u/BBW_k1wigal

ANYONEEEE GOT A LINKKKK?? I’ll buy the whole book if i can I JUST WANT TO READ IT!!!
DONT TELL ME TO USE THE APP BECAUSE I CANNOT PUT UP WITH having to watch two a minute long ads

The one that comes here and it takes you to the dragon city web store. I’ve been missing it for ages and almost loose my streak everyday because of it. Thank god I suck at closing spam tabs

The new transfer student, Yvonne Campbell, showed up today looking ridiculously excited. "Angie, guess what? I'm dating someone!"

I took the phone she handed me.

But in the next second, I froze.

The guy in the photo was Matthew Ortega, my stepbrother.

The year I depended on him the most, I finally worked up the courage to tell him how I felt.

He shoved me away without hesitation, disgust written all over his face. He said coldly, "Don't call me Mattie anymore."

I was still stuck in that memory when my phone buzzed. Matthew, who I hadn't heard from in a long time, texted me, "Come home for dinner tonight. I have a girlfriend now. I'll introduce you."

I took a deep breath. For the first time, I turned him down. "I can't make it tonight."

***

It was the first time I'd ever seen Matthew reply instantly.

He sent a single question mark.

A few minutes later, a voice message came through.

"What's going on? You're not still into me, are you, my dear sister?"

His low voice came through the phone, flat and without any emotion, except at the very end.

The word "sister" was drawn out, heavy with deliberate mockery.

I knew exactly why he said it like that.

He wanted to shut me down.

He wanted to make sure I never crossed that line again.

All I could ever be to him was just his stepsister and nothing more.

I stared at the two voice messages on my screen.

My thumb hovered in midair, unable to tap the screen.

In the end, I typed, "Midterms are coming up. I don't have time to come back."

Matthew's reply came quickly, but his tone sounded distant. "Fine. It's better if you don't come back. It'll just be awkward for everyone if we run into each other."

My fingers dug into my palm.

A dull, spreading ache tightened in my chest.

Before I could think any further, Yvonne leaned over, pouting.

"Angie, are you even listening to me?"

I locked my phone and forced my voice to stay steady. "I am."

"Why didn't you congratulate me then?"

My hand, holding the pen, paused.

I spoke, my voice a little muffled, "Congratulations. I hope you two stay together."

That finally satisfied Yvonne. She was the kind of girl who wore her emotions on her face, happy but with that shy, fluttery energy one would see in teenage girls.

Just when I thought she'd drop it, she spoke again, "Hey, Angie. Didn't you use to have a crush on someone?"

She looked confused. "How come you don't talk about him anymore?"

"I don't like him anymore," I said softly.

Chapter 2

Yvonne just said, "Oh," and didn't ask anything else.

That night, the final bell rang.

I stood under a tree by the school gate.

My eyes drifted, almost against my will, to a black Maybach parked out front.

I recognized the license plate and the car.

But Matthew never came to pick me up.

Sure enough, Angelina, who was next to me, spotted him too.

She ran over and grabbed his arm, clinging to him.

Her voice carried even through the crowd. "Matthew! You finally came to get me!"

Matthew looked down at her.

Then, he reached out and ruffled her hair. He was gentle in a way I had never seen before.

That same hand had once rested on my head.

When I first moved into the Ortega's residence, I used to cling to Mom's sleeve, hiding behind her as I stole nervous glances at my tall and good-looking stepbrother.

Matthew noticed me watching and bent down slightly.

"Be good, Angie."

He had the warmest smile.

I got lost in it back then. That moment stretched into an eight-year crush.

Now, that kind of closeness belonged to someone else.

The thought made me take a small step back without realizing it.

I blended into the crowd, hoping he wouldn't notice me.

But it was like he sensed something. His gaze swept across the crowd and landed right on me.

Matthew's hand stilled.

Yvonne followed his line of sight and suddenly smacked her forehead. "Oh no, I forgot my desk partner doesn't have a ride!"

She jogged over to me. "Angie, it's Friday, and it's crowded. Want me to have Matthew give you a ride?"

I looked up and met Matthew's eyes.

I quickly looked away, like I couldn't handle meeting his eyes.

I was about to refuse when he spoke first. "Come with us."

I got into the car.

Yvonne sat in the front passenger seat.

She turned around and stuck her tongue out at me playfully. "Angie, we're not officially dating yet.

"He thinks I should focus on school first. You get it, right?"

I nodded.

She laughed as she continued, "So don't feel awkward. Honestly, though, being the third wheel is kind of awkward."

My fingers curled as I let out a quiet breath. "It's fine. Thanks for the ride."

Yvonne seemed to expect Matthew to respond.

But he didn't. The car fell silent for a few seconds.

She laughed it off. "It's nothing. You're way too polite."

She turned back around, then suddenly noticed the Jellycat potted plush on the passenger seat.

Her brows drew together. "Why is there a stuffed animal in here?

"Don't tell me some girl gave it to you. You don't seem like the type to like cute stuff."

My heart tightened all at once.

I had saved up my allowance to buy that for his birthday half a year ago.

I didn't know he actually kept it.

Chapter 3

For a moment, feelings I thought I'd buried surged back, my heart racing before I could stop it.

"How pathetic," I cursed myself for it.

Then, Matthew's cool voice cut in, "A relative's kid left it. It's nothing."

He glanced at me briefly, then looked away.

His lips parted slightly. "Just throw it out."

Yvonne hummed in approval. "That's more like it."

I clenched my fists and said nothing.

But a bitter smile slipped out anyway.

"What was I even hoping for?" I thought.

I went home.

The place Matthew rented for me was big, but I was the only one living there, and it felt so empty it echoed.

It wasn't always like that. At first, I lived with him. Everything changed the night he rejected me.

That same night, he called Mom. His voice was calm, but it made my whole body go cold. He said he'd find me a new place.

I panicked. "Mattie, please don't make me leave...

"I won't like you anymore. Just don't send me away..."

When I was little, Mom was often gone. Someone once broke into our house, and I almost got hurt. After that, I couldn't stand living alone.

Matthew stood in the doorway, watching me with a cold, distant look. There wasn't a trace of warmth in his eyes.

"I told you not to call me that. It makes me sick."

When Mom asked why, he gave me the last bit of dignity he could.

"Angelina's grown up. It's not appropriate for us to live together."

***

In the end, I was still sent away.

I lived alone, went to school alone, and came home alone. I cried more times than I could count.

And whatever I thought I had with him disappeared too.

That was when I finally understood. I had always been on my own.

Chapter 4

Over the weekend, Matthew's father, Denzel Ortega, got back from a business trip and said we should all have dinner together.

I went back home.

To be exact, it wasn't my home. It was Matthew's place.

After dinner, I went to the bathroom.

When I came back out, I saw Matthew standing outside my room.

He had his arms crossed, his eyes cold enough to cut.

My breath caught.

My heartbeat pounded so hard it felt like it might burst out of my chest.

I kept telling myself over and over, "Get a grip. Stop humiliating yourself. Stop hoping he might feel something for you."

But it wasn't that simple.

My back went stiff with tension.

My palms were damp with sweat.

Matthew looked at me like that and let out a soft laugh.

"I knew it. Angelina, do you really think this is funny?"

He tossed the book in his hand onto the floor and stepped on it.

"Do you like me that much? Even knowing I like someone else, you're still this hung up on me?"

I shook my head. "No. That book isn't mine."

Yvonne's parents were strict, so she didn't dare bring novels to class. She begged me to hold onto it for a few days, and I gave in.

My gaze dropped, and I caught the title of the book on the floor—"My Brother Broke the Bed."

I let out a soft sigh.

Matthew definitely misunderstood.

I wanted to explain.

But then, I thought about it and almost laughed.

Even if I did, he wouldn't believe me anyway.

I took a breath and turned to leave. "Think whatever you want."

That night, I didn't stay. I went back to my place instead.

A new week started.

Even though Yvonne said they weren't officially dating, she had been posting her writing on Instagram every day.

Her posts blew up.

She gained 30 thousand followers in just one week.

She was thrilled. Even while I was working through a test paper, she couldn't help but share.

"Angie, listen to this.

"Last week I asked Matthew if calling me cute meant he liked me, and he said yes!"

My grip on the pen faltered for a second.

I stared at the page. It was full of questions, but I couldn't process a single word.

Yvonne's face turned red as she let out a little scream, "I only have one thought right now!"

"What?" I asked.

"Older guys are the best!"

I forced a small smile.

I didn't expect the math teacher, Benjamin Mendoza, to hear it.

He slammed his hand on the desk, his expression darkening.

"Yvonne, get up here!

"What is all this talk about love? Are you dating someone?"

Chapter 5

Benjamin found the novel in Yvonne's desk.

She stood in the office, eyes red, on the verge of tears. "I swear, I'm not dating anyone!"

The English teacher, Meredith Kirkland, liked Yvonne. She glanced at the title.

It was even more suggestive than the last one.

She sighed, clearly disappointed. "Yvonne, call your parents."

I didn't expect the person she called to be Matthew.

He walked in wearing a black coat that made him look distant and untouchable.

He gave Meredith a slight nod, polite but detached.

Not once did his eyes land on me.

I stood beside Yvonne.

My fingertips were cold. I barely dared to breathe, let alone look at him.

When Matthew apologized to Meredith, there was nothing to criticize about his tone or attitude.

I was sneaking a glance at him when Yvonne tugged on my sleeve.

"Angie, I need a favor. If Matthew asks later, just say the book is yours..."

I frowned. "Why should I?"

Before I could say more, he had already walked over.

At some point, Meredith had stepped out. The office was now empty except for the three of us.

I turned to leave, but a cold voice stopped me. "Stop right there."

I froze.

Only then did Matthew look at me. His gaze was sharp, assessing, carrying a chill from above.

"Is this your book?" he asked.

I was about to shake my head, but Yvonne spoke first, her voice firm and without hesitation. "It's Angelina's. She lent it to me!"

I froze as a wave of helplessness hit me, like I'd been shoved into something I couldn't get out of.

"That's yours," I said, looking at her, my voice tight. "Why are you lying?"

Matthew let out a short laugh, but it didn't reach his eyes. It was cold.

"You're the one lying," he said, looking straight at me. "If you don't want to study, fine, but don't drag other people down with you."

I swayed slightly, like someone had dumped a bucket of ice water over my head.

I was his sister, even if only by marriage.

But he would rather believe someone else than me.

Was it just because he liked Yvonne more? Enough to ignore what was right or wrong, not even bother finding out the truth, and still decide I was at fault?

The whole thing suddenly felt ridiculous.

It was so ridiculous that I didn't even have the energy to explain.

My eyes burned, and I bit down hard on my lip, forcing the sting back.

I pushed the door open and ran out of the office.

"Matthew, I'm done liking you," I thought.

But the moment that thought hit me, my eyes stung and started to tear up anyway.

"How pathetic," I muttered to myself.

I didn't want to go back to class.

I didn't want anyone to see me like this.

Before I realized it, I had made my way up to the rooftop.

I crouched down and buried my face in my knees.

The tears finally broke through.

I didn't know how long I stayed like that.

Then a familiar voice sounded above me. "Angelina?"

My whole body stiffened.

"Why are you up here crying by yourself?"

Chapter 6

I quickly wiped at my tears with the back of my hand.

It wasn't Matthew.

I slowly looked up. Through my blurred vision, I saw a clean, familiar face.

It was Jeffrey Reyes, the older guy from next door.

I'd heard that a top student would be returning to give a speech at the senior ceremony. I didn't expect it to be him.

"I'm not crying," I said, sniffling.

But my voice was hoarse, like it had been scraped raw. It wasn't convincing at all.

Jeffrey didn't call me out.

He just shifted slightly, blocking the wind blowing in from the rooftop door.

"It's windy up here. If you stay too long, you'll catch a cold."

He paused, his gaze landing briefly on the damp patch on my uniform pants where my tears had soaked through.

Then, he looked away just as quickly. He didn't stare or ask any questions.

"The speech doesn't start for another hour.

"If you don't want to go back to class, you can sit backstage in the auditorium. It's warm there, and you won't have to deal with anyone."

Jeffrey's voice was calm, but gentle.

I froze.

I opened my mouth, wanting to say something, but my throat felt tight, like something was stuck there.

"Thank you."

That was all I managed, barely above a whisper.

The way he said "you won't have to deal with anyone" hit exactly where I was weakest.

Still, in the end, I didn't go with him.

I washed my face in the bathroom and went back to class alone.

I told myself this wasn't my fault. If anyone should feel ashamed or avoid people, it should be them.

When I got back, Yvonne was sitting at her desk.

She was looking into a small mirror, acting as if nothing had happened.

She didn't ask where I'd gone. She didn't care about my red, swollen eyes.

She just snapped the mirror shut, turned around, and started talking to the guy in front of me, Caleb Vazquez, the guy I hated most in class.

He would whistle when the English teacher wore a skirt.

He'd joke around with the other guys, rating girls' bodies like it was nothing.

He would often speak in a sleazy tone that made one's skin crawl, throwing out crude, inappropriate comments about girls.

I lowered my head and kept working on the physics test we had just been given.

Suddenly, Yvonne snatched my pen.

"Angelina! You did that on purpose, didn't you? You come back to class and don't even apologize, and now you're acting like I don't exist?

"I only asked you for a small favor. Why couldn't you help me?"

Her voice kept getting sharper. People around us started to look over.

"And I thought you were my best friend!"

Chapter 7

My expression turned cold.

"You're the one who lied and tried to dump it on me. Why should I apologize to you?"

Yvonne froze for a second. She opened her mouth, but nothing came out.

She would probably never understand what that "small favor" meant to me.

When she messed up, Matthew was there to cover for her.

All she had to do was act cute, shed a few tears, and everything would blow over.

But I wasn't like her.

I didn't have a brother anymore. No one had my back.

I only had myself.

I took a deep breath.

When I looked up again, my gaze was steady.

"Yvonne, we're not best friends anymore.

"Ask someone else for help."

From that day on, we were done.

Yvonne stopped talking to me, and I didn't talk to her.

Friday came quickly.

The classroom was buzzing. Everyone was excited, talking about the coming-of-age ceremony next Monday.

Our homeroom teacher announced it during the last period.

"Next Monday at 9:00 a.m., in the gym. Everyone needs to be in formal attire. Guys wear suits, girls wear dresses, and make sure you look presentable!"

The room erupted.

Yvonne turned around out of habit, like she was about to say something to me.

But the moment our eyes met, she turned away.

I paused, my pen hovering over the page.

In the end, I didn't look up.

The coming-of-age ceremony.

The words circled in my head, but when they settled, they didn't stir anything.

18 didn't feel special. There was no excitement and nothing to look forward to.

After class, I spotted that black Maybach parked in its usual spot. Matthew was leaning against the car door.

I looked away. I had already learned not to look in that direction.

"Angelina."

Someone tapped my shoulder from behind.

Jeffrey stood there in a white shirt and black slacks, holding a paper bag.

When he saw me, he smiled slightly and gave a small wave.

"Finished rehearsal?" I asked.

He nodded and handed me the bag. "For you."

I glanced down and saw the logo of the new bakery near school.

"I walked past when they had fresh croissants out of the oven. Figured you probably hadn't eaten yet."

The bag was still warm.

When I took it, my fingers brushed his.

He pulled his hand back right away, subtle and careful, like he didn't want to make me uncomfortable.

"Thanks, Jeff."

When he heard me call him that, the tips of his ears turned slightly red. He dropped his gaze, but his smile deepened.

"Come on. Let's head home together."

I took a bite of the croissant and nodded. "Okay."

I didn't look back, so I didn't see the car door behind me open and close.

Matthew, who had been leaning against it, straightened up, crushing his cigarette into the trash.

His eyes stayed on me as I walked away, following me until Jeffrey and I turned the corner and disappeared into the evening light.

Chapter 8

"Didn't she leave school with you?" Matthew's voice came from the front seat of the Maybach.

Yvonne was scrolling on her phone. She paused for a second. "Who?"

She asked it casually, then quickly realized who he meant.

Her expression shifted in an instant.

Her brows knit slightly, and the corners of her mouth turned down.

She forced herself not to roll her eyes, but there was still a hint of irritation in her voice. "Why are you bringing her up, Matthew?"

Matthew didn't respond.

The car fell quiet for a few seconds.

Yvonne quickly backtracked. "My desk partner left with some guy."

She let out a careless little huff. "Who knows what she's doing out that late?"

In the rearview mirror, Matthew's gaze lifted. "Some guy?"

There was no clear emotion in his voice. He just repeated the words.

"Is she dating someone?" he asked.

Yvonne hesitated, then laughed. "Oh, I was kidding."

She waved her hand quickly, her tone light, like it didn't matter at all.

"It's actually her brother."

She thought that would be the end of it.

But in the rearview mirror, Matthew's expression darkened.

It wasn't his usual distant indifference, but something heavier one could see right away.

His jaw tightened, his lips pressed into a thin line, and even his grip on the steering wheel grew tense.

Yvonne froze, confused about why Matthew had suddenly gotten upset.

Did she say something wrong?

"What do you mean?" Matthew's voice dropped low, heavy like the air before a storm.

"Does Angelina have another brother?"

I also have HEE and HTS available

Chapter 1

Eight months pregnant, I went to Roland’s office to deliver pack territory documents. The office was a sweltering 115°F. The AC for the wing was broken. I was already lightheaded, my swollen ankles aching with every step. I reached for the backup cooling switch when his beta, Kallie, stepped in front of me. “Oh, Lyra, I’m on my period right now and I get really cold easily. Could you maybe not turn that on?” I stared at her. Pregnant she-wolves overheat dangerously fast. Everyone in the pack knew that. Our core temperatures run higher than humans, and in the third trimester, heatstroke can kill both mother and pup in under an hour. I flipped the switch anyway. That evening, Roland stormed through the door. “Thirty-eight minutes and nineteen seconds of cold air,” he snarled. “Kallie’s been in the ICU for hours because of you.” “Are you serious right now, Roland?” I struggled to my feet, one hand pressed against my lower back. “You think I don’t know how periods work? If I’d gotten heatstroke, that would’ve been two deaths, not one.” Roland gave me a tight smile. “Yeah,” he said quietly. “You’re right. My bad.” He held me until I fell asleep that night, his arm around my belly and breath warm against my neck. When I woke up, I was inside a glass freezer unit. A crowd of pack warriors and their friends stood outside, laughing and pointing through the glass like I was entertainment instead of carrying the future Alpha heir. Roland stood center, his arm wrapped around Kallie’s tiny waist. She shivered theatrically in his oversized hoodie, eyes wide and innocent while they both grinned. “Afraid of heatstroke?” Roland called out. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. We’re gonna make sure you stay nice and cool.” My stomach dropped, but I kept my face calm. I pulled out my phone - still tucked in my dress pocket - and snapped photos of every face watching me. Then I dialed. “Father? I want to destroy them all.” The line went dead. Everyone outside stared for a second before bursting out laughing. “Lyra, your father got torn apart by rogues six months ago! Did the cold freeze what’s left of your brain?” “Yeah, right! Still playing Lycan Princess? Girl, even your dreams aren’t that delusional!” Roland’s eyes lit up with satisfaction as his pack members mocked me. He wrapped his jacket around Kallie’s shoulders, pulled her close, and strolled over to the glass containment unit. He tapped the glass in front of my face. “Getting chilly in there, Lyra? Ready to apologize?” The digital display showed they’d cranked the temperature down to -58°F. I shook violently in my thin nightgown, my skin turning blue and numb against the frozen floor. Every breath felt like claws raking through my lungs. My wolf was too weak from the pregnancy to surface and warm me. I stumbled to the glass and pounded on it. “What did I even do wrong?! I turned on the cooling for thirty minutes when it was scorching! Pregnant she-wolves overheat - if I’d passed out, my pup and I could’ve died!” The rage sent a sharp cramp through my belly. I doubled over, clutching my swollen stomach. “Let me out, Roland! You know what we went through for this pup - I can’t lose him!” Something flickered in his expression. He knew exactly what this pregnancy had cost me. An old hunting injury had left Roland nearly sterile. I’d spent eight years consulting healers, drinking foul tonics, and undergoing brutal procedures just to conceive a single pup. This baby was everything. He’d once shattered a servant’s arm because the bathwater was lukewarm. Now he was freezing his own mate over Kallie’s cramps. I opened my mouth to say more, but Kallie suddenly threw off the fur coat, tears streaming down her face. “Roland, just let her out. She’s not tough like me - she can’t endure this. I’m used to hardship, you know? Growing up an omega, I’d shiver through cold nights and never once complain…” Endure? I’d had the cooling on for thirty damn minutes. When I’d left his office earlier, she’d been texting pack members about bar-hopping. I opened my mouth to expose her lies, but Roland’s face darkened. “Someone get in there and strip her! She thinks she’s fragile? Let her find out what real suffering is!” He snatched up the coat and wrapped it around Kallie as if she were spun glass, then fixed me with a glare full of hatred. “You stay in there until you admit you were wrong! The pack healer said the pup is perfectly healthy - don’t you dare use him as an excuse!” Then he scooped Kallie into his arms, his voice turning soft. “Baby, you can’t get cold during your cycle. Just stay right here in my arms.”

Chapter 2

Roland had barely settled onto the couch with Kallie curled against his chest when several pack warriors walked toward me, grinning. I grabbed my torn nightgown and backed into the corner, but there was nothing I could do against five wolf-shifters. Riiiiip… The flimsy fabric split down the middle. Freezing air hit every inch of my skin. They yanked off what was left of my clothes, laughing the whole time. When they walked out, they grinned at Roland. “Damn, Alpha. Your Luna’s got a killer body.” “Thanks for letting us help out.” I curled up in only my bra and panties. My bare skin stuck to the frozen floor, and every time I shifted, chunks of flesh tore away. Blood streamed across the white floor while my wolf whimpered weakly inside me. Roland saw it. He set Kallie aside and stared at the blood dripping toward his boots, his jaw tightening for a second like he might stop this. Then Kallie rushed over and pressed her hand to the glass where my blood smeared across it. “Lyra, just apologize. His pack brothers are watching. He can’t be embarrassed in front of them.” I glared through the frost-covered glass. “Apologize for what? You looked pretty damn happy when I turned on that AC. You were texting your friends about - ” Roland shot Kallie a sharp look, doubt flickering across his face. Before I could finish, Kallie smacked herself across the face and dropped to her knees. “Roland!” She grabbed his hand, shaking. “I can’t stand seeing her like this. If she won’t apologize, I’ll kneel out here until she does.” The second her knees hit the ground, every trace of doubt vanished from his face. He yanked her up and looked at me like I was dirt beneath his shoe. “Lyra, you’re so fucking spoiled. Kallie’s put up with your attitude for years. Everyone knows you’re wrong, and she’s still willing to suffer just to save me from embarrassment.” His voice turned cold. “You don’t deserve her.” He straightened. “Time to teach you some real pack discipline. You’re not coming out until you apologize.” He waved at his warriors. “Get ice blocks. Surround her. Pour water over everything. Let her freeze into it.” One of the she-wolves tugged his sleeve. “Roland, ice and water together… that’s like cement. It’ll bond to her skin. If she moves, it’ll rip the flesh clean off. She’s about to give birth. The pack healer said - ” Roland’s hand stopped mid-wave. He was actually thinking. Then Kallie made a soft sound behind him. “Roland… the ICU really wasn’t that bad.” Something inside him snapped shut, his face turning cold. “Do exactly what I told you.” His Alpha command cracked through the room. “Now.”

Chapter 3

Kallie looked like she wanted to argue more, but Roland waved her off. “This is nothing compared to what Kallie went through. I’ve got a pack medic outside. What could possibly happen?” After that, Kallie shut up fast. Under Roland’s command, the warriors came back carrying ice blocks. One grabbed me by the hair while the others packed ice around me. Then someone dumped freezing water over my head. My skin bonded to the ice instantly, like my flesh had fused with the frozen floor. The cold shot through my pores, into my bones and wolf. She barely stirred anymore, curling deeper inside me to survive. I’d been trapped in that freezer for at least five hours. My arms and legs had already turned black and purple with frostbite. I tried shifting my body to keep my belly off the ice, but every movement ripped away more skin. The pup’s kicks were getting weaker. I kept shifting, trying to keep my belly warm and him alive. The ice beneath me turned crimson as I struggled into a better position. Even the jerks outside fell silent. I screamed at Roland through the blood-streaked glass. “Roland! If anything happens to this pup, you killed your own son! I’ll curse your bloodline until your last breath!” Roland didn’t look so confident anymore. He stepped closer, squinting through the blood streaks. Then someone suddenly shouted, “Roland! My father says there’s a plane on the Lambert bloodline’s private airstrip!” Roland’s face went sheet white. He punched the glass so hard it vibrated. “What the fuck are you trying to pull, Lyra?! You think you can keep using your dead bloodline to threaten me?!” Before I could answer, Kallie rushed over and rubbed slow circles across his back. She looked at me with wounded, accusatory eyes. “Why are you doing this to him? You know how much shit he took when your father was alive. Now that he’s dead and your bloodline is broken, what’s the point of this act?” She took Roland’s hand, her voice softening. “Just let her out, baby. What if something really happens to the pup? Then we’d be the monsters. She’s never seen us as anything but trash anyway.” That only made Roland angrier. He swore under his breath and yelled at the warrior near the controls. “Crank it down to -148! Do it now!” Nobody dared argue. The display flickered to -148°F. Bone-crushing cold blasted from the vents above me. I shook so violently I couldn’t speak anymore. My jaw locked. My wolf went silent. Then, through the fog in my head, I felt it. A sharp pain deep in my belly. I forced myself to look down. Bright red blood poured out of me, steaming and hissing against the frozen floor. The heat melted the ice around my thighs, carving red rivers through the frost. That’s when I understood what was happening. I clutched my belly and screamed. “Roland! Let me out! Right now! The pup - please - save our pup!” Roland had been staring at me with rage, but when he saw the blood pooling past his boots, his face collapsed. He grabbed the warrior beside him. “Get the goddamn key! The pack healer said this would be fine! How the hell is this happening?!”

*‘Dear mom, dad and Elder.
I love you all so much and I know you love me. That is why I need to leave. I can’t let you destroy your friendships and standing in the pack for me. Know that I see how much you love me by your actions and know that I will always carry that knowledge in my heart and honour it.
Please don’t be angry with the Alpha family, please don’t destroy something that is so important to all of you. I will leave so I can find a new life and so you can live yours as it was intended. Please don’t try to find me, you have raised me well and I will be fine. I love you always.
With Love.
//A’*
I left the note on my bed with my set of house keys. Then I made my way downstairs and took a storm kitchen and a tent out of our storage. Making sure everything I needed was in the glove department in the car, I took a last look at the house that had been my home for eighteen years and I drove off.

Chapter 4
I looked in the rear-view mirror and saw how exhausted and sad I looked. I tried to brighten up as I got close to the pack border. The wolves manning the booth knew my car by sight and just gave me a little wave as I drove by. No doubt they had seen or heard what had happened, I thought. Usually when I left the pack territory I got a feeling of longing. It was a physical reaction that let you know you were leaving your pack. This time, I felt lighter as the miles between me and the pack steadily increased. I headed into the closest town that had everything I needed. First stop was the bank. I was eighteen now and I withdrew all my savings I had earned from working in the pack’s sawmill, all the birthday money I had saved over the years and, with a heavy heart, the savings account my parents had started when I was born. All in all it gave me a good sum of money. Enough to let me stay on the road for as long as I had planned and still have some over for a clean start somewhere else. The next stop was the car dealership. The car I had was a gift from my parents when I got my driver licence. It was a little over a year old and had rarely been driven. But it was an electric car, not ideal for long, cross country road trips. I traded it in for a Volvo that was a little older, but looked to be in good condition. I transferred all my belongings into my new car and got back on the road. I wasn’t trying to hide, or to disappear, but on the other hand I wasn’t going to announce to the world where I was going either. That could be because I had no clue. My plan was to get as far away from Verginia as I could.

I had been driving for most of the day and I felt the exhaustion in my bones. I hadn’t slept since the previous night and I knew I would soon be a danger to myself and others on the road. I found a small gravel road leading into a dead end in the middle of a dense forest. I stopped there, warmed a can of soup and forced myself to eat it even though I had no appetite. I then shut myself in the car, made myself as comfortable as I possibly could with my blanket wrapped around me. My family would have found the note hours ago, and I wondered what they were doing. I cried myself to sleep.
The days were all the same. I drove as far as I could. I stopped to get gas, food and use the bathroom. Once in a while, I slept in cheap motels so I could shower. But most of the time, I slept in my car or outside under the stars. The only thing changing in my routine was the landscape outside the car. From lush forests to grasslands, to desserts and finally I found myself on the other side of the country. I parked my car by the side of the road and stepped out, ending up in the middle of a grass field of flowers. On the other end of the field there was a dense forest, and far in the distance tall mountains stretched up towards a summer blue sky. I drew in a deep breath and some of the tension I had carried with me for almost two weeks left me. Somewhere along the way, I had come up with a goal: Oregon. There was only one pack in the state and they had their territory on the border to Nevada. If I stayed in the northern parts of the state, I would most likely never run into a werewolf. I was going lone wolf. It was the best thing for someone like me, I had decided. Since I didn’t have a wolf, I had no urge to shift. I could blend into the human society without too much trouble. That would also minimise the risk of running into other wolves. They tended to keep away from humans if at all possible. I needed to find a job and some place to live, preferably before winter. But that gave me at least two months. I could do it. It would get my mind off the throbbing ache in my chest. It wasn’t as sharp of a pain as it had been the first couple of days, but it didn’t go away. It was just a constant reminder of what I had lost and why I now needed to prepare for a life as a lone wolf. A lone wolf was not the same as a rogue. The werewolf society had shunned a rouge. Often because of a crime they had committed. A rogue could be killed by anyone, anytime. A lone wolf was a werewolf who had decided not to live in a pack. They still lived by the laws of the werewolf world and if they came across other wolves, they respected the built in hierarchy. It was just as bad to kill a lone wolf without cause as a member of a pack. But finding someone who cared enough to call someone out for doing it, on the other hand, would be difficult. A lone wolf could also re-enter the pack life without permissions from anyone other than the pack that accepted them in. A rogue could only become a member of a pack if they had the permission from the council or from the pack that made them rogue. I took out my new phone, I had sent my old phone back to my parents as it was on their plan. Now I had a new, cheaper one with a prepaid SIM-card. I pulled up a map of the state and started scrolling over it. I decided to head north-west and see where it would take me.
Two days later it took me into a sleepy little town. It looked to be the backdrop for one of those Hallmark-movies my mother loved. The main street was lined with two-story buildings with shops on the bottom floor. The town was located where the plains met the forest and had the towering mountains in the background. The air was clear and the town seemed filled with happiness and joy. This was a place where I could heal, I thought. As if faith and the gods agreed with me, I saw a sign for help wanted in the window of the local diner. I walked inside and could smell the mouthwatering combination of the different traditional diner meals.
“Hey miss, can I get you something?” an older lady asked me as I got close to the counter.
“Hi, yes, I saw the sign in the window and wondered if you are still looking for someone?” I asked. The woman stopped what she was doing and looked at me.
“Are you over eighteen?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Run away from home?”
“No ma’am,” I lied.
“Graduated high school?” she asked. This wasn’t going the way I had hoped.
“No, ma’am. But not far off. There was this thing that happened and my family…,” I stopped talking and looked down at my hands.
“I’m sorry dear,” she said with a heavy sigh, and I realised she had got the wrong impression. But I didn’t correct her. “I’ll give you a trial period of a month. If it works out, I’ll give you permanent employment. But, if you work here I want you to study for a GED. That’s not negotiable,” she said.
“Yes, ma’am. Thank you. I will make sure to work and study hard,” I told her. She chuckled.
“That’s good dear. Call me Mrs Jones, everyone around here does. What is your name?” she asked.
“I’m Amie Sage, nice to meet you,” I said, using my nickname and my mother’s maiden name.
“Well Amie, if you are planning on sticking around, do you have a place to live?” she asked.
“Not yet. I saw a motel on the outskirts of the town. I was thinking of staying there until I found something.”
“Don’t do that. It’s not in the best condition. Tell you what. My sister owns the bakery a couple of houses down. She owns the apartment on top of it as well. Her last tenant just moved out because she got married and my sister hasn’t been able to find anyone new to rent to yet. How about the two of us walk over and I’ll introduce the two of you,” Mrs Jones said.
“Thank you. That is so nice of you,” I said. This was turning out better than I expected.
Two days later, I was moving into the apartment. It didn’t have much in the ways of furniture. But Mrs Andresen, Mrs Jones’ sister, gave me a tip on two good second hand stores in the area. I had started my job as a waitress in the diner the day before. Everyone has been so nice to me. It almost felt like being part of a new pack. The diner mostly had local guests, patrons that came in regularly to order the same food and to exchange gossip. Mrs Jones explained they got tourists during peak season. It was everything I had dreamed of and needed.

Chapter 5
**Four years later.**

I walked into the backdoor of the bakery, put down the two bags of flour and got a kiss on the cheek from Mrs Andersen.
“Thank you, Amie. I don’t know what I would do without you,” she happily told me.
“I’m happy to help,” I said, and it was the truth. The two sisters had been good to me these past four years. They had helped me feel at home in the small town, introduced me to all the right people, according to them, and made sure I got out of my apartment for other things than my work. In return, I gladly offered them a hand with some of the heavier work. The sisters were getting older, and I felt bad for them working so hard. My strength was nowhere near that of a full werewolf, but I was stronger than the average human. I had made peace with being a latent wolf; a werewolf who didn’t have a wolf, or where the wolf was so weak, it didn’t manifest. It made it easier for me to live amongst humans.
“I have a treat for you on the counter over there,” Mrs Anderson told me.
“You didn’t have to, thank you,” I said before I sank my teeth into a still lukewarm danish and sighed with joy.
“Seeing you eat my pastries is a delight,” the older woman said with a warm smile. We did this every morning. I would bring her the flour from the storage, she would give me a treat and some of her amazing coffee and I insisted she didn’t need to, and she insisted she did.
“I have the lunch shift so I’ll be back before it gets dark,” I told her as I left, holding the to-go cup of coffee.
“Have a nice day dear, and maybe say yes if Jessie asks you out again?” I heard before the door shut behind me. Jessie was the town’s most desirable bachelor, not that it said much in this town. But he had been the highschool football star. He was good looking, hardworking, owned his own farm that actually made a profit and was, overall, a decent guy. Jessie had tried hitting on me since I arrived four years ago, but unlike the local women, I turned him down. Not just the first time, but every time since. It had become a running joke in town, and I knew people were placing bets on when I would finally give in. The thing with Jessie was that he never took offense at me turning him down. He joked about it just as much as anyone else and over the years, we had become good friends. As I walked into the diner, I was greeted by Rich, the cook, and Mrs Jones. I emptied the last coffee from my cup, careful not to spill anything on my mint-green uniform.
“CeCe is marrying the ketchups. Could you start with the napkins?” Mrs Jones asked.
“Sure thing,” I said as I walked out into the front part of the diner to greet my other friend. Yes, during my time in this town, I had only made two real friends. But that was two more than I had expected. CeCe was a year older than me and more upbeat than I had ever been. Usually there was only one waitress needed at the time in the diner. But it was tourist season, which meant we would be two. It also meant we had to take in a third, temporary, waitress as CeCe and I couldn’t cover all shifts. It sucked as this year we were stuck with Dara. Dara wasn’t a bad kid, she was just clumsy, unfocused and lived more in her own head than out in the real world. To be honest, she usually caused more work than she helped. But Mrs Jones said Dara needed to get out of the house and into the real world. She had a thing for rescuing people, like some old women rescued stray cats, Mrs Jones rescued stray people. I couldn’t object as she had rescued me. She had rescued CeCe as well, but in a different kind of way. We were both loyal to the old woman, so we didn’t object to having Dara in the diner.
“Am I happy to see you,” CeCe said as I walked up to her. We hugged and got back to work.
“How was your trip?” she asked as we got going.
“It was fine,” I said. It had been my day off yesterday and I had told everyone I was going to go away for the day, sightseeing and relaxing. What I was really doing was driving as far away as I could possibly get and still make it back home to my shift today. It was my mother’s birthday in a couple of days and that meant I sent a postcard to her. I usually just said I was doing well and I hoped she had a good birthday. I did the same for my father’s and brother’s birthdays, as well as for the end of the lunar cycle. It’s like Christmas and new years all wrapped into one for werewolves. I drove to remote towns so the postage couldn’t be traced back to where I lived. I didn’t know if I was being kind or cruel by sending the four postcards every year. I just wanted them to know I was okay. They didn’t need to worry. And I was okay. Life was maybe not perfect, but it was okay. The dull ache was still there in the pit of my stomach, but it had stopped hurting. Or maybe I had got used to the pain. Either way, it didn’t bother me as much now as it had in the beginning. It was a reminder that I was alive, I was a survivor and a fighter. I had built my life from scratch and I was proud of what I had, even if it wasn’t much.
“Have you seen the hunk who just sat down at your table?” CeCe asked me. We were in the middle of the lunch rush and the diner was full of both locals and tourists. I glanced over at the table I knew she had to be referring to, as it had been the only free one in my section. My body froze as I saw him. He was a werewolf, all my senses told me that much, and to add insult to injury, he was an Alpha. My mouth got dry and my legs refused to move.
“CeCe, could you do me the favour and take that table for me? I can take two, or three of yours in return. I’ll even trade you the one with the four children,” I asked. I heard the desperation in my voice.
“Are you sure, Amie? Have you seen him? Yummy,” she said.
“All yours,” I said. She wasn’t wrong. The Alpha looked like most Alphas, big strong, self-confident. Pair it with blond hair that looked to have a will of its own in a playful way and deep blue eyes and you had yummy. But Alphas were trouble, especially for me. He was the first wolf I had run into since leaving the pack and I didn’t want to bring any more attention to myself than necessary. I knew he already knew what I was. If I could detect him in a room full of humans. He, with his fully developed Alpha senses, would have no problem noticing me. CeCe walked over to him and took his order. I saw her flirt with him and he smiled politely back at her. I tried my best to ignore him and keep my distance. It was hard since he sat in my section of the diner, but I think I did a good job. When he paid and left, I felt relieved, he hadn’t tried to speak to me.
“You missed out on that one. Handsome, nice without being creepy and a great tipper,” CeCe said. “Want me to split the tip?” she then asked. I shook my head. She had earned it and even if the family with four children hadn’t left a huge tip, they hadn’t been skimpy either. I would gladly sacrifice the tip to avoid him. The rest of the day, I was on high alert. I was jumpy and kept checking to make sure the unknown Alpha wasn’t anywhere near me.
“Are you okay, dear?” Mrs Jones asked as I was getting ready to leave.
“I’m fine, but thank you for checking,” I told her.
“You seem a little… I don’t know,” she said.
“Skittish,” Rich helped.
“Yes, that is the right word,” she agreed.
“I’m fine, just didn’t get enough sleep last night. I was going to go home and take a nap. I’m sure that will make it better,” I lied. It gave me an excuse for staying home.
“Oh, poor dear. You do that. Do you want me to send Dara over with some dinner?” Mrs Jones asked. She really was a wonderful woman.
“No thank you, Mrs Jones. I appreciate it, but I was looking forward to the dinner I was planning to cook,” I told her. So many lies in one day, I would get a stomach ache if I continued like this.
“Well then, run along and call me if you need anything.”
“Thank you, Mrs Jones,” I said and gave her a hug. I hurried home and closed the door behind me. No Alpha. I was safe and he would leave town and everything would go back to normal.

Not too shabby considering I joined back after like 16 years back in September ‘25 💪💪

Rebirth: Becoming the Mafia Princess I Never Wanted to Be

In my previous life, I was adopted by a regular family. My younger sister, Regina Capasso, was taken in by a mafia Don, resulting in her becoming the principessa of Etalia's most powerful mafia family.

Unexpectedly, Regina is cast out by the Don in her third year of getting adopted. She was forced to roam the streets as a homeless person till the day she died a terrible death.

I, on the other hand, got into a prestigious university thanks to my good grades. Then, I furthered my studies with my adoptive older brother, Dario Bivona. With hard work, I eventually became the rising star of the AI industry who was sought out by all.

With my adoptive parents' blessings, Dario and I ended up getting married and having our own children. My life was filled with peace and happiness.

After we're given a second chance at the same life, Regina makes an entirely different decision.

She rushes into Dario's arms and starts calling him by his name sweetly. Then, she takes my ex-parents' hands while gazing at me gloatingly.

"You should have a taste of what it feels like to be a principessa, Livia. I seriously can't endure another second in that cruel, unforgiving family!"

I look at Dario expectantly, hoping that he'll say something in my defense. But he shields Regina behind him while glaring at me icily.

"Stay away from my sister."

In the end, I slowly make my way toward the Rolls-Royce as Regina continues to look at me smugly.

Chapter 1

During the adoption in my last life, my younger sister, Regina Capasso, was the first to choose the mafia Don. But three years later, she was kicked out of the family and tragically died on the streets.

Meanwhile, I rose to fame in the AI industry, married my adoptive brother, Dario Bivona, and lived a happy life.

Now, given a second chance, Regina jumped right into Dario's arms.

It turned out that she was also reborn.

She threw herself into Dario's arms and called his name in a sweet voice. Holding her adoptive parents' hands, she cast a smug glance at me. "Livia, you can take the role of the mafia Principessa. I'm not cut out for that life."

I looked at Dario, my husband in my last life, expecting him to say something, but instead, he shielded Regina like a prized possession. His cold gaze turned to me. "Stay away from my sister."

Dario had no memories of his last life. To him, I was just a stranger.

In the end, I walked toward the Rolls-Royce under Regina's triumphant gaze.

In our last life, when we had to choose, Regina had eagerly hopped into the Rolls-Royce.

She had turned around and said to me, smiling, "Livia, go live the tough life. I'm still young. I can't live that kind of life. You'll suffer for me, right?"

Regina got her dream life as the mafia Principessa, but her expression grew darker with every passing day.

This time, without hesitation, she made the opposite choice.

That confirmed my suspicions. She, too, had been reborn.

When the Vicino family came to pick me up, there was only a butler and a driver.

"Signorina, shall we go?"

The butler, sitting in the front seat, silently observed me through the rearview mirror.

About ten minutes into the drive, he passed me a file. "I'm the Vicino family's butler, Sabele Recchio. Here are some things to keep in mind when you get to Vicino Estate. There's still some distance to go, so take a look.

"The mafia is all about rules, so be careful not to step out of line. Don and Donna Vicino are good people. While their son may have a bit of a temper, he's loyal and caring."

"Va bene. I'll keep that in mind," I replied.

Sabele smiled at my reply.

The car soon arrived at Vicino Estate. When we stopped, Sabele's voice came from the front seat. "Signorina, did you remember everything?"

"Sì, I did."

I followed Sabele into the luxurious mansion, which looked like a palace.

"Don Vicino, she's here," Sabele called out.

A tall man holding a cup of coffee turned from the floor-to-ceiling window. His gaze swept over me, taking me in. His deep voice rang out as he sat down on the couch, waving me over. "Come here. What's your name?"

"Livia."

He nodded. "No need to change your name. Just take the Vicino surname. From now on, you'll be our Principessa."

He looked at me with approval, clearly pleased with my composure.

"I'm your papa, Alano Vicino. From now on, this is your home."

He gestured to the beautiful woman by his side. "This is your mamma, Imelda Totino. If you need anything, just tell her. Don't be shy."

"Va bene. Grazie, Papa, Mamma," I replied, smiling.

I followed Sabele up the stairs.

The walls were adorned with expensive oil paintings, and the chandelier above was made from real diamonds. The staircase alone was so magnificent that it almost took my breath away.

In my last life, I had earned all this with my own hard work. Seeing it again now barely stirred anything inside me.

Sabele glanced back at me, surprised by my lack of reaction.

When we reached the second floor, he respectfully said, "Ms. Vicino, this is the room Don Vicino prepared for you. You can rest here. I'll come get you when dinner's ready."

The door opened, revealing a large room, all in shades of pink.

As I stepped inside, I was instantly enveloped in a cocoon of warm pink.

The walls, curtains, and bed canopy were all a soft pink. Even the headboard and vanity were lined with brand-new, tagged pink dolls.

The air smelled faintly of soothing fragrance.

Clearly, the Vicino family was being very generous with me.

A wave of joy filled my heart.

Everything in the room was on a level that most people could only dream of. And yet here I was, obtaining it all so effortlessly from my adoptive parents. I didn't even have to fight the way to the top as I did in my last life.

This time, I would make sure I achieved even greater success than before!

Chapter 2

I was smiling, daydreaming about the bright future ahead, when, suddenly, the door was kicked open with a loud bang.

My brain froze as I turned around and saw a massive Mastino charging toward me.

Just as the dog knocked me to the ground, I noticed a young man leaning lazily against the doorframe. He looked a little childish but already exuded an air of toughness. His muscular arms were covered with two crossed pistol tattoos.

At that moment, he was looking at me with disdain.

He was Pardo Vicino, Alano's only son.

If all went well, he'd be the next Don of the Vicino family in a few years.

Suddenly, Pardo's expression shifted. He looked surprised and asked, "Why didn't it attack you?"

The Mastino was known for its ferocity. In the mafia world, it was often raised as a fighting dog. In my last life, this very dog had killed many traitors within the family, earning a reputation as a deadly killer.

But now, as Pardo asked his question, I was sitting up, holding the dog in my lap.

"It's so cute. What's its name?" I asked.

"Shado," he blurted, then raked a hand through the stray hairs on his forehead, his expression clouding with regret.

Shado sat on my lap, rubbing its big head against my shoulder. I took some jerky out of my pocket and fed it to the dog, which then sat quietly, focused on chewing its treat.

In my last life, to ensure my safety, I'd lived and slept with a Mastino for years. I knew how to handle it better than Dario.

I looked up at Pardo. "Ciao, Pardo. I'm Livia."

His initial disdain turned into curiosity. "You're that orphan? You're brave. I'll give you that. You even managed to tame Shado. How did you do it?"

Pardo, Alano's spoiled only son, had a straightforward yet ruthless personality.

In my last life, under peer pressure, he agreed to race in the mountains and ended up in a car accident that cost him both legs. Confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life, he grew even more ruthless, earning the nickname "Grim Reaper" within the mafia.

Not hearing a response from me, he scoffed and said, "Shado, let's go."

In just a few days, school would start again. Before that, Sabele took me on a tour of the estate to familiarize me with every corner of the mansion.

During these days, I didn't see Pardo or Shado. I also didn't encounter Alano or Imelda. They seemed to be busy with their own affairs.

Soon after returning to my room, there was another knock on the door. Sabele entered and handed me a digital tablet with various schedules on it.

"Ms. Vicino, these are the training plans arranged by Donna Vicino for you. She hopes you'll grow quickly during this time. Please take a look and determine if it's achievable."

"I can do it," I replied without hesitation.

Looking at the packed schedule on the tablet, I felt excitement bubbling inside me. In my last life, though I had climbed to the ranks of the nouveau riche, the mafia family's training was a world completely closed off to outsiders.

Now, I had direct access to it without having to work for it. How could I not be thrilled?

Sabele shot me a meaningful look, then continued with some additional instructions.

The next few days were hectic. I was like a circus performer, juggling countless tasks. I absorbed knowledge as if I were a sponge.

I woke up every morning to run drills and spent my days in school. After classes, the driver, Gildo Labate, took me to the shooting range and boxing ring. Even after returning home, there were tutors to teach me about the family history and how to better assist Pardo.

While I was learning, I also resumed my efforts online. In my last life, I was known as a rising star in the AI industry, but secretly, I was the world's top hacker.

I finally saw Alano and Imelda again a month later when my test results came in.

Imelda smiled and waved when she saw me. "Livia, come sit."

I walked over and sat on the nearby couch.

She asked gently, "How's the studying going?"

I handed her the various test results I had from my bag.

Imelda looked through the perfect scores and gave me a satisfied smile. "Very good. I knew I made the right choice with you. Pardo has been thoroughly spoiled by his papa and me. He's quite naive, so I'll need you to guide him whenever necessary."

She was well aware of Pardo's clueless nature and hoped I could help manage him.

"Once he becomes the Don, you'll be the Underboss. What do you think?"

With a composed smile, Imelda laid her demands and her bargaining chips flat on the table.

Without a moment of hesitation, I immediately responded, "Sure, Mamma."

She smiled again and nodded in approval.

Chapter 3

Imelda handed me a card, granting me a day off. Gildo drove me to the city center.

As soon as I stepped out of the car, I spotted a familiar face—Regina.

She was wearing a red-and-white mascot costume. When I saw her, she was holding the oversized mascot head with one hand while using a flyer to wipe the sweat off her forehead with the other. Her pale face had turned bright red from the heat.

Just as I was about to turn and leave, I noticed a young man rushing toward her. It was Dario.

He, too, was holding a thick stack of flyers. He hurried over to Regina and used the flyers to fan her.

"Regina, are you okay? Can you hold on a bit longer? If you're too tired, we can go home."

Hearing the concern in his voice, Regina weakly smiled. "I'm fine, Dario. I can continue. Isn't it almost time for your tutoring session? Go ahead and get to class. I'll be fine alone."

In my last life, I did the same thing—working multiple jobs every day. I had no time for breakfast in the mornings and would rush off to do odd jobs after school. On weekends, I'd be out handing out flyers in the busiest part of town, braving the heat and cold.

Only by doing all this could I earn the chance to attend school at my adoptive parents' family.

To pay for college tuition, I even worked as a waitress at a bar after graduating from high school. I endured all kinds of harassment, just so I could make a few extra bucks.

I turned to walk toward the building when suddenly, Regina, still in her mascot costume, blocked my path.

"Livia?"

When she saw the Hermès bag in my hand, a flash of jealousy crossed her eyes.

"You sure seem to be living the good life. But don't forget, the mafia devours people whole. You might end up dead in the streets one day."

I looked at her without responding.

Unable to hold back any longer, she started bragging about her adoptive parents.

"My parents treat me so well. Dario even more so. He tutors me after school and brings me all sorts of snacks."

"Oh," I replied, my voice cold and indifferent.

My reaction seemed to finally irritate her. Her face flushed as she was about to say something, but Dario walked over just in time.

"What did you do to my sister?" he asked, his gaze sharp as he stood protectively in front of Regina.

Ignoring him, I bypassed them and walked into the mall.

Behind me, I heard Regina's voice full of schadenfreude. "Dario, why were you so harsh with her? She's my sister…"

I used Imelda's bank card to purchase many luxury goods—too many to carry by myself —so I called Gildo to pick me up.

Just as I was about to get in the car, Regina's mocking voice reached my ears. "Hmph! What's the point of buying all this stuff? You're going to die anyway."

I raised an eyebrow and smiled.

Chapter 4

Gildo helped me carry the mountain of shopping bags into the living room.

As soon as I stepped inside, I heard a sharp voice cutting through the air. "You really went all out, huh? Do you really think you're the Principessa of the Vicino family now?"

I ignored his mocking tone and sweetly greeted him, "Pardo, long time no see. I got you a gift. Wait right here. I'll grab it for you."

With that, I took the box from Sabele's hands and placed it on the coffee table in front of Pardo. "Pardo, here's a gift for you. Open it and let me know if you like it."

He sneered as he opened the box. "You're from the slums. What kind of gift are you going to pick out? Don't tell me you brought back some junk."

But as soon as he saw what was inside, his tone shifted dramatically. "The latest gaming laptop!"

I couldn't help but smile when I saw Pardo's surprised expression. It seemed like I made the right choice with this gift.

Although a laptop like this wasn't much to the Vicino family, Pardo had been denied his allowance because of his lack of ambition, and he couldn't afford the latest version himself.

When he noticed my smile, his expression immediately hardened, and he tried to act indifferent as he grabbed the box. "You really know how to win people over. I guess you're quite a good person."

With that, he hurried off, clutching the box.

Sabele shot me a look filled with approval.

"Sabele, can you gather everyone? I got gifts for everyone."

After a brief moment of surprise, Sabele turned to call the others.

I handed out the gifts one by one. Everyone seemed genuinely touched. They expressed their gratitude with heartfelt thanks.

As the group was about to leave, Alano and Imelda returned.

Seeing everyone smiling and clutching gifts of various sizes, they turned toward Sabele.

"Why is everyone gathered here?" Alano asked.

"Don Vicino, Ms. Vicino gave everyone gifts. Everyone's really moved."

I picked up two boxes and approached them. "Papa, Mamma, these are gifts for you. I hope you like them."

Alano opened the gift to reveal a pair of exquisite cufflinks. His eyes lit up with a smile. "Grazie. I really like them."

Imelda took the rose-shaped brooch I handed her and smiled warmly as she gazed at me. "Livia, I love it. Grazie."

With that, she pulled my hands into hers and lightly patted the back of my hand. "You know how to show gratitude. That's a good trait."

Everything seemed to be falling into place. I was growing quickly under the guidance of various tutors.

After the graduation ceremony, the teachers swarmed Imelda, raving about how I grasped everything with incredible speed, precision, and ease.

At dinner, I stepped into the dining room to find both Imelda and Pardo already seated.

When Imelda saw me, she waved me over. "Livia, come sit by me. Your teachers are all full of praise for you. They say you've already finished all your high school courses. Do you want to join the family business now and start learning about family affairs with Pardo?

"I originally planned to let you finish high school first, but you're so impressive. You've already completed your high school courses."

"Sounds good to me. What's the point of finishing high school anyway?" Pardo immediately chimed in.

Noticing his excitement, I smiled and turned to Imelda. "Mamma, if it's possible, I'd still like to finish high school with Pardo before joining the family business. Would that be okay?"

Chapter 5

On the first day of school, Pardo sat in the car, looking thoroughly impatient.

I didn't expect him to wait for me, so I ran toward him, shouting, "Pardo, are you waiting for me?"

He snorted and responded, "Stop shouting. Get in, or I won't forgive you if we're late."

Just before getting out of the car, he finally turned and glared at me. "Listen up, don't tell anyone at school you're my sister. If you do, don't blame me for what comes next."

Upon hearing that, Gildo immediately turned around to comfort me. "Don't be upset, Ms. Vicino. Mr. Vicino just talks tough, but he's actually soft-hearted."

Smiling, I nodded at Gildo, then quickly walked toward the school.

At the school gates, I saw Regina and Dario surrounded by a crowd.

"Are you Dario Bivona? The one who took the top spot in the entrance exams?"

"They're wearing cheap clothes. If they didn't have good grades, how would they have gotten into this prestigious school?"

The onlookers pressed in, hurling malicious questions at them. Dario shielded Regina in front of her.

"Class is about to start. Get inside now."

The crowd broke apart as a teacher approached. Just as I was about to follow Pardo out, I heard Regina's voice call out. "Livia?"

She blocked my path.

"Livia, it's really you? Did you get into this school too? What's your rank? I didn't see your name on the list."

Dario grabbed Regina and shouted at me, "Stay away from my sister!"

I didn't bother to engage with them and simply walked around them and headed into the school. But I couldn't miss the flash of jealousy in Regina's eyes.

With my memories from my last life, all the courses felt effortless.

Pardo, however, still spent his days immersed in the digital world, routinely sleeping in class or playing games.

We had agreed to meet in the car every night to head home together.

Even though he still wore a grumpy expression whenever we met, he always stood up for me whenever the other rich heiresses picked on me.

A month had passed, and our relationship had gradually softened. We could even exchange a few words in the car now.

Then, one night, after a month had gone by, I waited in the car for an hour, but Pardo never showed up. His phone was unreachable.

It suddenly hit me. Earlier that day, some classmates had mentioned a race.

The location of the race was the mountain area where Pardo had crashed and lost his legs in my last life.

No! I couldn't let him get into another accident!

I started frantically banging on the seat, urging Gildo to take me to the northern mountain range.

By the time we arrived, the race had already started. Several sports cars zoomed past me, and I spotted Pardo's red car, swerving out of control as it crashed into the mountainside.

"Pardo!"

sauce for 1 & 2 = I'm Stuck on a Remote Island With the Male Leads

sauce for 3 & 4 = Trapped at Home With the Male Leads