Chapter 3

After I signed the divorce papers, a single drop of blood suddenly fell onto the table, less than an inch away from the papers.

Enrico frowned. "What's wrong with you? Why is your nose bleeding? Did you get injured during the abduction?"

The rare show of concern almost made me spill the truth.

"Enrico, actually I—"

Suddenly, his phone rang, cutting me off. It was a video call from Rita.

Perhaps seeing the concern on his face, she asked him what was wrong.

"Elisa suddenly got a nosebleed. I'm not sure if she's injured. I'm thinking of taking her to the hospital for a checkup."

Rita's soft voice came through. "The air's been really dry lately. I had a nosebleed yesterday too."

Enrico immediately became anxious. "How are you now?"

"I'm fine. The doctor said it's just the dry air. There's a humidifier in my room now."

I silently watched them talk.

When Enrico noticed my gaze, he awkwardly ended the call and said to me, "The air's been pretty dry lately. You'll get better soon."

I'd get better soon?

I wished I could believe that.

However, I knew that the nosebleed was a sign my body was falling apart. The drug just numbed the pain so I couldn't feel it.

I walked into the bathroom and bent down to wash my face.

As I looked up at the mirror, everything suddenly went black. I stepped on something and almost lost my balance.

To steady myself, I reached out to grab whatever I could. Bottles and jars from the countertop crashed to the floor.

It took a while before my vision cleared again.

Enrico and Ivana rushed in at that moment.

The floor was a mess.

Ivana spoke first. "Mamma, you agreed to sign the divorce papers yourself. Why are you throwing a tantrum? Zia Rita is still in the hospital because of you. She's the one who should be mad!"

Enrico's expression darkened. "Elisa, I've already told you. This is a temporary divorce. We'll remarry once Rita gets better. And Ivana's right. You agreed to the divorce and to leave with nothing. So why are you throwing things around now?"

Throwing things around?

Having a tantrum?

So they thought I was upset about the divorce.

I didn't bother to explain. "I don't have a husband or a cent to my name now. Is it wrong for me to throw a few things?"

I ignored them and stayed in the guest room to rest.

…

In the middle of the night, my phone suddenly woke me up. Rita sent me a video recording.

The thumbnail showed Enrico and Ivana huddled together in the frame, with Rita's pale face in the upper right corner.

I played the video, and Ivana's voice immediately came through. "I miss you so much, Zia Rita! Can I visit you tomorrow?"

Enrico gently scolded, "Rita still needs to rest. If you go, you'll just tire her out more."

Rita replied, "Ivana's such a good girl. She wouldn't tire me out."

Enrico's expression softened. "Alright, I'll bring her to visit you, then."

Then, Rita shyly asked, "Enrico, you said you'd give me a grand wedding. Is that true?"

"Certo. Once you're better, we'll have the wedding ceremony."

Ivana leaned in again. "Zia Rita, I want to be the flower girl at your wedding."

The video ended there.

Then came Rita's message.

"Scusa, Elisa. Besides your business and parents, now your husband and child are mine.

"You can just die in peace.

"I'll inherit everything you have."

Couldn't she wait? I wasn't even dead yet.

I had 48 hours left. There was still something I needed to do.

After some hesitation, I dialed a number I hadn't called in five years.

The moment the call connected, the receiver was filled with curses from the other side.

"You actually called me? I thought you'd never speak to me again when I told you to break up with Enrico! What's wrong? Finally remembered I exist on your deathbed?"

She was my childhood best friend, Gianna Baxter, the Principessa of the Baxter family.

When I was dating Enrico, we had a huge argument. She said he wasn't good enough for me, and if I married him, she'd never talk to me again.

At my wedding, she publicly said that I could only choose between Enrico and her.

I smiled faintly. "Gianna, I really am going to die."