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?"

"Before, you were upset that Wendy never allowed you to touch her. Now that you've played the hero, was Wendy so moved that she cried?

"I guarantee that after today, Wendy won't refuse your advances anymore."

Even after reading the texts, my expression remained calm.

"Wen…" Lucaro's voice sounded in my ear.

I didn't look up, but I heard him let out a sigh.

A moment later, I set the phone back where it was, pretending nothing had happened.

The next morning, I woke to find Carlo gone. Only his trusted man, Enzo Lombardi, was waiting for me.

When he saw me, he explained, "Don Altieri has matters to attend to today, so he asked me to take you directly to the church."

I lightly replied, "Okay."

Enzo probably thought I was upset because Carlo wasn't with me, so he quickly added, "Don Altieri cares about you very much. He knew you were going there, so he specifically contacted the church to receive only you today."

I nodded in acknowledgement. Years ago, this church caught fire by accident. The Altieri famiglia donated money for its renovations, so naturally the priests there would show Carlo some courtesy.

"Let's go and not waste any time," I said.

Enzo hurried off to get the car.

I waited for a while, but when I still saw no sign of Enzo, I started walking toward where the car was parked.

There, I saw him instructing others. "Whatever you do, don't let it slip today that Don Altieri went shopping with Ms. Amy, understand?"

I stopped in my tracks and smiled wryly.

I really didn't mind Carlo fooling around outside. After all, the nature of my relationship with him was clear to both of us—I was just the decoy he put up to appease the famiglia.

I only complied with everything just so Lucaro could truly let me go and ascend to heaven smoothly.

But even such a performance had its limits. I couldn't truly sleep with Carlo, especially in front of Lucaro. Even sharing a bed was unacceptable to me.

Fortunately, Carlo didn't like forcing people to do things. He said he was willing to wait until I truly accepted him.

The car stopped at the church entrance, and I walked in alone. Despite the bright sunshine, it started raining the moment I stepped inside.

I saw Lucaro standing outside, unable to enter. The priest had explained before that spirits couldn't enter holy places like churches.

That was also why I could pray inside with peace of mind.

Inside the church, the priest, Piero Volta, had been waiting for me. He smiled when he saw me. "God has heard your prayers. Each candle you light brings your wish one step closer."

Father Piero and I had known each other for years. He was the first to extend a helping hand after Lucaro's incident.

After all these years, I really would never be able to repay all the kindness I had received. All I could say was, "Thank you, Father Piero."

He handed me a candle. Just as I was about to take it, I heard him say, "Ms. Santoro, it's not too late to change your mind. I believe that Mr. Ricci wouldn't want to see you do this if he knew."

I smiled, took the candle, and lit it. "Father Piero, after all these years of effort, I'm only one step away. As long as I willingly sacrifice myself when Lucaro gives up on me, he'll be able to enter heaven.

"For him, I will never regret it."

By the time I finished praying and left the church, it was already late at night.

I saw Lucaro standing to the side, quietly watching the entrance. This scene made me think of the times he used to wait for me while I shopped.

I had always enjoyed looking at every new item in a store. He wasn't interested, but he would just stand there, waiting for me.

Back then, with him standing quietly to the side, I thought he was unromantic and dull.

Now, looking back, I realized that what we had was beautiful. Lucaro loved me too much, and that love truly filled every little detail of our past life together.

It was also because of that love that he now found it hard to ascend to heaven, leaving him only as a faint spirit lingering by my side.

Unfortunately, I was "cold-hearted and unfaithful", having fallen for his rival soon after his death.

Even so, for the past three years, he had never let go of his obsession with me. It wasn't until he heard about Carlo and me discussing marriage recently that he realized that he had to leave.

What a fool. He was just a wisp of a spirit now. How could he protect me like before?

Although I was mad at him, I still slowed my pace to see if he was keeping up. It was so cold here. Even as a spirit, he had to be cold, too.

It would be best if he followed me home.

Lucaro followed behind me, complaining about why I didn't wear more clothes, telling me to walk more slowly and to be careful of the slippery path.

When he noticed Enzo, he asked carefully, "Wendy, when you spend so long praying at church, is it really only for Carlo? Did you think of me, even for a moment?"

I didn't dare look back or show any expression that might give me away. I gritted my teeth and clenched my hands tightly inside my pockets.

I had thought of him—every thought in my heart, every longing, was only for Lucaro.

But I couldn't say it, nor did I dare to.

Enzo approached me and said, "Ms. Santoro, Don Altieri is going up the mountain to race with a few friends. He asks if you would like to come, and that he wants you to bring him luck."

As soon as he finished speaking, I saw a black sports car approaching from a distance and stopping in front of me.

The car was extremely expensive, and I had heard that there were only five like it in the world. After Carlo bought it, he had it specially modified, spending hundreds of millions of dollars to do so.

The car window rolled down, revealing Carlo and a beautifully dressed woman in the passenger seat.

Before Carlo could explain, I calmly said, "Have fun, you guys. I'll head back first."

In the past, Carlo rarely troubled me. Especially now, since he had a beautiful companion by his side, I figured he wouldn't invite me out again.

That was why I hadn't expected that when Carlo heard this that day, he would make the beautiful woman get out of the car.

Carlo patted the passenger seat and called my name. "Wen."

I instinctively glanced at Lucaro beside me. I had promised him before that I would never do anything that endangered my safety.

But if I said that out loud, Lucaro would definitely become suspicious.

No. I only had one last step. I couldn't falter now.

"Alright." I obediently got in.

I was smiling, but my heart ached deep inside. I didn't even need to look at Lucaro to imagine his expression right now.

He had to be utterly disappointed in me.

Carlo hadn't expected me to agree. A flicker of emotion crossed his face as he lowered his head and kissed the back of my hand.

He was saying something gentle, but I didn't pay attention. I only heard Lucaro's voice in my ear.

"Wendy, did you forget your promise to me so quickly? Don't go! It's too dangerous! Have you already forgotten everything before? Or was I never important to you in the first place?"

A sharp pain pierced my heart, and for a brief moment, it felt almost impossible to breathe.

Just then, Carlo suddenly kissed me. But because I instinctively flinched, his kiss only lightly landed on my cheek.

Carlos didn't get angry. Instead, he just chuckled softly. "Wen, you're my lucky charm."

I didn't respond to him. I just looked out the car window at Lucaro's figure gradually fading into the distance.

Tears streamed uncontrollably down my face, but I quickly wiped them away.

Just wait a little longer, Lucaro.

In 12 days, all of this would come to an end.