Elena.”

His voice vibrated through the room with command. Moments later, the same girl who had come to take me for supper appeared in the doorway. She still wore that same faint, practiced smile.

“Clean her wounds,” Vincenzo said sharply. “Make sure she’s fine.”

“Yes, sir,” she replied quietly.

Then he left, the door closing behind him.

Elena walked closer to where I was lying, carrying a small first aid box with a small bowl of warm water, some ointment, and a clean towel. She knelt beside the bed and the smell of her perfume, faint and floral filled the room.

“You need to take off your blouse,” she said gently. “You’re bleeding.”

I hesitated. My hands shook as I unbuttoned the top part, groaning in pain as the fabric touched the raw skin on my shoulder. Elena gasped softly when she saw the bruises.

“Oh, sorry dear,” she whispered. “He hit you harder than I thought.”

Her voice was shaking slightly, as if the pain she saw wasn’t just mine, it was something she had known too many times herself.

She dipped the towel inside the water and pressed it against my back. The sting was unbearable. I screamed with a loud voice, grabbing the bedsheet tight.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” she said quickly, her hands shaking. “I’ll take it easier this time. Just a little more, okay?”

Tears rolled down my cheeks as she cleaned the wounds. The silence between us felt heavy, filled with something unseen, something dark.

When she finished, she reached for the ointment and began to rub it carefully on the bruises. Her touch was light, but her eyes looked tired like someone remembering old pain.

“What’s your name?” I managed to ask, with a faint voice.

She paused for a moment, then said softly, “Elena.”

“How long……How long have you been in this terrible place?”

Her hand stopped. Then she sighed. “Five years.”

Tears started falling from her eyes. “My father owed Don Moretti a debt. A huge amount of money. He tried to pay it back, but he couldn’t. And Don Moretti forced him to pay with what he has.”

My breath caught. “And they… took you?”

She nodded slowly, her voice breaking. “They said if he couldn’t pay with money, he would pay with his daughter, and that was me.”

My stomach twisted. “And he didn’t come for you?”

A single tear fell down her cheek. “He tried. But they killed him.”

The words hit me like a knife and I became terrified.

She continued, her tone low and shaking. “Since then, I’ve been here. Doing whatever they ask. Cleaning. Serving. And warming their bed. I stopped counting the days a long time ago.”

They turned me into their plaything. Don Moretti, Vincenzo and Marco would sleep with me anytime and anywhere. But Vincenzo stopped, he showed a sign of weakness sometimes.

Many girls who fell the same victim with me, and refused to obey or proved to be stubborn were killed in our front. Just to frighten us.

My heart ached for her. She was young, maybe a little older than me yet her eyes looked like someone who had lived a hundred lives.

She wiped her face quickly, forcing a smile on her face.“You shouldn’t ask too many questions, Ariella. It’s dangerous.”

“But why? Why are you still here? Why didn't you run?”

She gave a small, bitter laugh. “Run? How? There’s nowhere to go. This house doesn’t let people leave. Not alive, at least.”

My throat tightened.

The ones who tried to fight back or escape…” she trailed off, shivering. “They made sure the rest of us saw what happens to those who don’t obey.”

I could feel her pain more than the one I had.

She pressed the towel one last time on my shoulder, making me mourn in pain again. “You’re lucky he stopped Marco,” she whispered.

“Vincenzo…… he’s unlike his father but Marco, he's the worst. He never wasted time to kill whenever his father gave orders. But yet Don Moretti liked Vincenzo more than Marco.

I frowned through the pain. “Then why doesn’t he stop them?”

Elena gave a sad, hopeless smile. “Because mercy in this house is weakness. And weakness is punished.”

I looked down at my hands shaking, anger and fear twisting inside me. If only Luciana knew the pain I'm passing through here. She wouldn't have brought the idea of switching with me. She should have thought about another solution.

She looked at me with wide, frightened eyes. You have to be careful Ariella, they won't waste time in killing you.