277 The mafia boss thought his newborn was dead until a poor girl from the night shift did the impossible

Two weeks later.

Through Vincent’s top personal cardiologists, Serena was scheduled for her life-saving heart surgery at a private surgical center in two weeks—all expenses fully paid by the Corsetti Trust.

As her health stabilized, so did her bond with Vincent.

In the late hours of the night, after Lucas was fed and sleeping peacefully, Vincent would join Serena in the nursery. They talked for hours—not about mob business or violence, but about books, art, childhood memories, and dreams. Vincent learned about Serena's love for classical music and her passion for medical science.

For the first time in fifteen years, Serena felt her icy heart beginning to melt. She was falling in love with the man who was supposed to be her enemy.

And that terrifed her.

One afternoon, while Vincent was away in the city attending a high-level commission meeting, Serena was cleaning the dust off the nursery mantlepiece. She noticed a small, ancient wooden key tucked inside an ornamental vase.

Curiosity overwhelmed her.

She remembered that in Vincent’s private study, behind a heavy oil painting of his father Eduardo, lay a vintage iron safe.

Knowing the guards were stationed outside on the lawn, Serena slipped into Vincent’s study, locked the oak door, and pulled back the oil painting. She inserted the small wooden key into the hidden keyhole beside the safe's dial.

CLICK.

The heavy iron door swung open silently.

Inside lay stacks of bearer bonds, stacks of cash, velvet bags of diamonds, and... a single, dusty manila folder labeled: PROJECT CLEAN SWEEP - SOUTH SIDE (2011).

Serena’s breath hitched. 2011 was the year her family was murdered.

With shaking hands, she pulled out the folder and opened it.

Inside were police reports, crime scene photos of her childhood home, and autopsy files for Michael, Eleanor, and Samuel Hayes.

Tears blinded her eyes as she looked at the photos of her twin brother lying on the floor.

Attached to the back of the file was an original, handwritten letter dated October 14, 2011, signed by Eduardo Corsetti—Vincent’s father.

"To Marco Rossi: Michael Hayes has refused our buyout offer regarding the city land deeds. Take two men tonight and recover the ledger. Leave no witnesses."

Serena let out a strangled, heartbreaking gasp, staggering backward against the desk.

It was Marco Rossi. Vincent’s underboss was the man who had pulled the trigger that ended her brother’s life.

And then, her eyes caught a secondary memo attached to the bottom of the page, written in fresh black ink, dated six months ago:

"Internal Audit: The Hayes ledger remains missing. If Michael Hayes’s surviving daughter, Serena Hayes, is ever located, eliminate her immediately. Signed: Vincent Corsetti."

The room seemed to spin violently out of control.

Serena stared at Vincent’s signature at the bottom of the order for her own execution.

Her world completely shattered into a million sharp, agonizing pieces.

All the warmth, all the tender moments, all the soft looks Vincent had given her over the past month—it was all a lie. He had known who she was all along. He was keeping her close to find her father's ledger before killing her.

Suddenly, the lock on the study door clicked.

The heavy door swung open, and Vincent stepped inside, carrying a small box of fresh pastries he had brought back from the city for her.

"Serena?" Vincent smiled warm, stepping into the room. "I brought those almond croissants you liked—"

Vincent froze.

His eyes fell on the open safe, the files scattered across his desk, and Serena standing by the window, holding her father’s murder file against her chest, her face pale as a corpse, tears streaming down her face.