Chapter 1

Whispers rippled through the guests, sharp and slicing.

Heat crawling up my neck, as if their eyes were peeling me alive.

“Bianca… I know I’ve wronged you.”

Valentina stepped toward me. The woman who had always carried herself like a princess now wore a rare expression of guilt.

“But the doctors said I have no more than a year left.” Her voice trembled.

“I just wanted to wear a wedding dress before I die. This is my only wish.”

“Please… let me have it.”

When she said these, her eyes held the same stubbornness she’d had since childhood.

She looked exactly like the little tyrant she’d always been—always taking whatever she wanted, always taking from me.

I turned to Luca, my voice shaking.

“Luca… is this what you want too?”

His gaze flickered between us, struggle flashing across his eyes.

“Bianca, please understand. Your sister is sick. And she’s pregnant…”

He reached for my hand. Instinctively, I stepped back.

“Dad… Marco… you too?”

My father let out a heavy sigh and placed a hand on my shoulder.

“Bianca, let your sister have this. She doesn’t have much time left.”

My brother looked uncomfortable but still nodded.

“It’s just one wedding. You can have another one later.”

Cold spread through my body.

These people—my family—looked familiar but felt like strangers.

And then, before anyone could react, Valentina suddenly snatched the gun from Luca’s waist and pressed it against her temple, tears streaming down her face.

“I should just die right now!” she cried.

“I won’t burden any of you… and Bianca won’t hate me anymore!”

A collective gasp rippled through the room.

Just as she was about to pull the trigger, the priest lunged forward from behind and ripped the gun from her hand.

Surrounded by comforting arms, Valentina sobbed so hard she could barely breathe.

“I know Bianca never liked me. Just let me go… Let she have what she wants…”

“Bianca, this is too far!” my brother snapped, fury blazing as he moved to strike me.

Luca stepped between us.

“Don’t touch her!”

Then he turned to me—

the gentle eyes he had all the time burned with cold and disappointment.

“Bianca, apologize to Valentina. Tell her you don’t mind.”

His tone was soft… but left no room for refusal.

My throat tightened. Luca clearly wasn’t going to let this go.

“I’m sorry…”

I whispered, the words falling apart as tears streamed down my face.

I felt like I couldn’t even breathe staying in that place, so I ran out of the church — straight to the house Luca and I were supposed to stay for tonight.

The world had never felt so hollow. I have no idea what to do. I just numbly packed my suitcase.

This house—

I had chosen it with Luca.

I had spent weeks working with the designer.

It was supposed to be our “home”.

Now it became nothing but a cruel joke.

“Bianca, what are you doing?”

Luca rushed in, freezing when he saw my packed luggage.

“Where are you going?”

He grabbed my wrist.

“Bianca, don’t do this. This was…not what I wanted.”

“Valentina is sick and emotional. Don’t hold it against her.”

I lifted my head and looked at him.

The man I loved for years was now no more than a stranger wearing his face.

“Luca… don’t you even understand how cruel you were to me today?”

“You stood beside her. You had a wedding with her. What did that make me?”

“Bianca, you’re overreacting.” He froze for a moment, then pulled me into his arms.

“I just want to fulfil her last wish. It doesn’t mean anything.”

“Just one year. We’ll have our wedding then.”

I kept my mouth shut.

There was nothing left to say.