Chapter 2

To have to suffer such torment even after my death, perhaps it was karma for killing so many people while I lived.

I hovered beside Matteo, my translucent fingers shaking as I reached out to touch that tiny bone.

My baby…

This was the first time I was seeing him.

I hadn't cried when Isabella tortured me to death before dumping my body in the abandoned mine. Even when I witnessed someone cutting open my body, I hadn't cried.

Yet now, I couldn't help the tears from falling as I wailed in grief.

If the betrayal two years ago hadn't happened, this child would already be running around on small, stubby legs, waving his hands around while yelling "Papa" and "Mama". He would be the most treasured and revered Principe, the heir of the Costa family.

Now, however, he was nothing but shattered bones rotting in the musty ground.

Staring at the tiny bone, Matteo ordered icily, "Run a DNA test and find out who the deceased was."

Oh, Matteo…

If he had scrutinized my body even a little more thoroughly, he would've noticed the ring on my finger, its metal bent and blackened.

Back when he first put the ring on me, he had promised that no one would be able to harm me for as long as he lived.

Unfortunately, fate had other plans.

After accepting the test samples, Paolo asked off-handedly, "How long has she been dead?"

Matteo, who had been flipping through a report, paused in his motion. Before the coroner could answer Paolo, he asked, "How long has it been since that traitor, Francesca, disappeared?"

Upon hearing my name, Paolo was momentarily surprised before he gnashed his teeth. "Two years. Don Costa, have you forgotten? After she betrayed the family and ran off, you publicly renounced her and even issued a kill-on-sight order!"

He had publicly renounced me and even issued a kill-on-sight order? I was half the reason the Costa family was what it was now, an empire built on all the blood I had spilled over the years! Matteo clearly knew that!

How could I possibly betray the family?

Yet, because of Isabella, he had me pinned to the pillar of shame for the past two years?

"Don Costa? Why did you suddenly think of her?" Paolo took in the dark expression on Matteo's face, then glanced at my body. "Back then, she betrayed the family and caused the death of so many of our men. She even nearly killed Ms. Rossi. Why would you still think of a traitor like her?"

Matteo gave a self-deprecating laugh. "I have no idea either. Probably because this person also died two years ago. I'll leave the rest to you all. I have to get back as Bella is still waiting for me."

When Matteo left, my spirit was forced to follow him.

The moment we entered the manor, I realized that the house I had personally decorated had long since changed. Not only was the decor different, but the wedding photo of Matteo and me that had been mounted on the wall had been replaced by one of him and Isabella.

"Matteo, you're back!"

Upon hearing the noise of Matteo's return, Isabella appeared and threw herself into his arms.

Matteo deftly caught her, winding his arms around her waist as he stooped down to press a kiss on her forehead.

They were a match made in heaven indeed.

Such sweet intimacy stopped being mine ever since Isabella stepped into our lives.

Matteo swept her off her feet and into his arms, his eyes inadvertently landing on the faint scar marring her leg.

I watched as disgust flashed across his face before it was swiftly replaced by deep pity and heartache.

"Does your leg still hurt?" Setting her down on the couch, Matteo rested a hand gently on her left calf.

Isabella's eyes instantly reddened. She bit down on her lower lip and shook her head. "No… As long as I can stay by your side, this little bit of pain is nothing."

Matteo's gaze shone with heartache as he began lightly massaging her leg. "Two years ago, that crazy bitch Francesca broke your leg to stop you from notifying us about her actions. Now you ache every time it rains or is humid. I promise I'll get revenge for you one day!"

His last sentence was dripping with hate and resentment.

Floating nearby, I screamed at him, "It wasn't me! I never hurt her! She was the one who broke her leg herself! It's all a ploy! Matteo, are you an idiot? How could you pin this crime on me, just like that?"

Yet, my furious yells landed on deaf ears as my voice dissipated into the void.

Ever since Isabella came into our lives, the trust between Matteo and me became thinner than paper.

Once upon a time, I had thought my relationship with Matteo to be unshakable, unbreakable. After all, our feelings for each other had been built on a foundation of spilled blood and sacrifices.

I once took a stab meant for him, even went to jail for his sake. The others used to say I was even more courageous and tougher than any man, and that I was the soul of the Costa family.

I used to think that we would always be together, that I would stand by his side, shoulder to shoulder, as we fought for our future.

That was, until Isabella arrived in our lives three years ago.