All Chapters of Graveyard Confessions: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

Evelina gathered the signed papers without a word and walked straight toward the estate's front doors. I watched her leave without so much as a backward glance, her car kicking up dust as it disappeared down the drive.The toxin surged, and an endless darkness swallowed my vision.When I regained consciousness, the sterile scent of hospital medication hung in the air, and Lola Rinaldi was sitting at my bedside.She was Evelina's closest friend since childhood, one of my most capable assistants, and someone I considered a trusted friend. She was also the one who had introduced Evelina and me all those years ago.If she had never brought us together, I would never have met Evelina, and I would never have walked into a marriage where I was the only one in love.The moment I opened my eyes, Lola's gaze flooded with worry. She placed her fingertips gently over the back of my hand. "Don Valenti, how are you feeling? Has the burning from the toxin eased at all?"I managed a faint smile.

I did not know why, but death did not deliver me into God's embrace. Instead, I became a transparent spirit, drifting behind Lola and watching everything that followed.As my most capable assistant, Lola possessed an extraordinary ability to take charge. She immediately mobilized the people around me, locked down the hospital, and secured my body.At the same time, she contacted the family elders and coordinated every detail of the funeral arrangements.After the incident, I had called my younger brother back from abroad to take over the family's affairs so the organization would not fall apart without me.Lola kept vigil through every night in the family's memorial hall where my urn had been placed, going over the funeral preparations until morning.Although staff members assisted with every task, the toll on her was impossible to miss. She grew thinner and more exhausted by the day.Three nights before the funeral, the vast memorial hall was empty except for Lola.She sat alon

Lola stopped mid-step.I turned to look. Enzo had frozen on stage just as he was about to lean in and kiss Evelina, false warmth still plastered across his face. "My dear, why did you stop? The guests are waiting for us to finish the ceremony."Evelina looked at him, apologetic. "I'm sorry. There's something I need to confirm in person, and it can't wait."Enzo's expression darkened instantly, but with a room full of guests watching, he swallowed his anger and forced a smile. "My dear, what could possibly be more important than our wedding? Do you want me to come with you?""No. I'll be quick. It won't take long."Evelina gathered her skirt and hurried over to Lola. "I'm going to the cemetery with you. I want to see for myself whether he's actually dead."Even now, she still refused to believe I was gone. She was still convinced it was all an elaborate trap I had set to punish her.Lola studied her face for a long moment, then gave a slow nod. "Fine. I'll take you."I drifted a

Lola drove my parents back to the estate to rest, then went alone to the penthouse lounge where my personal belongings were kept.I followed her there. The balcony was filled with every variety of daisy imaginable.Years ago, Evelina had mentioned in passing that she liked daisies, so I had spared no effort hunting down rare breeds, tending to them myself every day, and never allowing anyone else to touch them. On every occasion worth celebrating, I would pick the most perfect bouquet and give it to her.She threw them in the trash every time.Lola stood before the sea of daisies, her voice barely above a whisper. "You know, I was the one who liked daisies. That day, I was working up the nerve to tell you how I felt, but you fell for my best friend the moment you laid eyes on her. All I could do was step back and wish you well."I stared at the sadness on Lola's face, a bitter ache rising inside me.All those years, I had been so consumed with chasing after Evelina that I had com

Evelina shook her head frantically. "I never wanted to fight over the business. I'm just worried that you don't have the experience to run something this size. If the entire Valenti empire is in your hands, it's only a matter of time before it falls apart.“Leo poured his whole life into building it. I can't just stand by and watch it all be destroyed."Yes, this is all for Leo. Anyway, he owed me this much."Lola turned toward my damaged headstone, tears sliding down her cheeks. "Leo, did you hear all of that? This is the woman you loved with everything you had. You've only been gone a few days, yet she's already out here scheming over what you left behind with an outsider."She stepped forward and seized Evelina's wrist. "What I told you this morning didn't get through your thick skull, did it? Leo never forced you. The whole thing was staged by your parents. All Leo did was play along because he didn't want to watch you walk into a trap."He didn't owe you anything, so stop ins