I didn't even look back at Carmelo's stunned expression after saying that. I let the blood drip on the floor as I walked away unsteadily.

I had just reached home when I heard something break in the kitchen.

Simone used his hands to try to push himself up from his fallen wheelchair. He looked ashamed, his eyes brimming with unshed tears, as he noticed me standing at the doorway. "I only wanted to fix you something to eat, Caterina. I can't believe how useless I am…"

I was deceived by his hypocritical, masterful performance for five years, turning myself into a total fool. I desperately wanted to discover if there was any warmth in him at that very moment or if he was actually completely heartless.

Simone lowered his head after noticing my silence. "I know I'm just a dead weight to you, Caterina. I think you should just go and forget about me—just let me die all alone here."

He then raised his hand to strike his own face, lamenting loudly, "Why am I still alive, Caterina?"

I said nothing as I walked over, set the wheelchair upright, and helped him into it. I then fetched a towel and wiped his face and hands clean. I had done this routine for five years, so by now, it was second nature to me. I cooked dinner, left one of his imported medications on the table, and left without saying anything.

Simone knew I was heading to a night shift. He reflected on my sickly complexion, my prolonged silence, and my emaciated frame, feeling a sudden pang of alarm. He realized then that he couldn't recall a single detail of the bright, spirited person I had once been.

He felt a sharp pang shooting through his chest, a strange mixture of guilt and anxiety washing over him. He grabbed his phone and made a quick call. "I think it's time for us to wrap this up ahead of schedule, Luigi—Caterina has been punished enough."

I took Simone to the hospital for his check-up the following day.

His attending doctor looked thrilled as he announced, "Ms. Novello, we just found out that a private research center has developed a breakthrough medication for ALS. They're only accepting two trial patients, and Don Sartori has already arranged for Simone to get one of the slots. Don Sartori clearly adores you, Ms. Novello."

I merely nodded calmly in contrast to his dramatic display. "What's the probability of Simone's recovery?"

"There's an 80% chance."

Simone played his part, crying tears of joy. "I'm finally going to get better! Doesn't that make you happy, Caterina?"

I managed a strained smile and replied, "If only one of us can survive, no matter the circumstances, I want it to be you, Simone."

Simone was stunned. He seemed so taken aback by my sincerity that he forgot to maintain his fake stutter.

He furrowed his brow and snapped, "How could you spout such nonsense, Caterina? You and I are both going to be fine! I'm going to make sure you live like a princess again, without a single worry in the world, once I'm back on my feet, Caterina!"

I no longer wanted that kind of life anymore, though. I was going to give everything up—Simone and Luigi included—to Maria.

I was sent out of the doctor's office after that on the grounds that the check-up would take quite some time.

I headed to another office instead, where the doctor said with a sigh, "I'm sorry, but your brain tumor has grown too large to operate on. If you had come two weeks earlier, there would have been hope. You've got a day or two at most, so you should say your goodbyes to your loved ones, Ms. Novello."

I remained silent for a long while before nodding slightly. I then handed the doctor a paper with Luigi's home address written on it. "Please have me cremated right away and send the ashes to this address after I'm dead."

I left behind the little money I had and left the hospital. I had just stepped out when I suddenly received a message. "I actually recognized you that day at Twilight Lounge, Caterina. I just want you to know that Simone belongs to me, and so does Luigi.

"You're just some pathetic stray no one wants. Your life is a joke, so you might as well just drop dead now. Oh, by the way—I've sent you a gift, Caterina."

I wandered aimlessly like some restless spirit the entire day, and it wasn't until I stumbled home in a daze that I found out what Maria's gift was.

I noticed that the front door was wide open, and the house was in complete disarray. Simone was being held down on the ground by someone, like a desperate stray dog in its final struggle. That scene was so familiar that I started shaking all over—my previously broken ribs seemed to flare up with phantom pain.

It was then that Davide Conti, the leader of the group, said, "It's been a while. When are you paying this month's debt, Ms. Novello?"

I turned completely pale. "Didn't Luigi pay it all back already? How do I still owe you anything?"

Davide spat on the floor before waving the iron rod in his hand a couple of times over Simone's back. "If I say you owe us money, then you owe us money. You don't want to pay up, huh? I'm not sure how many swings Simone's brittle bones can handle, though, Ms. Novello."

"I'm the one who got you into this mess, so just forget about me and leave, Caterina. I'm just a cripple—it doesn't matter if they beat me to death!"

I had heard those exact words countless times over the past five years. I felt utterly exhausted as I looked at the room full of debt collectors demanding payment and then at Simone, who looked like a disheveled mess on the floor, though his eyes were sharp and focused.

I finally understood the whole situation. I found it quite absurd that I only realized it now—for all their threats, they had never actually laid a finger on Simone. I, on the other hand, ended up with broken ribs, a limp, and a body covered in bruises just to protect a man who was playing me for a fool.

I swallowed hard against the ache in my throat and looked at Simone. I then asked Davide hoarsely, "What else do you want from me?"

Davide sized me up with a nasty grin and said, "I'll tell you what—if you crawl between the legs of all twelve of us and bark three times like a dog, we'll call it even for today."

Simone roared, "You must not crawl through their legs, Caterina!"

I let out a hollow, numb smile, and the last shred of warmth inside me froze over entirely. "If this is what you want, then let's be done with it."

Simone was suddenly seized by panic, even though I was talking to Davide. He wanted to say something, but stopped himself when he remembered his promise to Maria.

He assumed that since this was my final punishment, he would never let me be wronged again in the future. He remained convinced that he had plenty of time to make amends to me later.

Having justified it to himself, Simone averted his gaze. He quietly snapped a few photos of my degradation and sent them off to Maria.

I lay on the ground for a long time after the crowd had dispersed before I finally found the strength to get to my feet. Simone crawled toward me, his eyes bloodshot. He had been ready to launch into another performance of self-pity, but the sight of my hollow, lifeless eyes made the words die in his throat.

It was the following day when the doctor showed up to escort Simone to his treatment. He had given me his word before leaving, saying, "I'll be back soon, Caterina. I'm never going to let anyone hurt you ever again."

I merely smiled faintly in response, remaining silent throughout. I suddenly covered my mouth the moment they left, coughing up a mouthful of blood.

I recalled the doctor telling me that a ruptured brain tumor meant that I was going to die. I, strangely enough, wasn't afraid in the slightest when I collapsed.

I was suddenly flooded with memories of Simone being kind to me back when he was still a child. I remembered him braiding my hair, sharing his sweets, and watching over me when I was unconscious with a high fever.

I then thought of what he told me back then. "I'll make a lot of money when I grow up, build the biggest castle for you, and make you the happiest princess in the world, Caterina."

I suddenly thought of Luigi, who hadn't reached out to me once since Maria came back. I couldn't help but wonder if he was too busy looking after Maria.

I pushed the thought aside, as it didn't matter to me anymore. I choked back my tears and, with blood still on my hands, shakily opened my phone. I then sent one last message to both Simone and Luigi. "Please bury me next to Mamma and Papa. Goodbye."

I weakly closed my eyes after sending the message.