After my ex-husband, Lucaro Ricci, has died, he turns into a ghost. Since then, he has stayed by my side as a shadow.

Three years later, I walk into the church, hand-in-hand with Carlo Altieri, the oldest son of Lucaro's arch-nemesis. Everyone in the city chews me out for betraying Lucaro. Even Lucaro curses me out for being a scumbag.

But I'm the only one who knows the actual reason. I've already made a wish to God in the church that I'll sacrifice my life in exchange for Lucaro's second chance in life.

On the opulent cruise ship, gold decorations glittered and lights blazed.

After returning from freshening my makeup, I overheard Carlo Altieri—Don of the Altieri famiglia and the man I was soon to marry—speaking with other members of the mafia.

"Don Altieri, you're sure to win the wager with Don Fabio."

"Yeah. You personally trained Ms. Santoro—she wouldn't dare go against you. Even if you were to flirt with a dancer in front of her, she'd act like she didn't see a thing."

"I remember that rainy day when Don Altieri wanted to fool around with a dancer in the car. Ms. Santoro drove the car for him and stood outside in the rain, waiting for him to finish before heading home."

"It's truly enviable, Don Altieri. You must teach us. Where can one find a well-behaved girlfriend like Ms. Santoro?"

Through the door, I heard Carlo chuckle softly before saying, "She loves me. Naturally, she sees me as her master. No matter what I do, she'll never leave."

"Speaking of which, Ms. Santoro has been with you for three years now…"

I stiffened up when I heard this.

It had already been three years—I had actually been with Carlo for three years.

The corners of my mouth involuntarily twitched as I felt a pang of bitterness for a moment.

I was the one who had actively sought and begged for this relationship with Carlo. Before we started our relationship, I had told him, "No matter who you choose to fool around with in the future, I'll turn a blind eye to it—as long as I can stay with you."

Carlo had raised an eyebrow when he heard that. He probably hadn't seen such a foolish woman before, which was why he agreed.

Over these three years, I had to admit that he treated me exceptionally well.

I also kept my promise, allowing the companions around Carlo to come and go. Even when he took women for romps in the car, I would quietly drive the vehicle and wait for him to finish.

I took a deep breath and lowered my gaze as I walked into the private room.

Just as I neared Carlo, someone suddenly pulled me into their arms. Before I could see who it was, the overwhelming smell of alcohol made me nauseous.

"I say, Don Altieri, since you don't care for Ms. Santoro, why not give her to me? I promise I'll treat her well. Whatever you can give her, I'll give her more."

The moment these words were spoken, the air in the entire room seemed to freeze.

Everyone looked at Carlo, then cast sympathetic glances at the drunk Don of an up-and-coming famiglia.

Carlo suddenly laughed. He whistled from his seat, and I immediately broke free from the man's grasp and slunk over to him like a dog.

Carlo reached out and patted my head. The next second, he suddenly pulled a gun from his pocket and aimed it at the drunken Don.

A loud bang sounded, and blood splattered everywhere.

The man's Soldati instinctively closed in, but Carlo's men subdued them immediately.

Carlo walked over and looked down coldly at the man. "Who gave you the courage to try and take what's mine? I hate it most when others touch my things."

As soon as he spoke, a few of his men promptly dragged away the person, whose bloodstains remained on the floor.

Carlo took out a handkerchief and blindfolded me gently, whispering in my ear, "Wen, I'll never give you to anyone else. You can only be mine."

I nodded obediently. "Alright."

I found it somewhat amusing to see Carlo look so serious. It was no wonder there were rumors that he didn't care about anyone else but me.

…

Back at Altieri Manor, I handed Carlo a glass of water to help him sober up. After drinking it, he went to his room to sleep.

I walked to the balcony to enjoy the night breeze.

Suddenly, someone hissed in my ear, "Nancy Greco, your bravado depends on the person, huh?"

Then, he huffed and said sulkily, "Whatever. It's not for me to decide who you're with or how you should live.

"After all, my words have never truly reached you."

I stared at the stars in the distance and clenched my jaw tightly, forcing myself to hold back from explaining.

Just then, fireworks lit up the night sky outside. It was Halloween that day.

I gazed at the stars and sighed softly. Before I knew it, I had already held on for three years.

Three years ago, my ex-husband, Lucaro Ricci, died in an assassination attempt. After his death, he remained by my side as a spirit.

I sought out a priest about this issue. He told me it was because Lucaro loved me too much, and that his love had become an obsession, preventing him from ascending to heaven.

The priest said there was only one solution—make Lucaro let go of his obsession with me and make him believe that I had fallen in love with someone else.

As such, I had deliberately approached Carlo, Lucaro's rival, and had gotten very intimate with him to convince him that I loved him.

Finally, a few days ago, the priest told me Lucaro's obsession with me was slowly fading. He also said that, in 15 days, it would be a good day that could help make Lucaro's departure easier.

Thinking of this, I smiled faintly. Once Lucaro successfully ascended, I wouldn't have to pretend to be devoted to Carlo anymore.

Perhaps this could even be liberation for all three of us.

The night wind was chilly, so I went back to the living room and sat down for a bit. Unknowingly, I drifted off to sleep.

In my dream, I saw the day Lucaro left me. He was riddled with bullets, his body torn and bloody, yet he still managed to hang on just to see me one last time.

Once he saw me, the pain-twisted expression on his face softened a little. "Wen… don't forget me."

I cried until I fainted, murmuring over and over, "Caro, I beg you, don't leave me!"

When I woke up, I met Carlo's inscrutable gaze. I froze in place, and my back was covered in cold sweat.

Carlo was born privileged. If he knew the real reason I was with him, not only would I be punished, but even Lucaro's remains wouldn't be safe.

I trembled, unsure of what to say to Carlo.

Unexpectedly, he gently wiped the tears from my face and asked, "Why are you crying? I said I wouldn't leave you."

I was still in shock when Carlo pulled me into his arms and said, "You calling me by my full name always makes you sound so distant."

My lips parted, but I couldn't think of what to say.

Carlo didn't press me to speak up. He said gently, "If you don't like me being away, you can just tell me. I'll spend more time with you.

"Or is it that you don't like me seeing those dancers? I'll delete all their contacts right now, okay?" Carlo muttered to himself, sounding sincere.

Still, I knew his flirtatious nature—this sincerity was only temporary, and his love would fade with time.

I reached up to wipe the tears from my cheeks and smiled. "I told you, I don't mind."

Before, when I said this, Carlo was always pleased. Now, his expression suddenly shifted and darkened.

He stared at me and asked, "What if I said I've changed now, that I don't like this indifferent and understanding act of yours anymore? What would you do then?"

I quickly put on an appeasing smile. "Whatever you say goes. If you want me to care, I'll care. If you want me not to, I won't."

Carlo grabbed my wrist, gradually increasing the pressure until it hurt enough to make me frown. Only then did he finally let go.

"Wendy Santoro, don't get any ideas. We agreed from the start that no matter what I do outside, you'll stay out of it. Don't you dare go back on your word!"

Carlo's shift in mood came suddenly, leaving me momentarily at a loss. By the time I gathered my wits, all I could see was his back as he walked away.

The vast manor fell silent once more.

I saw Lucaro's spirit chasing after Carlo, punching and kicking him.

Then, he returned to me, murmuring, "Your wrist is all red. It must hurt a lot."

I met Lucaro's concerned gaze and felt my chest ache. I quickly hid the injured wrist with my sleeve, bit my lip, and held myself back from making a sound.

I was afraid I'd instinctively run to Lucaro and throw myself into his arms, crying and acting spoiled like I used to.

I missed Lucaro terribly, but to ensure that he could ascend to heaven smoothly, I had to keep the secret. I could only steal glances at him when he wasn't paying attention.

After Lucaro died, I had wanted to join him countless times.

However, I was afraid that his soul wouldn't reach heaven, that he'd be lost in this world with no home, and that I might forget him after I died.

And so, I was trapped here, with nowhere to go.

After a while, I finally calmed down and got up to cook myself a steak. Just as the pan heated up, a maid came to tell me, "Ms. Santoro, you have a visitor. She says she's your friend."

I couldn't help but feel puzzled. My friend? Who was it?

I looked where the maid pointed and saw a strikingly stunning face that was completely unfamiliar to me.

The moment the woman saw me, she slapped me several times. Caught off guard, I fell to the floor, feeling my cheek burn with pain.

A second later, a bottle was thrown at my head. "Wendy, how dare you steal my man! You bitch!"

I curled up helplessly in a corner. In my daze, I saw Lucaro's spirit step before me.

"Don't hit Wen! If you want to hit someone, hit me!"

Unfortunately, he was just a spirit. He couldn't protect me.

The things thrown at me passed straight through his body. He tried desperately to block them, but there was nothing he could do. For a moment, his movements looked almost absurd.

Still, I couldn't laugh at all. Instead, tears streamed down from the corners of my eyes.

When Carlo rushed back, he found me covered in blood, with shards scattered all around. I was curled up in a corner, silently crying.

Carlo's eyes reddened. Then, for the first time ever, he lost control and grabbed an antique vase, hurling it at the woman.

He ran over and gently held me. "Wen, I'm back. No one will hurt you again."

I looked past him to Lucaro, who was standing aside. He stood frozen, with one hand still outstretched, before slowly lowering it in defeat.

Tears spilled from my eyes like a broken dam.

Carlo had never seen me like this before and was momentarily at a loss for how to comfort me.

His movements were a little clumsy, but his voice was incredibly gentle. "I'm sorry I was late. Please don't cry. If you stop crying, I'll do anything.

"Wen, seeing you cry breaks my heart."

Carlo was usually domineering, and anyone who saw him like this would be shocked. After all, who'd believe that a once-promiscuous Don could now humbly coax a woman?

The woman who hurt me was the same. She went completely mad seeing this side of Carlo, screaming, "Carlo, our engagement was something you agreed to and something my Nonno acknowledged! You can't just abandon me like this!"

Carlo didn't even glance her way. "Anna Fiore, if you want to make such a scene, I don't mind having a chat with your Padre."

Anna instantly shut up, not daring to make a sound.

Carlo picked me up and carried me back to the room. The family doctors came in shortly after to treat my wounds.

However, my tears wouldn't stop, and my body trembled uncontrollably from crying. Several doctors stood around me, helpless, and they had no choice but to turn to Carlo for help.

Carlo walked over and hugged me tenderly. "That azure necklace you liked before, I'll have someone buy it for you right away, okay?

"And you said you wanted to see the ocean. Once you're healed, I'll take you there, hmm? I'll buy you a villa by the sea so we can go whenever you want.

"Wen, do you miss your parents? I'll have someone bring them to you right away, alright?"

Lucaro couldn't help but speak up in a low voice. "They've been dead for a long time. How are you going to do that? You planning to dig them up?

"You've bought her all those things many times already. She doesn't care about them. Just hold her tightly in your arms. You've been together for three years and still don't know how to comfort her."

…

By the time my emotions had calmed, it was already dark.

Surprisingly, Carlo continued holding me without leaving my side. He even kissed my cheek after seeing me calm down.

"How about I take you to the seaside tomorrow to clear your mind?" he offered.

I lowered my head, gently refusing. "No, I promised the priest I'd go to church to pray tomorrow."

Carlo was puzzled. "It's supposed to snow tomorrow. The roads will be slippery and hard to walk on. Do you really have to go?"

I looked down and said softly, "After you were almost killed in that assassination attempt, I went there day and night to pray. I made a vow to go every month so you would be protected."

Carlo was moved by my words. "Alright, then. I'll go with you."

I closed my eyes, suddenly exhausted. My eyelids felt as heavy as lead.

Carlo gently tucked me in and slipped out quietly. Drowsiness gradually overtook me.

Just as I was about to fall asleep, I heard my phone chime. I reached for it but realized it was Carlo's phone.

Normally, I would never invade his privacy. But that day, for some reason, I tapped open the message.

"Don Altieri, how was it? Wasn't Anna's performance today great?"