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The woman frowned. "Elana, what are you talking about? It's us, your parents."
I opened my mouth but I closed it again. My legs gave out, and I sank onto the edge of the bed. "I... I'm not..." I tried to explain but they weren't listening.
They exchanged a glance, and the woman-Elana's supposed mother, walked forward and inspected me like I was not a person but a product.
"You look pale but don't worry you'll be well taken care of and the doctors said you hit your head. Hopefully, it didn't cause any permanent damage."
"I think there's been a mistake," I whispered. "I'm not Elana. I'm-"
"Enough." Her tone cut like ice. "We don't have time for one of your tantrums. The wedding is in three days. You need to rest and be prepared."
"Wedding? I'm not getting married."
The man's expression darkened. "You most certainly are. The contract has been signed and the arrangements have been finalized. Troy Marcello had been gracious enough to keep his own end of the bargain and now that you're getting better, you don't have a choice."
"I don't agree to this!" I stood again with anger rising through my fear. "I don't even know who this Troy or whoever is!" Elana/Gabriella retorted.
The moment the name left her lips, their expressions shifted. The woman's mouth twitched and the man crossed his arms.
"You will marry him," he affirmed firmly. "I've told you what's at stake."
"No," Gabriella whispered. "You don't understand what's going on, I'm not your daughter and I don't know you. My name is Gabriela. Something happened to me-I...Ithink I died. And now I'm in this body. I don't know how or why, but I swear to you-"
"Stop." The woman's voice dropped, low and dangerous. "Whatever game you're playing, end it now. We've sacrificed too much for you to start acting like a lunatic."
"I'm telling the truth!" Gabriella yelled
Elana's mother stepped closer with her eyes blazing. "You listen to me, Elana. You will go through with this marriage, you will do what we raised you to do and you will not embarrass us again."
Tears welled in my eyes. I didn't know what hurt more-the terror clawing at my insides, or the cold indifference in their voices. How could they be so cruel? Even if I was their daughter, how could they treat her-me-like this?
The man pulled out a phone and checked the time. "We'll send someone to bring you appropriate clothes. And someone from the Marcello family will be here tomorrow for the final arrangements."
"I'm not doing this!" I cried. "I don't even know the man. You're trying to sell me to, perhaps he's a criminal!"
The woman's hand twitched, as if she wanted to slap me. "You will marry Troy Marcello. This is bigger than you. This is about power, protection and debt."
"Debt?" I repeated.
They didn't answer. Instead, the man turned and walked out, followed by his wife.
The door clicked shut behind them, sealing me in silence.
I stood in the middle of the room, shaking. The walls seemed to close in around me. I wasn't just lost-I was trapped.
Whatever strange force had brought me into Elana's body hadn't done me any favors. I wasn't given a fresh start. I was dropped into a life that was even more of a prison than mine had ever been.
And I had three days before I was handed over to a man I didn't know. A man who probably had a reputation for violence and control. I could sense that in their speech already and that had created great fear in me concerning him.
I curled up in the bed, burying my face in the pillow, wishing I could scream loud enough for someone-anyone-to hear me and understand.
But no one would.
To the world, I was Elana. And Elana's life had already been written.
By morning, a nurse came in, she was polite but distant. She called me "Miss Russo." I tried to tell her the truth, but she just smiled and told me the doctor would check on me soon.
No one believed me. No one even looked at me properly. It was like I was a ghost in someone else's skin.
Later in the afternoon, a woman arrived with a suitcase full of clothes. Designer dresses, heels and jewelry, all for the wedding.
I refused to touch them.
But it didn't matter.
When I tried to call the police, the line was disconnected before I could even finish my name.
When I begged the staff to let me leave, I was told my parents had signed off on all decisions. I was legally not allowed to go anywhere.
By the second night, it downed on me that I wasn't getting out of this.
I stood at the window of my hospital room, staring out at the city skyline. Lights blinked in the distance and cars moved like ants. Life went on.
But mine had stopped.
And in its place... was Elana's.
Her past, her mistakes, her cold and unfeeling family and her fate.
And looming over it all, the name that echoed in my head every time I closed my eyes-
Troy Marcello.
Who was he? Why had her parents chosen him? What kind of life had Elana been living that a marriage to a Mafia Lord seemed like the solution?
I didn't know.
And I didn't have time to find out.
Because the clock was ticking.
Three days.
That was all I had left.
Three days before I would be forced to walk down an aisle again.
Only this time, there would be no love no hope and no Roland waiting for me at the end.
Just Troy and danger.
And no one would stop it.
Not even me.