3

The flames kept spreading.

Gritting my teeth, I grabbed a shard from the broken mirror, hacked off the skirt, kicked off my heels, and stumbled out.

My calves were red and swollen from the burns, my hands and feet were bleeding, and I looked like I'd been living on the streets.

The pain drained every bit of strength I had, and I collapsed on the ground.

Not far away, Eileen was wrapped in Luciano's jacket. Other than her slightly messy hair, she looked completely fine. Even her wedding dress was as white as ever.

Even so, Luciano anxiously asked if she was hurt. Only after confirming that she was fine did he notice me lying on the ground, barely conscious, and hurry over.

The ambulance arrived, and the paramedics wheeled out a stretcher.

"There's only room for one patient at a time. Who goes first?"

Luciano already had his hand under my back, ready to lift me, when Eileen suddenly cried out in pain.

He stopped. "What's wrong?"

"My foot really hurts. I think I twisted it." Eileen bent down and rubbed her ankle.

Luciano's jaw tightened. He hesitated.

Through the haze, I felt his fingers tense against my back and then release me. He turned around, picked her up, and put her on the stretcher.

I couldn't hold on any longer. Everything went black.

When I woke up, I was in a hospital bed, and Luciano was gently applying ointment to my hands.

"You're finally awake. You scared me to death. The doctor said you were lucky none of your vital organs were injured. I found the best ointment available. You won't be left with any scars."

I didn't say anything. Concern and anxiety flickered in his eyes.

"The smoke was so thick. I heard someone call for help and could only make out a figure who looked a lot like you, so I carried her out. I didn't realize until later that I'd saved the wrong person. Baby, I'm sorry."

I shook my head. My heart hurt so much that it had gone numb.

I knew everything he said was an excuse.

Eileen had always been the first person he wanted to save.

Luciano suddenly noticed that my left hand was bare. Sounding a little nervous, he asked, "Eleanor, where's your engagement ring?"

I looked at the pale band of skin where the ring had been.

"Maybe it slipped off in the chaos and fell into the fire."

He looked relieved. He immediately promised to get me a new one and have a tailor make another wedding dress for me overnight.

Just then, one of his men approached and whispered something in his ear. I could just make out Eileen's name.

Luciano's expression changed at once. He gave me an apologetic look and tried to reassure me. "I have something to take care of. You rest."

After he left, two nurses walked past my room, chatting.

"Eileen's fiancé is so sweet. She woke up from a nightmare, and he rushed right over to comfort her."

For the next few days, Luciano didn't come to see me.

Meanwhile, Eileen kept posting photos of them holding hands. One caption read, "No matter what happens, he's always by my side."

I didn't want to stay there any longer. After a few days of rest, I insisted on going home.

The maid handed me an envelope with a plane ticket for the wedding day and some cash inside.

I started packing right away.

When I first moved in, this house had been empty. Now it was filled with things I'd added one by one.

Rare antique furniture, paintings by famous artists, expensive handmade rugs, and more fine jewelry and designer clothes than I could count.

I used to think they were proof of our love and the life we'd built together. Now I realized they could belong to anyone. Not one thing in this house could prove that I, Eleanor Ashford, had ever lived here.

I should have seen it a long time ago.

So I packed only a few changes of clothes and my documents into a small suitcase.

The wedding day would also be the day I left.

While packing, I suddenly realized that the necklace I always wore was missing. My parents had given it to me when I turned 18.

I retraced every place I'd been recently. I searched the hospital and the bridal shop, which was closed for renovations, but couldn't find the necklace anywhere.

Disappointed, I told myself I must have dropped it in the fire and that it was gone for good.

Then a notification popped up on my phone.

Eileen had posted a new photo with Luciano, and my necklace was around her neck!

Using the location she'd tagged, I drove straight there.

It was an old villa. Bodyguards in black suits stopped me at the door, but luckily, the butler was nearby. He told them to let me through and escorted me inside.

"Ms. Ashford, it's family dinner tonight. The Don is in the dining room. I'll take you to him."

"No need."

I strode off alone toward the dining room he'd pointed out.

There were 20 or 30 people seated around the long table. Luciano and Eileen sat side by side, chatting with familiar ease.

An elegant older woman with silver hair smiled at them and raised her glass.

"Luciano, now that you've finally found a girl you love, I can rest easy. From now on, the Marino family heirloom ring belongs to Eileen Vanderhall."

Without thinking, I stepped back, and my heel struck the corner of the wall with a sharp click.

Almost at the same moment, I heard guns being cocked, and dozens of eyes turned toward me.