Chapter 1

Isabella's POV

Tomorrow was my wedding day.

I stood before the mirror in this century-old bridal boutique, gazing at my reflection in my mother's vintage wedding dress. The lace sleeves were as exquisite as works of art, each pearl shimmering in the golden afternoon light.

The next day I would become Luca Marino's wife. The man who had gone from law doctorate to family advisor, who had walked beside me for three years.

The thought made me smile involuntarily. For the first time in my twenty-three years, life felt absolutely perfect.

"Miss, you don't look well." Tailor Benedetto looked at me with concern.

I was about to respond when the pearl earring in my left ear suddenly vibrated once.

My blood instantly froze.

I had secretly modified those earrings, which only alerted when the family's core system was illegally accessed. Tomorrow was my wedding—who would do this now...

"I was just a bit nervous, tomorrow was the big day." I forced a smile. "Could I use the restroom?"

"Of course, Miss."

I hurried to the back restroom, my heartbeat racing. The moment I closed the door, I retrieved the micro decoder hidden in my bodice.

Stay calm, Isabella. Maybe it's just a technical glitch.

But when I successfully decrypted the encrypted communications and saw the conversation records on the screen, my entire world collapsed.

Caterina_B: [Control all exits when the priest says "In the name of God."]

Luca_M: [Copy. Vito's safe code is Isabella's birthday reversed, secret room switch is behind the right eye of the Dante statue.]

Caterina_B: [Is the cleanup list confirmed?]

Luca_M: [Attachment. Vito Corleone first, Isabella Corleone second. Note: Priority control, negotiation leverage.]

My hands began to tremble, the words on the screen blurring.

Luca... I was about to marry a man who wanted to kill me and my father. Papa trusted him like a son, and he...

I remembered what he had said when he kissed me the night before: "Isabella, after tomorrow, we'll be family."

Family? He wanted to destroy this family!

Three years of feelings, three years of trust... had it all been fake?

I stared at the screen, hoping this was just a nightmare. But those cold characters cut into my eyes like knives.

Every word reminded me how stupid I had been, how naive.

I leaned against the restroom wall, struggling to breathe. No, I couldn't break down now. Isabella, you don't have time to grieve.

I bit my tongue, using the pain to clear my head. Quick situation analysis: 22 hours until the wedding. Luca's knowledge of the secret room location meant there was a traitor close to Papa. The family guards might have been compromised. Conventional force wasn't trustworthy.

I needed outside help. I needed an absolutely sharp blade.

That man from five years ago...

The memory suddenly flooded back. When I was eighteen, I had been ambushed by a rival family. Just when I thought death was certain, a man in a Venetian mask single-handedly fought his way through. In the scent of blood, his deep voice had said: "Your father owes me a life."

Later I secretly investigated and learned he was "the Ghost"—the most dangerous former enforcer Papa had exiled five years ago.

If anyone could save me in 22 hours, it was him.

I deleted the traces from my device, took a deep breath, and pushed open the restroom door.

"Sorry for the wait." I returned to the mirror. "The dress is perfect."

"Miss, you'll be the most beautiful bride tomorrow." Benedetto said proudly.

"Yes." I smiled at my reflection. "It will be a... special wedding."

Half an hour later, I sat in my car, activating the electronic jamming device. From a hidden compartment, I retrieved an encrypted phone unused for five years.

Would he even answer?

I dialed that number buried deep in my memory.

Ring— Ring— Ring—

"Hello."

That deep voice instantly transported me back to the bloody dusk of five years ago. My heart pounded violently.

"Ghost, I need you to come home."

"Isabella?" The other end fell silent for three seconds. I could almost hear my own heartbeat. "How long?"

"22 hours."

"Location."

"The old place. Midnight."

The call ended. I leaned back in my seat, hands still trembling slightly.

I had just made the most dangerous deal of my life.

But if I was going to die, I would rather die on a battlefield of my choosing. Tomorrow's wedding would either be my funeral or Luca's.

I started the car, watching the bridal shop fade in the rearview mirror. As the sun set, the entire street was bathed in blood red.

The clock was ticking.

My phone buzzed—a message from Luca: [Baby, see you tomorrow. I love you.]

I stared at those words "I love you" and couldn't help but laugh.

Love? He loved Caterina. What he wanted was my life.

I replied with four words: [Love you too.]

Then I deleted all call records and turned off the phone.

Now everything depended on tonight's meeting. The Ghost—he was my only hope now.

Did he still remember that "old place"?

Would he come?

I gripped the steering wheel and drove toward the city center. The 22-hour countdown had begun.

And I, Isabella Corleone, would not go down without a fight. If Luca wanted my life, he could come and take it.