Chapter 3

After I hung up, Lola rose to her feet. "Don Valenti, let me come with you."

I was about to refuse, but she spoke first, her eyes full of concern. "I won't tell Evelina that you don't have long. I just can't let you go alone. Not like this."

I did not have the strength to argue. I gave a small nod.

The federal courthouse in Valetta had a private VIP corridor reserved exclusively for the city's elite families and local mafia clans. Within it, there was absolute discretion.

I spotted Evelina from a distance, standing by the ornate iron gates with Enzo at her side. Years had passed, but he had not changed at all. He was still the same man, skilled at wearing that mask of tenderness and devotion.

When she saw me arrive with Lola, surprise flickered across Evelina's face. "Lola, why did you come?"

Lola's expression was hard. "Evelina, are you really going through with this divorce? Think about it. He's given you everything for years, and you had the entire Valenti family's resources at your disposal. Do you know how many women in this city would kill for that?"

Evelina's lips curled into a mocking smile. "Leo, did you bring Lola here to talk me out of this? Are you trying to win me back?"

Before I could speak, Lola cut in. "He didn't send me. I came on my own.

"Evelina, wake up. The Don loves you more than your own parents do. After all these years, you can't pretend you haven't felt that."

Evelina's brow creased, but she could not find the words to argue.

Enzo stepped forward, placing himself directly in front of Evelina. "I'll admit that Leo treated her well, but you can't force someone to love you. Love goes both ways, and the only man Evelina has ever loved is me. My feelings for her are every bit as strong as his."

Lola's eyes filled with contempt. "You have the nerve to talk about love? You left Valetta without a word and abandoned Evelina. She cried herself to sleep every night, yet you didn't feel an ounce of guilt. The only person you've ever loved is yourself."

Enzo froze, visibly uncomfortable.

Evelina's face darkened. "Lola, there's no need to keep dredging up the past. Enzo had no choice when he left. He never meant to abandon me.

"This whole thing started with Leo. He used the Valenti family's power to threaten my parents, cut off any chance I had of going abroad, and forced me into this marriage. He's the only one to blame."

"The truth about what really happened back then is actually..." Lola was about to reveal everything, but I cut her off.

"You're right. It was all my fault. There's no point rehashing the past. Let's go inside and get this over with."

"Don Valenti!" Lola called out, desperate to keep trying.

I shook my head gently, a look that told her to let it go. Explanations had lost all meaning long ago. Evelina's heart belonged entirely to Enzo, and no amount of truth was going to warm a heart that had never been mine.

The divorce certificate was placed in Evelina's hands.

Enzo hurried to her side, beaming. "My dear, you're finally free. We can finally be openly together!"

I looked up, waiting for Evelina to celebrate. To my surprise, there was no joy on her face. She simply stood there with her head bowed, staring at the gold-embossed document in her hands without a word.

A brief flicker of hope passed through me. Could she possibly have regretted this, even for a moment?

The thought vanished as quickly as it came, and I shook my head at my own foolishness. This divorce was what she had dreamed of day and night for years. There was no chance she would waver.

Lola spoke softly. "Evelina, it's not too late to change your mind. You can still start over."

Enzo shot her a sharp glare. "Evelina will never regret this. She's never had feelings for Leo. The only way she'll ever be truly happy is with me."

Lola let out a scornful laugh. "And what exactly can you give her? Since you got back, all you've done is bounce from bar to bar. You can't even cover your own expenses without Evelina footing the bill. You're nothing but a parasite."

Enzo looked away, scrambling for a defense. "Happiness isn't just about money. I can give Evelina something no one else can, which is real companionship."

"That smooth tongue of yours is all you've got," Lola fired back.

I understood that Lola was trying to bring Evelina to her senses, but years of devotion and unconditional love had failed to change her mind. A few words of persuasion could never uproot something that had taken hold so deeply.

The divorce was finalized. I did not want any further entanglement.

"Lola, let's go," I said quietly.

Lola let out a long sigh and turned to Evelina, her eyes heavy with disappointment. "You're going to regret this."

Evelina's expression did not shift. "I'll never regret this.

"Because I never loved you."

Our eyes met. Hers held nothing but hatred.

A violent pain erupted through my chest and tore across my entire body. My limbs seized, and I could not breathe.

Evelina did not look at me again. She took Enzo's arm, got into the car, and was gone.

I clamped my hand over my mouth as warm, thick blood seeped through my fingers. My vision went dark, and my legs gave out before I hit the ground.

I could hear Lola screaming, her voice raw and shattered. I tried to raise a hand to comfort her, but my body felt weightless. My fingertips passed straight through her shoulder without any sensation of touch.

I looked down in confusion, past my own translucent hands, and saw the medical team rushing toward me with a stretcher.

That was it.

I was dead.