Serena's POV

Dad'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 looked thoughtful. "You really don't want either of them?"

"Nah, I'm not into either of those guys."

Both brothers stared at me, probably wondering what gave me the right to be so picky. Edward's expression was more complex—like there was something deeper than just confusion.

Whatever. Not my problem anymore.

"Can you even guarantee your own safety?"

"Probably can't." I shrugged.

Dad blinked in surprise.

"So just ship me off to my brother Stephen. He's got a whole security team."

In my past life, I'd poured every ounce of my being into Edward.

The family business? An afterthought.

Bianca and I weren't treated the same way at all.

Sure, Dad always said he loved us equally, but when it came to trust funds? Those were all reserved for Bianca and my older brother Stephen.

Stephen was out there building his empire, making the family trust grow by millions every year. Bianca's annual dividends alone could set up ten families for life.

Meanwhile, I had to practically beg Dad for money to cover Edward's medical bills.

If I wanted any real power in this family, I'd have to earn it myself.

Stephen hadn't even met me once and just had his assistant throw me some meaningless position and forgot I existed.

Fine by me. I wasn't here for his approval anyway.

Throwing myself into work, I shocked even myself with how good I was at this shit. After I landed that impossible Castellano account, Stephen finally agreed to see me. He threw me a belated welcome dinner and actually started giving me real projects. The company was hitting some major roadblocks, and even if he preferred Bianca, he had no choice but to acknowledge me now.

Gradually, my reputation in the business world started growing faster than Bianca's Instagram following.

Then one day, she stopped me at home.

"Serena, darling, don't you think you're being... excessive? You're everywhere these days—making headlines, doing interviews. I'm not trying to be mean, but this sudden success feels more like luck than skill. If you screw things up later, it'll lose the whole family's face. Plus, with your scars and all this attention-seeking, no man's ever gonna want you."

Then she glanced meaningfully toward Edward. "Why don't you stop bothering Stephen? I'll mentor you instead."

I cut straight to the point.

"You're just scared I'm stealing your spotlight, aren't you?"

Serena's POV

Bianca 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 wasn't like that, Serena... I was just worried about you... How can you think so little of me?"

Each tear hit the marble floor like she was performing for the Met Opera.

"That's enough!"

Donald, who had been following behind Bianca the whole time, immediately pulled her into his arms.

"You've crossed a line, Serena!"

Bianca clutched his shirt, shaking her head weakly.

"No, it's okay... I'm fine... really, I'm fine..."

Her shoulders trembled.

Edward's eyes flickered with something like pity, then he looked at me in cold.

"You really did go too far. Apologize."

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me. Apologize to Bianca."

SMACK!

My palm struck his face before anyone could react.

Bianca gasped, immediately stepping between us. "Serena! How could you hit him?"

I flexed my fingers, satisfaction warming my chest.

"Maybe you should train your dogs better, Bianca. They seem confused about who's the owner and who's the pet."

"You—" Donald started forward, but I was already walking away.

I was planning to pack my shit and move out that night—get as far away from Bianca and her devoted puppies as possible.

But at six AM, someone started pounding on my bedroom door like the house was on fire.

Donald didn't wait for permission—the second I cracked the door, he grabbed my arm hard enough to bruise.

"Bianca's been kidnapped. You're coming with me. NOW."

Serena's POV

Thankfully, 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 red handprint bloomed on Donald's cheek, but his eyes showed zero regret.

"Sorry, Miss Ferrari, but this isn't your call anymore."

"For Bianca's sake, we'll risk everything—even going against you."

He grabbed my arm and turned to his brother. "Edward! Get over here and help!"

My limited combat skills might hold up against Donald for a few rounds.

But Edward? No way in hell.

SLAM!

I hit the floor hard. Edward's boot appeared in my line of vision.

I struggled against Donald's grip, but the outcome now depended entirely on Edward.

I looked up at him, desperation creeping into my voice.

"Edward, please... help me! I'm begging you!"

He swallowed hard and closed his eyes.

"Sorry about that."

THUD!

Both brothers pinned me to the ground.

***

On the way to meet the kidnappers, Edward rode with me in the back seat, keeping watch.

"You're reborn too."

He broke the silence first.

I shot him an icy look. "And yet you're still treating me like absolute garbage."

He paused.

Then said quietly:

"I'm really sorry."

SMACK!

My palm cracked across his cheek.

"Those bullshit words are the last thing I need from you—not in our last life, and sure as hell not in this one."

His face turned slightly to the side.

Dark hair fell across his eyes, hiding his expression.

I heard him say in a low voice:

"I promise this is the last time."

His hand covered mine, gripping it tight:

"Just let me get her out safe, okay? One last thing—for old times' sake. After that, I'll do whatever it takes to come back for you."

I couldn't help but laugh. What a load of crap.

He grabbed my hand tighter.

"This is temporary, I promise. I won't let anything happen to you."

The swap went down in some empty field outside town.

Bianca and I walked past each other without a word.

Suddenly she broke into a run:

"Edward! Donald!"

I whipped around.

Edward was the first to reach her, catching her in his arms.

Donald worked quickly to cut her restraints.

Edward held her so tight his hands were shaking.

I could read his lips:

"I'm sorry... I failed to protect you..."

Something twisted in my chest—some emotion I couldn't name.

Even though I'd prepared myself not to matter to anyone.

In the next second, a hand dragged me over, snapping me out of my thoughts.

I tried to say something, but they'd already gagged me.