Your Life Comes Before Mine

The night wind was chilly, so I went back to the living room and sat down for a bit. Unknowingly, I drifted off to sleep.

In my dream, I saw the day Lucaro left me. He was riddled with bullets, his body torn and bloody, yet he still managed to hang on just to see me one last time.

Once he saw me, the pain-twisted expression on his face softened a little. "Wen… don't forget me."

I cried until I fainted, murmuring over and over, "Caro, I beg you, don't leave me!"

When I woke up, I met Carlo's inscrutable gaze. I froze in place, and my back was covered in cold sweat.

Carlo was born privileged. If he knew the real reason I was with him, not only would I be punished, but even Lucaro's remains wouldn't be safe.

I trembled, unsure of what to say to Carlo.

Unexpectedly, he gently wiped the tears from my face and asked, "Why are you crying? I said I wouldn't leave you."

I was still in shock when Carlo pulled me into his arms and said, "You calling me by my full name always makes you sound so distant."

My lips parted, but I couldn't think of what to say.

Carlo didn't press me to speak up. He said gently, "If you don't like me being away, you can just tell me. I'll spend more time with you.

"Or is it that you don't like me seeing those dancers? I'll delete all their contacts right now, okay?" Carlo muttered to himself, sounding sincere.

Still, I knew his flirtatious nature—this sincerity was only temporary, and his love would fade with time.

I reached up to wipe the tears from my cheeks and smiled. "I told you, I don't mind."

Before, when I said this, Carlo was always pleased. Now, his expression suddenly shifted and darkened.

He stared at me and asked, "What if I said I've changed now, that I don't like this indifferent and understanding act of yours anymore? What would you do then?"

I quickly put on an appeasing smile. "Whatever you say goes. If you want me to care, I'll care. If you want me not to, I won't."

Carlo grabbed my wrist, gradually increasing the pressure until it hurt enough to make me frown. Only then did he finally let go.

"Wendy Santoro, don't get any ideas. We agreed from the start that no matter what I do outside, you'll stay out of it. Don't you dare go back on your word!"

Carlo's shift in mood came suddenly, leaving me momentarily at a loss. By the time I gathered my wits, all I could see was his back as he walked away.

The vast manor fell silent once more.

I saw Lucaro's spirit chasing after Carlo, punching and kicking him.

Then, he returned to me, murmuring, "Your wrist is all red. It must hurt a lot."

I met Lucaro's concerned gaze and felt my chest ache. I quickly hid the injured wrist with my sleeve, bit my lip, and held myself back from making a sound.

I was afraid I'd instinctively run to Lucaro and throw myself into his arms, crying and acting spoiled like I used to.

I missed Lucaro terribly, but to ensure that he could ascend to heaven smoothly, I had to keep the secret. I could only steal glances at him when he wasn't paying attention.

After Lucaro died, I had wanted to join him countless times.

However, I was afraid that his soul wouldn't reach heaven, that he'd be lost in this world with no home, and that I might forget him after I died.

And so, I was trapped here, with nowhere to go.

After a while, I finally calmed down and got up to cook myself a steak. Just as the pan heated up, a maid came to tell me, "Ms. Santoro, you have a visitor. She says she's your friend."

I couldn't help but feel puzzled. My friend? Who was it?

I looked where the maid pointed and saw a strikingly stunning face that was completely unfamiliar to me.

The moment the woman saw me, she slapped me several times. Caught off guard, I fell to the floor, feeling my cheek burn with pain.

A second later, a bottle was thrown at my head. "Wendy, how dare you steal my man! You bitch!"

I curled up helplessly in a corner. In my daze, I saw Lucaro's spirit step before me.

"Don't hit Wen! If you want to hit someone, hit me!"

Unfortunately, he was just a spirit. He couldn't protect me.

The things thrown at me passed straight through his body. He tried desperately to block them, but there was nothing he could do. For a moment, his movements looked almost absurd.

Still, I couldn't laugh at all. Instead, tears streamed down from the corners of my eyes.

When Carlo rushed back, he found me covered in blood, with shards scattered all around. I was curled up in a corner, silently crying.

Carlo's eyes reddened. Then, for the first time ever, he lost control and grabbed an antique vase, hurling it at the woman.

He ran over and gently held me. "Wen, I'm back. No one will hurt you again."

I looked past him to Lucaro, who was standing aside. He stood frozen, with one hand still outstretched, before slowly lowering it in defeat.

Tears spilled from my eyes like a broken dam.