Chapter 1

I lay motionless beside the couch, completely lifeless.

Tobias' footsteps suddenly came to a halt. "Ophelia?"

Panic surged through me, and I rushed forward to grab his hand, but my fingers passed straight through him.

"Tobias! Look at me!"

He couldn't hear me.

Tobias strode over, scooping me up from the floor into his arms. "Why were you sleeping on the floor?"

My head slouched limply. Frowning, he immediately supported the back of my neck, his tone softening.

"They’re already removing the flowers. Today was my fault. You can settle the score with me tonight, alright?"

He placed me back onto the couch and reached into his inner suit pocket, pulling out a black velvet box. Inside rested the family crest, an emblem reserved exclusively for the long line of Donnas in the Lombardo family.

The original crest was cast in solid gold. Last month, when I tried it on, I had casually mentioned that it felt too heavy. The very next day, Tobias sent the decades-old family heirloom away to be redesigned.

A few elders in the family had voiced strong objections, but Tobias had merely given them an indifferent look.

"Since Ophelia is the one who will be wearing it, it should be made to her liking."

Now, he gently pinned the crest onto my wedding dress. But the moment his fingertips brushed against my skin, he froze.

"Why are you so cold?"

I threw myself in front of him. "Check my pulse! Tobias, check my pulse!"

From the doorway, Rhea’s voice drifted in, laced with concern.

"The priest has been waiting for ages. If we delay any longer, those old men are going to think the future Donna doesn't want to get married."

Tobias didn't reply. Brows furrowed, he reached out and touched my cheek again.

Rhea stood by the door, glancing at me with a slight pause. "She had enough energy earlier to demand I clear out those flowers. She’s probably just exhausted. It shouldn't be anything serious."

Tobias remained silent. A moment later, he slipped off his suit jacket and draped it over me.

Watching his profile, a sudden wave of grief washed over me.

He had always remembered every little thing I said.

The first time I attended a family funeral with him, I was startled by the sudden honorary gun salute. From that day on, whenever I was present, the gun salute was always stationed as far away from me as possible.

I didn't like bodyguards carrying guns into our living areas, so the very next day, a new rule was instituted on our private floor: everyone had to disarm before stepping upstairs.

But Rhea was different.

She could push open the door to Tobias' study in the middle of the night, drink freely from his liquor cabinet, or call him away from my side with a single phone call after finishing a mission.

I had thrown a fit over it, but Tobias would always gently coax me first.

"She grew up with me, Ophelia. Don't take it to heart."

Rhea stepped further into the room, her eyes still rimmed red.

"They’re rushing us out in the hall."

Just as the words left her mouth, her gaze fell upon the family crest on my chest, and the corners of her mouth tightened.

She looked away and stepped forward, her hand outstretched. "Let me help adjust her veil."

Tobias raised his arm to block her. "Don't touch her."

Rhea blinked, taken aback. "I was just trying to help."

Tobias ignored her, keeping his eyes on me. His brow furrowed deeper. "What’s wrong with her lips?"

Rhea hesitated for a second.

"Maybe... she really is having a mild allergic reaction? But the flowers are already gone. She should be fine after resting a bit."

Right on cue, a bodyguard outside lowered his voice to remind him, "Boss, the senior elders have all arrived."

Tobias gave a brief nod. He stared down at me for a few seconds before tucking his suit jacket tightly around my shoulders.

"Darling, I'm going out to handle things first. I'll be back in ten minutes to get you."

After he left, the door clicked shut behind him.

Rhea remained in place with her arms crossed, staring fixedly at the family crest on my chest and then at the jacket Tobias had left over me. A wave of undisguised jealousy surfaced on her face.

"Still acting?"

When no reply came after a long moment, she let out a cold sneer and bent over to pick up my phone.

"Well, since you want to play dead, I'm sure you won't mind if I make this little drama even more exciting."