Chapter 2

I took a taxi back to the Bellini estate.

I had returned only to pack my things.

And to find the evidence left behind by the car accident three years ago.

But the moment I opened the door, I froze.

Nothing had changed.

The wool rug I had chosen still covered the entryway, and my slippers were still sitting in the shoe cabinet.

The thin blanket I always used was still draped over the dark green sofa in the living room.

It was as if time had frozen here, leaving everything untouched like some silent memorial.

I walked over to the dining table and sat down, staring absently at the photograph beside it.

In the picture, I was holding up a finger covered in cream. Marco had turned his head away to dodge me, but his arm was still wrapped tightly around my waist.

We were both smiling without the slightest guard, our smiles as pure as clear water.

Seven years of love could not be forgotten simply because I had decided to forget.

I lowered my eyes and tightened my grip on the white pill in my palm.

Twenty hours remained before I forgot him completely.

I had no idea how much time had passed when the lock suddenly clicked.

Marco walked in.

I was about to say hello when Violetta's face appeared from behind his shoulder.

My heart slowly sank.

"Leah?" Marco asked casually as he took off his shoes. "Did the wedding dress fit?"

The smile on Violetta's lips stiffened.

"I didn't try one on."

Marco's movements paused for a moment, while the smile quickly returned to Violetta's face.

"Leah, the wedding is less than three days away."

Marco rubbed his brow, impatience in his voice. "You're going to be my Donna. Don't be difficult at a time like this, all right?"

"Don't rush her, Marco. Leah is probably just nervous."

Violetta slipped her arm through Marco's as though it were the most natural thing in the world and continued, "She just got out of prison, so it's only natural that her figure has changed. Maybe she's afraid the wedding dress won't fit. You should be more understanding…"

"Shut up."

I cut her off, my voice cold and completely flat.

Violetta's eyes immediately reddened, and she turned toward Marco.

"I'm sorry. I was only trying to ease the tension between the two of you."

Marco glanced at me with a dark expression but said nothing.

Violetta suddenly turned back to me. "Leah, you've been angry with me all this time because you spent three years in prison, haven't you?"

Tears finally spilled from her eyes. "But all I did was tell the truth…"

"Enough!" Marco suddenly snapped. "Leah made a mistake, but she has already paid her debt."

He swept his hand through the air. "It's over. No one is ever to mention it again."

I stared at him and suddenly found the whole thing utterly absurd.

Three years.

One thousand and ninety-five days.

With a single sentence—"No one is ever to mention it again"—he erased all of it on my behalf.

For a moment, my tears seemed ready to fall, but in the end, they did not.

Just as some words reached my lips, only to be swallowed again.

There was no point in saying anything more.

"It's been a busy day, so we'll have to make do with takeout for dinner."

Marco set the takeout containers on the table. "Leah, I made a special detour to get these. They're all your favorites."

Violetta sat in my seat.

I walked over to her. "Get up. That's my seat."

She looked up at me with an innocent smile.

"It's my seat too. For the past three years, I've sat here at every meal."

Just as I reached out to pull her up, Marco caught my wrist.

"It's just a seat. Do you really need to make such a big deal out of it?"

He yanked me aside.

I stumbled and nearly fell to the floor.

Marco turned toward me, his face filled with impatience. "Violetta had a frightening experience today. Let her have the seat."

From behind him, Violetta gave me a smug smile.

I glanced at the clock on the wall.

Only nineteen hours remained before I forgot Marco completely.

Until I got what I had come back for, I needed to remain calm.

I lowered my eyes and quietly finished dinner.

That night, when Violetta made a fuss and demanded that Marco stay with her and soothe her to sleep, I did not object.

There was no need to argue over someone I would soon forget.

Around midnight, when I figured everyone had fallen asleep, I quietly got out of bed.

Marco was in the habit of keeping all important documents locked inside the safe in his study.

The original records from the car accident three years ago might also be inside.

As long as I found them, I would know the truth.

I wrapped my hand around the doorknob and gently pushed the door open.

But someone was standing on the terrace leading to the study.

Violetta turned to look at me.

And in her hand was a gun.