Chapter 1

Ice-cold seawater flooded my lungs as I stared up in despair at the sky above the surface.

Just moments before, I had been strapped to a reef — wearing my best friend Eileen's plain, overweight face.

Meanwhile, my own face — exquisite, flawless, the kind that made spotlights go mad — was pressed against my boyfriend Luca's chest.

"Don't blame us, darling." Eileen, inhabiting my body, spoke in the sweet voice I had once been so proud of, laughing coyly. "It's your own fault for being so stupid. You actually believed I didn't know about the soul swap, and you followed my instructions to steal secrets from the Camorra. Now it's time for the 'impostor' to disappear."

"When you get to heaven, try not to be so gullible."

My former boyfriend.

The man who swore he loved me most.

He didn't even spare me a glance. He simply draped a coat over "Isabella's" shoulders with tender care.

So it had all been lies.

The friendship. The love.

Eileen had been consumed by jealousy over my beauty and fame. Luca had coveted the power of a Mafia family. Together, they used an ancient soul-swapping elixir to strip me of my entire life.

"Gasp—!"

My eyes flew open and I gulped fresh air in desperate, heaving breaths.

No freezing seawater. No briny wind.

Before me hung Damascene rose-gold silk wallpaper. The air was thick with expensive French perfume.

This was my luxury dressing room on the top floor of the estate.

Instinctively, I touched my face.

The skin was smooth, taut — fine white porcelain. Not the puffy feel of Eileen's heavy features.

I checked the time.

I had been reborn.

Sent back to the very day the soul-swap conspiracy was set to unfold.

"Isabella, why are you sweating so much? Didn't you sleep well last night?"

A familiar, fraudulent voice sounded beside me.

I turned to see Eileen approaching with an elegant bone-china teacup.

She was still trapped inside her own somewhat bloated body, her face wearing an innocent, affectionate smile — but behind those slightly narrowed eyes flickered undisguised envy and obsession.

"Here, drink some of this herbal tea I blended especially for you. It'll ease your anxiety." Eileen held the cup out to me. Her fingertips trembled faintly with excitement.

I stared at the clear liquid.

I knew it was laced with the ancient potion that could tear a soul from its body.

In my previous life, I had drunk it without suspicion and fallen into a deep sleep.

When I woke, the world had been turned completely upside down.

"Thank you, Eileen. You're always so good to me." I smiled — a smile so beautiful it was breathtaking. Even Eileen lost focus for a split second.

The possessiveness in her eyes grew sharper by the moment.

I didn't expose her on the spot.

Because I knew perfectly well: Eileen was the most beloved daughter of Vito, the Godfather. Even if I revealed the truth right now, she had a hundred ways to escape punishment — and I would face endless assassination attempts.

Since she wanted this body so desperately — wanted this head-turning beauty so badly…

Then fine.

…

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