Mia Chen died alone in her room on a Tuesday night. No one heard her. No one checked on her. She had lived with cancer for two years, and by the end, she had grown so quiet, so used to being invisible, that even her own death made no sound. The lamp beside her bed stayed on. Her phone stayed dark. No missed calls. No one wondering where she was. She was twenty-six. Never talked back. She never said no. Spent her whole life letting people walk over her, swallowing every unfair word, every cruel dismissal, every chance to finally speak up for herself. Her last thought, right before the dark swallowed her whole, was simple and devastating: If I have another chance, I won't be this worthless. Then there was nothing. Pain woke her first. Sharp, burning pain in her side, like something had torn straight through her. Mia gasped and sat up too fast, and the room spun violently around her. It wasn't her room. Silk sheets. High ceilings. A chandelier catching soft light above her. A woman sat close beside the bed, eyes wide with worry. "Easy - easy, don't move so fast." Mia didn't know her. Didn't know this place. Her heart slammed against her ribs. Wasn't I dead? Didn't I already die? She scrambled backward off the bed, legs shaking beneath her, staggering back until her spine hit something solid - a wall, a dresser, she didn't know. Her mind screamed the same questions over and over. What happened. Where am I. Why does everything hurt. Why am I still breathing. "Wait-" the woman said, rising quickly. "You shouldn't be walking, you're still-" Mia wasn't listening. She turned, desperate, searching for anything familiar, and her eyes landed on a tall mirror across the room. She froze. The face staring back at her wasn't hers. She stumbled closer, breath catching in her throat, and pressed trembling fingers to the glass like she needed to prove it was real. High cheekbones. A perfectly straight nose. Full lips that curved even in stillness like they were built for command, not apology. Sharp, striking eyes that held none of the tired defeat Mia had carried her whole life. Beautiful. Mia had never once been called beautiful. She had spent twenty-six years as someone people looked past. She had died the same way - quietly, invisibly, without a single person noticing she was gone. "Who-" Her voice cracked, barely a whisper. "What happened to me?" The woman behind her hesitated, studying her carefully, worried. "You don't remember anything? your name? And what happened at the warehouse?" Mia shook her head slowly, and then it hit her. Not gently. Not slowly. It hit her like a door had been kicked open inside her skull and everything came rushing through at once - memories that weren't hers, and yet somehow already felt like they belonged to her. A father's voice, warm and doting. My sweet girl. My gentlest child. Three older brothers, fiercely protective, convinced their little sister was too delicate for the world - a world their own family despised, a world of blood and mafia and violence they'd sworn to keep far away from her. A name. Rossi. A powerful, respected business empire, headed by a father who had no idea what his daughter really was behind her soft smiles and camera and quiet trips to photograph mountains and coastlines. Because behind that gentle mask was someone else entirely. Someone who commanded fear in rooms her family never saw. Someone who had built a criminal empire, so completely hidden, that even the people closest to her never suspected. And then - a blade. A warehouse. A man she trusted completely, standing over her, smiling as her own blood spilled across the floor. Adrian. The name arrived already burning with betrayal, six years of loyalty turned to nothing in one single moment, one single knife, one single choice to end her life and take everything she built. Mia's knees buckled. "Hey-hey!" The woman lunged forward, catching her before she hit the floor, easing her down instead. "Viper! stay awake-" But the world was already going black again, memories, grief and fury crashing together too fast, too heavy, too much for one innocent mind to withstand. ---- When Mia opened her eyes again, it wasn't fear that filled her. It was fury. She pushed herself up off the bed without a word, ignoring the ache screaming through her side, and walked straight into the adjoining bathroom. She gripped the edges of the sink and stared at her reflection - and turned the tap on. Cold water hit her skin, and she let it drip down her chin, her jaw, staring herself dead in the eyes. Mia Chen was gone. "My name," she said, "is Selena Rossi." Saying it out loud made something settle in her chest, cold and sharp and absolutely certain. "And I am going to make Adrian's life a living hell," she whispered to her reflection. "I am going to make him beg me for death before I even give it to him." It wasn't a threat. It was a vow. The door creaked behind her. "Viper, you're awake." Selena turned and studied her properly this time. Tessa, always a step behind Adrian, always in his shadow, handling the quiet, unglamorous work no one thought to notice or credit. Loyal. Capable. Dangerous, in the same exact way Adrian had been dangerous. "From today, you're not standing in anyone's shadow. You're my right hand. And I'm going to make sure you're trained to be even more dangerous than you already are." Tessa smiled and bowed her head. "I won't let you down, Viper." "I know you won't," Selena said. "That's exactly why I'm choosing you." A soft buzz interrupted them. Selena's phone lit up with a message. Dad: Sweetheart, when are you coming home from your trip? You know it's your brother's birthday this weekend, and he'll never let you hear the end of it if you miss it. Hope you got some beautiful shots. Miss you. Selena stared at the screen for a long moment. Her father, warm and clueless, still believing his gentlest daughter was somewhere chasing sunsets with a camera, completely unaware his little girl had been bleeding out on a warehouse floor while he worried about birthday cake. Her thumb moved across the screen. Me: I'm coming home soon, Dad. Wouldn't miss it for anything. Miss you too. She set the phone down, and looked back into the mirror one last time, with a dangerous smirk. "Little rabbit mode," she murmured, "activated."

The car pulled up in front of the Rossi estate. Selena stepped out in a simple white dress, the kind that looked more like something a princess would wear on an ordinary day than to a party. Soft and paired with a white sneakers. Camera bag over one shoulder and her hair loose. Her father and her three brothers were already waiting at the door. "There she is!" Don Salvatore Rossi walked towards her, arms wide opened, and Selena ran straight into his arms, laughing, and letting him lift her half off her feet the way he always did  since she was a little girl. "Papa." She hugged him tight, "I missed you." "You always say that," he said, setting her down, "and then you vanish for a week." Enzo looked at her with his usual older-brother scrutiny, checking for anything out of place. "You look pale." "Wind and sun," Selena said with a smile. "I'll be better after i take a long nap." Nico ruffled her hair like she was still twelve. Luca just smiled and said nothing. "Nico." Selena turned to her second brother with a grin. "Happy birthday. In advance." "Thanks sweetheart," Nico replied. "This time, I got you something huge." "Let me guess," Luca cut in before Nico could answer, "a beautiful photo of a landscape?" Everyone laughed. Selena pouted. "It is not just a photo. It's...I'm not telling you." Mr Salvatore shook his head with a smile. "Almost forgot, professor Whitmore will be at the party tomorrow." Selena blinked, hooking her arms with her father "he's coming?" "Yes, he wanted to meet you and get familiar before the wedding date is set." He gave her a knowing look. "Behave yourself. Don't cause trouble" Selena crossed her arms, and pouted "Papa, I am twenty-three years old, giving up my entire romantic future for this family's arrangement, and I haven't even seen this guy's face. What if he's not my type?" "Don't worry," Enzo said, amused. "I met him once. Trust me, if you are after looks, you wouldn't be disappointed." "That's not the point," Selena said, though her eyes had already started to gleam. "I'm making a huge sacrifice here. I think that deserves compensation." Her father laughed, shaking his head. "How much compensation do you want?" "Ten million," Selena said instantly, without blinking. They laughed. "Ten million. For marrying a rich, good-looking professor?." Luca said. "For marrying a stranger," Selena corrected. "...Fine. Ten million." Selena smiled, threw her arms around Salvatore's neck, and planted a light kiss on his cheek. "Thank you, Daddy. I love you so much." "Good girl, go and freshen up" She turned and ran towards the spiral staircase, camera bag bouncing against her hip. ------ The moment her bedroom door clicked shut, her smile vanished. Selena's expression changed and became cold and unreadable.  She changed into a soft grey silk pajamas, top and pants. She stood in front of her standing mirror and lifted the hem to check the bandage at her side. Still healing. She let the fabric fall back into place and sat on the edge of the bed, reaching for her phone. A new message from Tessa waited at the top of her screen - photos, a lot of them. Adrian walking into a restaurant. Shaking hands with men Selena didn't recognize. Her hands fisted into a tight ball and she texted Tessa back. Her phone buzzed again. A notification from her best friend, from high school. Mia face lit up. Oh Nadia.

Selena sat on her bed with dresses spread out all around her, and her phone trapped in a standing tripod. Nadia's face filled the screen. "Too many choices." "Okay, show me again," Nadia said. "The blue one first." Selena held it up. "This?" "No. Too outdated. Next." Selena held up a green dress, silk, simple but elegant. Nadia's eyes lit up. "That one. That's the one." "You sure?" "Selena, I am one hundred percent sure. It's perfect. Your blind date, mr teacher, will definitely be hooked." Nadia sighed, resting her chin on her hand. "I wish I could be there. I wanted to see his face when he sees you." "You're not coming?." "I'm stuck babysitting my sister," Nadia said, groaning. "My mother went out with her new boyfriend and dumped her home." Selena laughed. "You'll survive." "Send me pictures of your future husband," Nadia said.  "Deal?" "Deal." Selena smiled and hung up and rushed inside the bathroom to shower. ----- The party downstairs was already full of guests  by the time she stepped out of her room. She walked slowly down the staircase, one hand  on the railing, and everyone turned their heads at her. Conversations paused and she could hear their soft whispers. Selena kept her expression soft and shy. Every one of them saw a harmless little rabbit, sweet and fragile, nothing more. She walked straight to her father's side and looped her arm through his. "There's my girl," he said, patting her hand. One of his business partners leaned in with a smile. "She's still as sweet as she was when she was a little girl. You're a lucky man, Salvatore. Such a polite and beautiful daughter." "I know," her father said proudly. "Where's my gift?" Nico called out from across the room, grinning. "Patience," Selena said. "Good things take time." She waved a hand, and two servants carried in something large, wrapped carefully, and placed it down in front of him. When they uncovered it, it was a painting, a huge, beautiful landscape, full of color and detail. Luca raised an eyebrow. "Still a photo?" Selena pouted at him. "It is not a photo. It's a painting. I painted it myself." She turned back to Nico. "You already have everything, Nico. Buying you another gift would be a waste. But this one, I made with my own hands. With love. Do you like it?" Nico stared at the painting for a moment, then reached out and patted her head like she was still a little girl. "So thoughtful," he said softly. "I love it. This means more than anything you could have bought." Selena smiled and leaned her head against her father's shoulder, hugging his arm tighter. Around them, the guests smiled too. What a sweet sister. A few minutes later, Selena was pressing her phone seated on the sofa, ignoring the party, when Tessa called. She placed a earpiece on and answered the called. "Tell me" "See the man by the pillar," Tessa said, watching the room footage, on her laptop. "Grey suit, talking to your father's guests." Selena's smile didn't vanish, but her eyes shifted, slow and careful, until she found him. Ordinary looking. Relaxed. Laughing at something one of the guests said. "Who is he?" "Mafia," Tessa replied. "One of Adrian's new boss's men. Wolves in sheeps clothing." "Is he danger?" "No! Clearly doesn't know you as Viper, so, he is just attending the party, no motives" Selena narrowed her eyes. "Watch him," she said quietly. "Got it" A few minutes later, she walked to the balcony. She leaned against the railing and let her mind wander, away from the man in the grey suit, away from Adrian, landing instead on - HIM. Where is he? He arrived last night, didn't he? "There you are." Selena turned. A man stood a few feet away, holding two glasses of wine, smiling "Hello, miss. Can I toast with you?" Selena smiled a little "I'm sorry, I don't drink wine. Only juice." He blinked, clearly not expecting that answer, then waved over a servant and set the glass down on the tray as the servant walked away. The man turned back to her, still smiling "Well. Beautiful party." Selena said nothing, she focused backbon her phone. He moved closer. "Miss Rossi," he said, stepping a little closer, "can I add you on WeChat?" Before she could answer, a deep voice spoke from behind her. "She can't." The voice was low and calm, but something about it sent a shiver straight down Selena's spine.