"Antonio! Are you really going to side with Lucia like that? What about me? Do I even matter to you anymore?"

Ignoring the pain in my hand, I chased after Antonio and demanded an answer. He didn't answer, but the bodyguards behind me pinned me down and dragged me straight to the basement.

Three years ago, Antonio had proposed to me, but the Vinci family forbade marrying commoners. He had endured 100 lashes just to have that rule abolished.

Now that I thought about it… Lucia's background was nothing special, either. Her dad had been Lorenzo Vinci's driver, and the latter had only adopted her because her dad had saved his life. Was Antonio's rebellion back then really for me, or was it for her, too?

The whips came down on my back, one after another, until the pain threatened to swallow me whole.

"Tomorrow," I told myself. "Tomorrow I can leave Antonio and the Vincis."

Just as I was about to pass out, I thought I saw Antonio running toward me. He carefully cradled me in his arms and screamed at the guards for being too heavy-handed. Then, he apologized and said that it was all his fault.

When I forced my eyes open, all I saw were the bodyguards' expressionless faces. Antonio never came at all.

I let out a cold, mocking laugh and spiraled into the darkness.

…

When I woke up again, I was on a small bed in the attic storeroom. Antonio sat by the side of the bed.

"Lucia isn't a threat to your status at all, Daniela. Why do you have to make things tough for her?

"Could you stop being so paranoid? How much longer do I have to keep coddling you?

"Do you know what people out there are saying? They're saying that your love is pathological and that you're insane!"

I looked down and said, "I understand. It won't happen again."

Seeing my lack of reaction, Antonio gave me an odd look. He had expected me to fight back and argue my case, or threaten my life to force him to give in, just like before. However, I didn't. All I did was silently look at him.

He reached out and stroked my cheek. "Behave, Daniela. Both my love and I are yours.

"Stay here and recover until the wedding's over tomorrow. I'll come back for you afterward."

I numbly nodded. Before leaving, he ordered the maids not to let me out and to guard the place tightly. He was terrified I would leave and ruin his wedding with Lucia, but I didn't have the strength for that anymore.

Ten years. How many decades did one person get in a lifetime?

I took out the ring I had hidden in my clothes. Under the moonlight, it looked softer and warmer than before.

Enrica was the only person in this world who had been truly kind to me.

"But Enrica… Loving someone is so exhausting."

I gave the best years of my life to Antonio from the age of 19 to 29, so from now on, I would only live for myself.

The sky began to brighten. I could hear the frantic steps of the staff outside the door as they were busy preparing for Antonio and Lucia's wedding.

I dialed a number. "I'm ready. You can start."

"Understood."

After waiting ten minutes, I received a reply indicating that I could make my move. Then, I pulled out a lighter and set the curtains ablaze.

The roaring flames reflected in my eyes, but I couldn't feel a ripple of emotion.

"We'll never have to see each other again, Antonio."

…

Third-Person POV

Antonio felt an inexplicable surge of panic in the middle of his vows before he saw thick smoke billowing from the villa in the distance.

Was the villa on fire?

No! Daniela was still inside!

He bolted toward the villa, just to run into his assistant, Mattia Marino, who was racing toward him to report the news.

"Bad news!" Mattia cried out. "Daniela… S-She jumped!"