ManyWriters

"You're a weapon, Alessia. You're strong enough to survive this."
To save the family's cherished adopted daughter, Isabella, my fiancé Marco handed me over to our Russian rivals.
My own father, Don Falcone, saw my sacrifice as a small price for a truce.
My only hope was Luca, my childhood friend, who swore he'd bring me home.
He lied.
A week later, as I was being psychologically broken, I was forced to know a lavish party at the Falcone villa to celebrate Marco and Isabella’s engagement.
The Bratva leader saw it as an insult and left me to die in a fire.
But I was reborn from the ashes.
This time, when Marco knelt and begged me to go, I simply said, "Fine."
Now, five years later, Marco and Luca look at me with haunted eyes, begging for the girl I was.
"I’m not Alessia."
"And I’m already married."
My debt is paid.
Now, it's time to collect theirs.

Love Blooms From Embers

"This will forge you into something stronger. You need to understand what's at stake."


After he hung up, the Bratva leader, hearing of the delay, began his work in earnest.


In the days that followed, I was psychologically broken, my will to live dissolving into dust.


On the night of the gala, they forced me to watch the live stream of the engagement party.


As the news anchor announced Marco and Isabella's betrothal, the enraged Bratva leader decided to make a final statement.


He left me chained to a pipe in an abandoned warehouse and set it on fire.


In this new life, facing a kneeling Marco, I simply replied with a dead calm:


Marco was stunned, clearly surprised by my easy compliance.


As I turned to leave, Marco inexplicably grabbed my arm.


I turned back to look at him, and there was a flicker of something in his eyes—hesitation.


"You're sure you can handle this, Alessia? I promise, I'll get you out as soon as the deal is settled."


As I walked away, Marco stood frozen in place for a long while.


He had prepared a litany of justifications for my sacrifice, but not a single word escaped his lips.


Silently returning to my room in the villa, I began to prepare.


I had survived countless attempts on my life.


So he was justified in believing that using me to secure Isabella's return was a foolproof plan.


I slid a lockpick into the lining of my shoe and made my preparations. Just then, a call came from my Falcone parents.


"Alessia, we're begging you. Isabella is fragile, she can't handle this kind of pressure. Please, go in her place. Anything you want, we'll give it to you."


My mother pleaded through sobs, while my father heaved a heavy sigh.


"It's all our fault, a thousand times over. This has nothing to do with Isabella."


I paused, suppressing the rage in my throat, and replied coolly.


The two of them were instantly relieved.


"Alessia, you're really willing to do this? Your mother always knew you were a true Falcone. When you come back, we'll make it up to you properly."


My cold voice continued as I spoke further:


"Just ensure the exchange happens. Ensure my survival."


"Once I'm out, my debt to this family is paid."


In my previous life, they knew the Russians would torture me.


Yet they deliberately extended my stay.


All because I had resisted, causing their precious Isabella to endure three extra days of fear.


They had declared, with all the righteousness of their power:


"We owe you nothing. The night you were born, your mother nearly died for you. We gave you this life. What right do you have to defy us?"


"You broke the code of loyalty. You deserve to be punished. Learn your lesson!"


In this new life, I truly have learned my lesson.


I only ask to be even, with no future entanglements.


I stood alone on a desolate bridge. Isabella, freed and unharmed, had cried until her eyes were swollen.


Behind me, Marco was nearly heartbroken. For her.


He shouted loudly to her as she was led away:


"Don't be afraid, Isabella. You'll be safe soon."


As he finished speaking, he looked at me, a flicker of guilt in his eyes.


Chapter 2