My Death Turned the Don Into a Lunatic

The freezing harbor wind sliced into my face. I kneeled on the frozen stone slabs of the Vesta family's private dock, watching Carlo Vesta storm ashore while Benedetta Conti lay soaked in his arms.His black coat was wrapped tightly around her, revealing only the pair of red high heels on her feet."Get a doctor! Now!" Carlo's roar echoed through the night as more than a dozen bodyguards in black suits sprang into motion."Carlo, don't blame Margherita. She didn't mean to push me…" Benedetta murmured weakly in his arms, her face pale as paper.Carlo lowered his head and gazed at Benedetta. For the first time, I saw a tenderness in his eyes that he had never shown me before. "Don't speak. Save your strength."He carried her toward the nearest car without sparing me a single glance.I struggled to stand, wincing as my knees scraped raw against the unforgiving stone.A bodyguard steadied me and handed me a dry towel. "Ms. Rossi…""I am fine." I shrugged off his hand and forced

When I came back to consciousness, I found myself floating above the room. My body was still curled up in the corner of the cold storage, and a thin layer of frost was covering my skin.I couldn't bear to look, so I turned and passed through the heavy iron doors, heading for Vesta Manor. The ballroom was alive with a party to celebrate Benedetta's recovery.Under the crystal chandelier, Carlo wore a black velvet suit, holding a glass of whiskey. Benedetta sat beside him in an armchair, with a cashmere blanket draped over her legs. She still looked pale, but her makeup was flawless."The doctors said that if we'd been five minutes later, she wouldn't have made it," Matteo Conti, Benedetta's Papa and the Vesta family's Consigliere, said, raising his glass. "Carlo's quick reaction saved her."The guests echoed the toast, raising their glasses in unison."Where's Margherita?" one elder asked. "She should be here."Carlo's face grew colder. "She's reflecting.""She's still in the col

Carlo burst into the cold vault with a crowd behind him. Bodyguards, the butler, and the representative from the partner company all followed at his heels. Every one of them froze at the doorway.Flashlights and emergency lights crossed in the dim space, illuminating the corner where my body lay curled on the ground. My skin had turned a sickly blue-purple, and my fingers were still clenched tight.The representative sucked in a sharp breath, covered his mouth, and stumbled backward.Carlo stood frozen. I watched the color drain from his face until it turned paper-white."What… What is that?" a bodyguard asked, his voice shaking."Shut up," Carlo said softly, almost in a whisper.He walked forward slowly. His leather shoes crunched against the frost-covered floor. He crouched in front of the body and reached out, but his hand stopped just short of my face."Margherita?" he called softly.There was no response.With a gentle nudge to my shoulder, my stiff, curled body slumped i

Carlo locked himself in the study, pulling every surveillance feed and questioning everyone involved.I lingered at his side, like his shadow.He summoned the guard from the cold storage. "Who came by that night, aside from Margherita?"The man stammered, "No one…""Tell me exactly what happened," Carlo barked, pounding the desk. "You know the price of lying."The guard dropped to his knees. "Mr. Vesta! I heard the click of high heels around 1:00 am. They stopped near the power room. I didn't see her face—only red heels."Carlo repeated slowly, "Red heels?"The guard nodded. "Yes—red heels. She was gone almost instantly."Carlo closed his eyes. It was Benedetta's signature red soles.He pulled up the power room's electronic lock records. The system showed the door had been opened at 12:40 am that night, and the user access card belonged to Conti, B.It was really Benedetta. She had used Matteo's backup access card to open the door.He then pulled up the cold storage's power

My funeral was held that afternoon.Carlo arranged it with the highest honors, as befitting the future Donna of the Vesta family. My gravestone was placed right beside his mother's, engraved with:Margherita Rossi Vesta1998–2023Eternal BridePapa wept uncontrollably during the ceremony. He nearly rushed forward, clutching Carlo's neck. Carlo stopped the bodyguards who tried to intervene and said, "I'm sorry, Mr. Rossi. This is my fault."Tears ran down Papa's cheeks as his eyes smoldered with grief and fury. "My daughter… You killed her!""You could kill me if you wish," Carlo said calmly. "The Vesta family would never seek revenge."Papa eased his grip, and Carlo grabbed his throat, coughing violently."When Margherita said she wanted to marry you, I didn't want to agree. I hoped she could marry an ordinary man and live a normal life," Papa said as he wiped away his tears. "She said she loved you, and that if she couldn't be with you, her life would be over."Tears streamed