Chapter 1

After twenty years as the treasured princess of a mafia family, I discovered I was nothing but a mistake—a baby switched at birth.

I packed my bags that same night, ready to leave. But before I could slip away, my brother Vincent Romano cornered me in my room and had his way with me for three relentless days.

"I love you," he said. "I've been waiting for this day for so long."

He proved his obsession—or was it love?—through action.

The moment we stepped out of that room where we'd spent three scandalous days, he announced our engagement.

My adoptive parents were furious. He stripped them of all their power and seized complete control of the Romano family.

When the real heiress, Sophia, threw a tantrum, he cut off every one of her black cards and left her utterly humiliated in mafia circles.

He was like a beast that had chosen its prey, trapping me in this estate and showering me with his twisted, obsessive love.

I tried to escape countless times. Every single time, he dragged me back.

The farthest I ever got was boarding a private jet bound for London. He had his men intercept it right there on the runway, carried me off the plane himself, and pinned me against the wing, kissing me until I could barely breathe.

"Isabella," he murmured, his teeth grazing my earlobe, "you can run to the ends of the earth, and I'll still find you. Next time you try to escape..."

He paused, his voice dropping to something dark and dangerous: "I'll break your legs."

He had cast his net everywhere. There was nowhere I could hide.

Until one month ago, when he drove out in the middle of the night to buy me a strawberry cake—just because I'd mentioned wanting one—and crashed on a winding mountain road.

When he woke up, he'd forgotten everything.

He forgot his mad obsession with me. Forgot all those nights we'd spent tangled together. Forgot every "I love you" he'd ever whispered in my ear.

The Romano family was overjoyed. When they introduced me to him, they didn't mention that I was his fiancée, the one he'd loved to the point of madness—they told him I was a servant.

Now, while Vincent's memory was gone, they wanted to get rid of me for good.

......

"Isabella," my adoptive mother Maria slid a check across the table toward me. "This is fifty million dollars. Take the money and leave while Vincent doesn't remember you. Disappear. Never show your face in front of him again."

My adoptive father Antonio chimed in, his voice edged with threat: "You're not part of the Romano family anymore. You have no reason to stay. If you know what's good for you..."

"Fine." I cut him off and took the check. "I'll make arrangements to leave as soon as possible."

They exchanged a relieved glance.

The parents who once cherished me as their own couldn't wait to cast me out.

Pathetic, wasn't it?

It was.

But I wanted to leave too.

Vincent's love was too intense, too suffocating. His amnesia was heaven's gift to me—my only chance at freedom.

"What are you talking about?"

The study door swung open. Vincent stepped out, Sophia trailing behind him.

He was impeccably dressed in a tailored suit, his features sharp and cold, radiating the commanding presence that came with being the Romano heir.

I instinctively lowered my gaze, but a second later, his fingers gripped my chin and forced it up.

"You." He frowned, his eyes roaming over my face. "What's that smell on you?"

My breath caught.

Before, he used to bury his face in the curve of my neck, inhaling deeply, his voice a low rasp: "Bella, your scent... it drives me insane."

And now?

"Stay away from me." He released me abruptly, disgust naked in his eyes. "Servants should know their place. Don't get ideas above your station."

I finally looked up. "Sir, I'll be leaving tonight. You won't see me again."

This was my final goodbye to him.

He frowned, a flicker of surprise crossing his face before it hardened into a cold smirk. "No servant leaves this estate without my approval. You don't have my permission."

He turned to his men. "Watch her. She doesn't leave without my say-so."

A chill ran through me. Had he remembered something?

But he said nothing more. He simply turned and walked away. Sophia shot me a venomous glare before hurrying after him. "Vincent, let me help you organize your study..."

I stood frozen, slowly crumpling the check in my fist.

It was fine. He hadn't remembered. I still had a chance to escape—even with someone watching me.

But that night, Sophia appeared at my door with several guards in tow.

"Isabella." Her smile was triumphant. "You stole twenty years of my life. Don't you think you owe me something?"

She pointed toward the door at the end of the corridor. "The punishment room. I hear you've always hated the cold. Perfect—you can use some time in there to clear your head."

I met her eyes. "Does Vincent know about this?"

"Of course." She lifted her chin smugly. "He personally approved it."

The guards seized me by the arms and dragged me into that freezing chamber.

Ten degrees below zero. The cold cut straight to my bones.

I curled up in a corner as consciousness slowly slipped away.

Before, Vincent knew I couldn't stand the cold. He kept the estate warm as springtime year-round. On winter nights, he would press my icy hands and feet against his chest, murmuring softly: "You're not cold, Bella. I'll keep you warm."

But now, he'd given the order himself to lock me in here.

It didn't matter...

I told myself.

Soon I'd be free...

Just before everything went dark, I thought I heard someone calling my name.

The voice was urgent, frantic—

"Isabella!"