I remained unconscious for three days after they brought me back to the manor.

When I finally opened my eyes, I realized the housekeeper was someone I didn't recognize.

Ignoring the pain in my body, I struggled to sit up. "Who are you? Where is Rita? Call her in here."

The girl replied timidly, "I'm Adelina Rizzo. I've been assigned to take care of you. Rita…"

Her eyes shimmered with tears as she continued, "She was found in the garden this morning. She took her life. Her body is in the cold storage, waiting to be taken away."

I ran to the cold storage barefoot. When I lifted the white sheet and saw Rita's lifeless face, I screamed in agony.

In between sobs, Adelina said, "Rita was the most loyal housekeeper in the manor. We don't know who she offended, but two nights ago, a group of drunks grabbed her. They broke her leg and humiliated her. We found Rita's parting note on her nightstand."

I opened the note with trembling fingers. It was a short message. "I'm sorry, Ms. Viviana. I can't be with you anymore."

I suddenly recalled Marco's death stare when Rita attacked Leonora that day. Hatred spread through my veins like venom.

It was Marco. He was the one who drove her to this.

After arranging a simple funeral for Rita, I took out the dagger she had given me and said to Adelina, "Where's Marco?"

"He's out at the cinema with Ms. Leonora. They should be back soon."

I sped through the streets and found them on a street behaving intimately. Marco held Leonora's luxury shopping bags in one hand while they posed for a selfie with a doughnut.

I clenched my dagger and charged toward them. "Marco! You're going to pay for Rita's life!"

Suddenly, a truck swerved out of control, barreling toward us. The driver's frantic, deafening horn drowned out my voice, so Marco didn't hear a word I said.

The truck was inches away when he and Leonora saw me.

"Watch out, Leonora!" Marco shoved me aside to shield her.

The truck sent me flying. I hit the ground hard and coughed up mouthfuls of blood.

When Marco saw me, he rushed over in panic and gathered me into his arms.

I mustered whatever strength I had left and plunged the dagger into his chest. "I hate you."

Before I lost consciousness, I felt him sprinting with me in his arms, rushing toward the emergency room.

When I woke up, I saw Marco standing by my bed with a guilty expression. The wound on his chest had been treated.

Marco lowered his head and said, "I failed to protect you, Viviana. Please punish me."

"It's all right." I turned away from him, but even the slightest movement sent a bolt of pain through my body. "If you want to atone for everything that's happened, head to the holy grounds of Sandola and bring me back a crucifix."

Marco's brow furrowed in hesitation. "The trip will take about three days."

I added, "I'm sure Leonora would want a crucifix from there too."

Marco changed his mind after hearing Leonora wanted the crucifix too. He nodded eagerly and said, "Okay. I'll book the first flight out and leave right away."

Before he boarded the plane, he texted me, "Wait for me. When I get back, I'll bring you those pastries you love from Capland."

I stared at the screen and thought inwardly, "No need."

My wedding was in three days.

Marco, we wouldn't be meeting ever again.

…

Three days later, the roads leading to the West Coast's church were congested.

Marco, who was passing by, climbed out of his car when he saw the heavy traffic. "Is there some sort of event today?"

The passerby looked at him incredulously and replied, "You haven't heard? The future Don of the Santis family is getting married."

Marco raised an eyebrow. Romolo was dying. Who would be willing to marry him?

"Who's the bride?"

"From the Rosa family."

Marco turned pale. "T-That's impossible!"