Chapter 2

Camilla's POV

The blizzard still hadn't let up by the time we made it back to the cabin. Antonio carried Simona inside while his two men walked on either side of them, shielding her from the wind and snow.

I trailed behind them. The prolonged exposure to the cold had slowed my movements. Every bone in my body ached, and I felt as though I might collapse at any moment.

Forcing myself through the pain, I struggled toward the cabin one step at a time. Antonio, who had already gone inside, turned back with an irritated expression. "Camilla, hurry up and get inside. We're letting too much cold air in, and Simona can't handle it."

I paused before taking another step toward the door, only to see Simona cling to Antonio's arm. "Antonio, I left my underwear in the RV, and I need it for tomorrow. Can you have Camilla go get it for me?"

Antonio turned to me. "Camilla, go back to the RV and get it. These two need to stay here and look after Simona."

The blizzard was still raging outside. I looked down at my fingers, red and numb from the cold. The RV was about a kilometer away. Sweat had broken out across my forehead from the pain, but the bitter wind had already frozen my face numb.

"Can't we ask the driver to bring the RV over?"

Antonio's expression darkened. "Camilla, we only rushed back here because you passed out. I'm just asking you to go get some clothes."

All I could do was pull my winter jacket tighter around myself and head back into the blizzard.

By the time I returned, Antonio and Simona were sitting on the couch watching television. The moment Simona saw me, she quickly got to her feet, a trace of malice flashing in her eyes. "Camilla, it's freezing outside. You're back already?"

Antonio slipped an arm around her shoulders and said casually, "She's always been pretty tough. Don't worry about her."

But that wasn't what he'd said five years ago, when we'd first gotten together.

Antonio was the head of a powerful crime syndicate, while I was an ordinary woman. When he started pursuing me, everyone questioned whether his feelings were genuine.

Then I was badly injured in a car accident and fell into a coma. Antonio stayed by my side for three days and nights without sleeping.

When I finally woke up, he pulled me tightly into his arms, his tears falling onto my clothes. "Sweetheart, I can't lose you. While you were unconscious, it hurt so much I thought I was going to die."

But a year ago, Simona's father died saving Antonio's life. Before he died, he entrusted his daughter to Antonio. From that day on, all the tenderness Antonio had once given me went to Simona instead.

In the middle of the night, the side effects of my targeted therapy medication hit me again.

A sharp pain tore through my chest, as if a blade had been driven straight into me.

I quickly swallowed a painkiller, but a moment later, I started vomiting. Blood poured from my mouth and nose, staining nearly the entire bathroom floor red.

I clutched my chest, struggling to breathe. I realized then that the pain wasn't only physical. It felt as though there was a hole torn through my heart as well.

Antonio's voice came from outside the door. "Simona's stomach is hurting again. Go get the painkillers."

Then came the distinct sound of footsteps moving away.

I forced myself to clean the blood from the floor. By the time I finished, it felt as though my soul had been drained from my body, leaving me weightless and hollow.

I could clearly feel myself getting weaker by the day.

The doctor had warned me that if I didn't get admitted to the hospital and start treatment soon, I might not even make it another ten days.

But my engagement party with Antonio was in three days.

I knew I would never become his wife. I wasn't going to make it that far.

Before coming here, I'd thought I could at least see the engagement party through. After five years together, I wanted to give our relationship a proper ending.

Now, suddenly, even the engagement party seemed pointless.