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.

Serena's POV

I'd been rotting in this hellhole for three days.

My skin was covered in welts—there wasn't an inch left that hadn't been torn up by their whip.

The head kidnapper roared in furious: "Aren't you a fucking Ferrari?! Where's the goddamn ransom money? Three days and not a single cent! Are you even really their heiress?"

I let out a bitter laugh.

The Ferrari family only had one real heiress. And it sure as hell wasn't me.

"Last chance." The guy walked over with a syringe: "This stuff's gonna make everything hurt like hell. Call your family, and if they agree to wire the cash right now, I'll let you go. If not... well, let's just say we'll be sending your fingers home one by one."

"What? No, please don't—AHHH!"

The liquid burned as it hit my bloodstream. My heart started racing.

"Make the call!" They shoved the phone into my hands.

I scrolled through my contacts.

I tried Dad first. Voicemail. Then Stephen. Nothing. Bianca wasn't picking up either.

Edward...

"Hello?"

"Edward!" I heard his voice like finding a lifeline: "You need to bring money—now! They injected me with something, and they're gonna cut off my fingers!"

The music on his end was deafening—like he was at some club. I was confused. "What... where are you?"

"Serena, it's Bianca's birthday party. Can't ruin it for her."

My eyes widened. "What the fuck does that mean?"

"Just hang tight. After the party's over, I'll come get you."

"But if you don't come now, they're gonna—"

"Serena, it's just one night. Don't be dramatic, okay?"

The kidnapper snorted, clearly not impressed. My voice cracked: "But you promised you wouldn't let anything happen to me."

Silence on the other end. Then: "Be patient, Serena. Just a little longer."

The line went dead.

"Hello? HELLO! Edward!" I tried calling back.

But the phone powered off.

The kidnapper clicked his tongue: "You sure you're actually a Ferrari? Fuck, what a waste of time!"

I wiped away my tears and slowly straightened up.

The grief faded, replaced by something ice-cold.

"Cut the act. Untie me."

The guys who'd been acting all tough immediately straightened up and started cutting my ropes. "Sorry for the inconvenience, Miss Ferrari."

I tossed the ropes aside and turned to leave. "Burn it down."

Standing on the dock, I glanced back at the flames lighting up the sky.

I wiped off the fake whip marks from my skin.

A man on the boat reached out his hand to help me up.

His face was hidden in shadow, but I could see a scar running down his cheek.

I watched the flames and bid farewell to my former self.

From this moment on, there was no more Serena Ferrari.

From now on, I would become my own queen.