Marcello instinctively stepped forward. "Why are you doing this, Valentina? Is it because of Viviana? I'm just her friend! I helped her because she's your sister, Valentina. I never once—"

I cut him off. "You want to tell me that you never once loved her, right?"

Marcello was stunned, while Viviana trembled slightly.

I smiled faintly and said, "You're right. You love me. It's always been me, and it always will be. Isn't that right?"

Marcello's lips quivered, as if he wanted to speak, but no words came out.

I whispered, "Love can change, Marcello."

Marcello shook his head in denial, exclaiming frantically, "That won't happen, Valentina! How I feel about you will never change! I—"

"That's enough!" Papa cut in before he rose from his seat and approached Marcello. "I'm only going to ask you one question, Marcello. What was your true intention in bringing Viviana here today?"

Marcello's face grew paler. "Don Sabato, I—"

"If your only goal was to find the long-lost daughter of the Sabato famiglia, then you should have called us first and let us take it from there. You wouldn't have brought her here yourself, Marcello.

"Did you want a favor from the Sabato famiglia? Did you want Viviana to rely on you during her moment of vulnerability?"

Papa paused for a moment, looking at Viviana and me. "Did you want a hold over both our famiglia's Principessas—or more precisely, both future Donnas?"

Marcello stumbled back from the weight of that accusation, his composure breaking. He then stammered, "T-That's not it, Don Sabato. You've misunderstood—"

Papa sneered. "You actually dare say it's just a mere misunderstanding, huh? I've been around much longer than you, Marcello. I can see through your petty schemes plain as day."

Marcello was about to explain himself again, but I stopped him before he could.

"You shouldn't bother with him anymore, Papa," I said as I picked up the document and turned toward Marcello. "Thank you for assisting the Sabato famiglia in locating the real Principessa, Mr. Gallo. You can rest assured that we won't forget this favor."

I nodded slightly toward him after saying that.

Marcello stood rooted to the spot, watching as I bowed, stood back up, and headed for the stairs. He suddenly shouted after me. "Valentina!"

I didn't look back. In fact, I would never turn back for Marcello ever again.

I made it to my room and leaned on the door before I felt the tremors in my body. I wasn't shaking out of fear; it was fury, resentment, and a pain I couldn't bring myself to acknowledge.

I nearly relented after seeing the agonizing look on Marcello's face.

I, however, had to remind myself that Marcello had turned to embrace Viviana after I donated my kidney, whispering to her that the wait was finally over. I recalled how he had humiliated me during our wedding by revealing every misdeed I had committed on his behalf.

I also remembered how I ended up freezing to death that night, waiting for an apology that never came.

I moved to the window and drew the curtain back a fraction, noticing that Marcello and Viviana were leaving the grounds.

Marcello paused by the car rather than getting in, casting his gaze up toward my room. Through the window, we looked directly at each other.

I could see his bloodshot eyes and tightly pressed lips as the sunlight illuminated his face. He managed a smile, though it held no malice or sarcasm; it was purely bitter. He looked at me as if he was silently questioning my sudden change in behavior.

I didn't respond to any of it, merely drawing the curtain closed.

I had completed the first phase, so it was time for me to move on to the second phase—seeking out Stefano.

I had sacrificed his future for Marcello in my dreams, so I planned to seek redemption and build a path of retreat for myself.

I hadn't expected Stefano to reach out to me first. He invited me to a cafe located near Crown Boulevard a week after Marcello's departure.

Stefano, with his aloof temperament, appeared nothing like the future Don of a mafia famiglia.

I couldn't fathom why Marcello had demanded Stefano's death in my dream. Nevertheless, I got straight to the point.

"I know about the Lombardi famiglia's underground casino in Veridia. Your father, Don Lombardi, wants to legitimize his operations and is desperate to sell, but he hasn't found the right buyer yet. Isn't that right, Mr. Lombardi?"

Stefano's expression instantly shifted. "How are you aware of this, Ms. Sabato?"

I smiled faintly. "I'm also aware that Marcello is making a massive power play. He's not satisfied with just riches—he wants to lead a famiglia and reign over the criminal underworld, much like your father and mine."

I noticed that Stefano's resolve was wavering, so I continued, "Marcello has been targeting your casino for a while now. He must have reached out to you recently, hasn't he, Mr. Lombardi?"

Stefano's eyes sharpened with caution as he stared at me. "You're the Principessa of the Sabato famiglia, and your betrothal to Marcello is common knowledge, Ms. Sabato. What is your actual intent in sharing this with me?"

I took a sip of the bitter coffee and whispered, "I'm just trying to give back to my famiglia and Papa. After all, they've raised me for 22 years."

Stefano remained silent for quite some time—long enough that I began to expect a rejection. He, however, eventually looked at me and nodded in understanding.

I breathed a sigh of relief and asked with feigned nonchalance, "What did the doctor say about your injuries?"

"It's merely a fracture of the right hand," Stefano replied indifferently.

"That's good to hear," I whispered, that phrase carrying a weight of guilt and relief known only to me.

I was relieved that he was alive this time and relieved that I could finally try to make up for what happened in my dream back then.

Stefano suddenly asked, "Do you mind if I ask you a question, Ms. Sabato?"

"Go ahead."

"W-Why did you break up with Marcello?"

I looked at Stefano with a faint smile and replied softly, "It's because I realized that if we stayed together, we'd both turn into terrible human beings. I'm not willing to become that version of myself."

I rose from my seat to take my leave after saying that.

"Valentina!" Stefano suddenly called out to me.

I stopped and turned to him.

Stefano continued, "I'll tell you a secret if you return in three days."

"What secret?"

Stefano hesitated briefly before replying, "It's a secret regarding Marcello—one that will make you think I'm a madman."

I did feel my heart skip a beat at that moment, but upon seeing his serious expression, I nodded and said, "I'll see you in three days, then."

I had just walked out of the cafe when my phone suddenly rang with a call from Marcello. I tried to ignore it, but the screen flickered repeatedly until the low-battery warning surfaced. I held the warm device tightly and finally answered.

"I want to see you right now, Valentina. I want to know what exactly happened. I mean, we were perfectly fine before your accident, and we were supposed to be getting married soon—"

I cut him off, stating coldly, "I don't want to see you, Marcello."

I would be reminded of how I died in agony and hopelessness if I were to see him. I would remember how I had been responsible for the deaths of Papa, Mamma, and Stefano.

"Why, Valentina?" Marcello persisted, as though he refused to let it go without an explanation.

I stared at the streetlamps lighting up on Crown Boulevard and took a deep breath. I then replied flatly, "It's because I've already died once—and it was you who killed me, Marcello."