Too many thoughts swirled in my head, but I ended up asking the most trivial question first.

"What are you doing here?"

Lorenzo frowned and placed the cup of water on my bedside table. "I called you over 20 times, and you didn't answer. I went around looking for you for so long, only to realize you'd gone back home. Where are your parents? You got hurt and had a fever. Why isn't anyone taking care of you?"

I took a sip of water. My parents had stayed in Southern Darvent to finalize the wedding plans since the day I agreed to the arranged marriage.

Seeing my silence, Lorenzo softened his tone, assuming I was still upset about last night. "Eat your medicine first. You didn't fall sick because you waited outside for three hours, did you?"

I swallowed the bitter pill, wishing I could splash the water in his face.

"Who do you think I was waiting for to get myself into this state? Get out! I don't want to see you."

Lorenzo stayed silent. He wanted to pat my head but failed. "I was busy yesterday. It's just a show. We can watch it next time."

Next time? Last night was the lead's farewell performance. Lorenzo didn't care about musicals, so he had no idea what it meant to me. And just as he didn't know that last night was my final chance for him.

I closed my eyes and repeated, "Get out!"

Lorenzo suddenly gripped my chin, forcing me to lift my head and meet his eyes. "Cinzia, have I spoiled you too much? Ever since we made things official, you've been giving me attitude.

"Now that we're together, you don't even bother pretending? Didn't you always want me to keep you company? Why are you playing hard to get now?"

"Get off me!"

The phone on the bedside table lit up. It was a message from Mamma.

Lorenzo was nearer to my phone, so he picked it up from the table and unlocked it effortlessly with his birthday.

"Give it back!" I tried to snatch my phone from him, but he was faster. His expression shifted from surprise to that smug, satisfied look. He let out a low chuckle and said, "As expected."

Lorenzo turned the screen toward me. Mamma had sent me pictures of wedding dresses. "Amore, take a look and see which one you like! You can change as many times as you want on the wedding day."

My stomach sank.

"What are you trying to say?" I asked.

Lorenzo bent down and ruffled my hair. He was smiling but the warning gaze in his eyes was unmistakable. "Listen, principessa. I'll propose when I'm ready. You know who I am. Stop with the tantrums and games. Do you understand?"

For a moment, I didn't know how to argue back. "Hold on. You got it wrong. Those—"

Lorenzo raised a hand, silencing me without a word. A few quick instructions to rest, and then he was gone.

I hurled the pillow against the door. Then, I took several deep breaths before picking up my phone and finally focusing on picking a wedding dress. The photos my parents had been sending kept piling up. Their text messages also seemed warmer and more approving than the last.

"Dominic already started preparing as soon as he got the news. He's really taking it seriously!

"He says everything will be done according to your preference."

After selecting the last dress, my phone exploded with messages from friends.

"Cinzia, you and Lorenzo just got together. Have you guys already broken up?"

There was a screenshot of Lorenzo's latest post. It was a close-up of two hands intertwined, fingers locked tight. The background was a church's stained-glass windows. He wrote, "Even God can't help but bless us early."

Everyone offered their congratulations except an observant friend who commented, "No way those hands belong to Cinzia. They don't have gun calluses! Lorenzo, what are you doing?"

Moments later, the post disappeared. Lorenzo had probably forgotten to hide it from mutual friends.

Before I could respond, a message from Lorenzo appeared. "Are you asleep?"

He was always so direct, so this seemingly casual question was clearly a probe.

I didn't answer and turned off my phone.

I slept through the night without dreams, and the fever was finally gone.

Lorenzo, having received no reply, showed up the next morning with breakfast in hand.

"Just checking if your fever's gone." As he stepped closer, a sweet perfume scent reached me.

I instinctively took a step back. He noticed I kept my distance and paused.

"You look pale. Did you stay up late or see something last night?" Lorenzo asked, trying to test me again.

"I went to bed early." I lowered my gaze and continued flatly, "Just had a bad dream."

His tense shoulders relaxed instantly, and his tone lightened. "Meno male! You should rest more. I'll check on you later."

I couldn't go back to sleep after watching Lorenzo leave. I decided to start clearing out every trace of him from my home. The jacket he left behind, the cups he used, the lighter he tossed on the counter, and even all the couple's gifts went into the trash bag.

Cleaning my own home was easy. But some of my things were still at his place. So, I immediately rushed to his house the moment I saw his car disappear.

The fingerprint lock recognized me immediately. I searched his apartment until I finally found the stack of discs in the bedside drawer. It contained my first clumsy confession at 15 years old to finally winning him at 25 years old. I had recorded every carefully prepared gesture and every brave step forward.

What had once felt like precious memories now filled me with shame.

By the time Lorenzo returned, I was burning the last disc. "What are you doing, Cinzia?"

He lunged forward and snatched the discs straight out of the fire. "Sei fuori? These are so important to us! Why would you burn them?"

His eyes were red, and the back of his hand was covered with blistered burns.

I felt bewildered. "It's nothing." I looked away and continued flatly, "These things should be thrown away. Who even uses discs anymore?"

Lorenzo froze, and his fury disappeared instantly. "That's not true. I've watched them countless times."

He paused.

I looked at him, unsure how to react. Why was he acting shy? It was disgusting.

Lorenzo tried to ease the situation. He reached out with his unburned hand and took my wrist. "You need to help me apply the medicine."

I stayed silent as I tended to his wounds. He hissed at the sting, then spoke again, "Cinzia, you seem to be in a bad mood lately. Do you want to head somewhere and clear your head?

"I remember you've always wanted to see that art exhibition in Moppato. I've already arranged the guide and hotel for you."

I looked at him and asked, "How long do you want me there? Are you coming along?"

He avoided my gaze, a flicker of guilt crossing his face.

"Maybe next time. Our people have been clashing with the Babocci family lately. I can't get away right now. Stay as long as you want. If it makes you happy, you can stay there a while longer."

How kind of him. I lowered my head to mask the bitter smile.

But I already knew the truth. His and Elena's wedding was this Friday.

Lorenzo could block me on social media, but how could he possibly hide a wedding that grand? He wanted me away so that I wouldn't act on impulse and ruin the meticulously planned event.

I didn't understand. If he had chosen someone else, why didn't he reject me outright? Why did he accept my confession, only to betray me later?

I stared at him and asked, "Did you ever truly love me?"

"Ti amo. What kind of question is that?" Lorenzo said it so casually, like he always did, as if it were the simplest thing in the world.

I was about to say something but stopped myself. He was just going to lie again.

"Fine. When is the flight?"

He let out a relieved sigh and reached for me with a smile. "The day after. Shall we have dinner together tomorrow night to celebrate ten years since we met?"

I stepped back and dodged his embrace. Then, I stood and said before leaving, "Okay. Don't be late."

He was rushing to his wedding, and I was rushing toward my new life.

…

When I arrived the next day, I was surprised to find Elena in the private room.

"Cinzia, you're here?" Elena jumped to her feet the moment she saw me. Her eyes were wary, as if I might bully her.

Back then, I had been the first to reach out, helping her escape the abuse of her parents. Her voice was timid, but her gaze carried a challenge.

"I never had foie gras before, so Don Greco told me to come along since he booked the most authentic restaurant in town tonight. If it really bothers you, wait until Don Greco arrives and tell him yourself."

I scoffed and shook my head. "Suit yourself."

Before Elena could continue, she heard footsteps in the hallway and immediately stiffened and murmured repeated apologies.

When Lorenzo entered the room and saw Elena trembling with fear, he frowned at me and hissed, "Don't be mean to her, Cinzia."

I glanced at him coldly and retorted, "And how exactly am I bullying her? You invite me to dinner, pick a place I don't like, and bring someone along. Do you expect me to smile politely? That's your idea of not bullying her?"

"I remember you liked the foie gras and red wine here," he replied.

I scowled and said, "That was because you like it. I was giving in to you."

The atmosphere at the table grew even more awkward.

Suddenly, Elena said with an innocent expression, "When you love someone, you accept what they choose for you. Even if you might not like it, saying it out loud like that feels a little cruel."

She made it sound as though I were the unreasonable one and Lorenzo the tolerant victim. In the past, given my temper, I would never have tolerated his woman speaking to me like that. Now, I merely raised my glass and took a sip of wine.

Elena looked at Lorenzo affectionately and said, "Don Greco arranges everything perfectly."

Lorenzo acted as if he hadn't heard her. He pursed his lips as he watched my calm face.

After the waiter set down the dishes, Lorenzo quietly asked him to add a few more. Every one of them was something I liked.

Elena heard it too and interrupted, "There's already more than enough food. Eating this much at night leads to weight gain, and that's not ideal for a wedding dress."

Lorenzo snapped on instinct, "What nonsense are you saying?"

A flicker of guilt crossed his face as he glanced at me.

I smiled faintly at him. Just as Lorenzo was about to speak, a loud gunshot reverberated outside.

"It's the Babocci family! Protect Don Greco!"

I reached for my gun, scanning for cover. Lorenzo moved faster. Without hesitation, he pulled Elena into his arms and rushed for the armored car outside. He never looked back once.

I stood there, staring, the chaos around me fading into a distant roar. In my mind, another explosion went off—the one from ten years ago.

That day, Lorenzo had been a reckless and defiant young man, not yet the Don. When the kidnappers had shoved me into the crossfire, he had thrown himself over me without a second thought.

From then on, Lorenzo was my beacon of light. Yet, that light now disappeared with his retreating figure.

Ten years ago, he taught me how to fall in love.

Ten years later, he taught me how to fall out of love.

Another blast thundered nearby. Suddenly, strong arms wrapped around me, and the scent of cologne

filled my lungs.

"Stop dreaming!"

I struggled instinctively, but he lifted me off the ground and carried me to the passenger seat of the waiting car.

Suddenly, I recognized the man. "Dominic? What are you doing here?"

Dominic Argento carried me into the car and pulled me into a tight embrace. We drove until we were far from the chaos, and only then did he finally speak, his voice low and hoarse. "I couldn't wait until the wedding to see you. I missed you so much. You're safe now, cara."

…

After settling Elena somewhere secure, Lorenzo immediately texted me.

"Cinzia, tell me when you're somewhere safe. It was an emergency, and I had to protect the weakest first. You're different. You can take care of yourself.

"Answer the phone!"

No matter what Lorenzo sent, there was no reply.

Three days passed without a word. Lorenzo felt anxious and decided to halt the wedding and look for me.

When Elena failed to stop Lorenzo, she kneeled in front of his car, tears streaming down her face.

"I won't stop you after the wedding tomorrow. Please, don't go. My parents don't believe the Don will marry me. If you walk away, they'll sell me to that bastard who tortured his three wives to death!

"If you insist on leaving, you'll need to run me over first! In any case, I might as well be dead. If you don't want me, I'll have to marry that bastard."

Lorenzo's hands tightened around the steering wheel, the veins on the backs of them bulging. After a long while, he let his hands fall.

On the day of the wedding, the motorcade rolled toward the church. The groom's expression, however, was anything but pleased.

Lorenzo became even more infuriated when he found out the church he had booked was hosting a wedding. His baskets of roses had been pushed into a corner to make room for lilies.

"What's going on?" he snapped, grabbing one of the church staff, his face dark. "I paid for exclusive use of this place for the entire day!"

Just then, the wedding ceremony ended. The church doors swung open, and cheers spilled out.

The groom looked familiar. He was the Don of the Argento family from Southern Darvent, Dominic. The possessive way he gazed at his bride left no doubt about his feelings.

And the bride in his arms…

Lorenzo lifted his head, and our eyes met from across the crowd. He widened his eyes in disbelief. His body began to shake.

"Cinzia?"