Your Life Comes Before Mine

By the time I finished praying and left the church, it was already late at night.

I saw Lucaro standing to the side, quietly watching the entrance. This scene made me think of the times he used to wait for me while I shopped.

I had always enjoyed looking at every new item in a store. He wasn't interested, but he would just stand there, waiting for me.

Back then, with him standing quietly to the side, I thought he was unromantic and dull.

Now, looking back, I realized that what we had was beautiful. Lucaro loved me too much, and that love truly filled every little detail of our past life together.

It was also because of that love that he now found it hard to ascend to heaven, leaving him only as a faint spirit lingering by my side.

Unfortunately, I was "cold-hearted and unfaithful", having fallen for his rival soon after his death.

Even so, for the past three years, he had never let go of his obsession with me. It wasn't until he heard about Carlo and me discussing marriage recently that he realized that he had to leave.

What a fool. He was just a wisp of a spirit now. How could he protect me like before?

Although I was mad at him, I still slowed my pace to see if he was keeping up. It was so cold here. Even as a spirit, he had to be cold, too.

It would be best if he followed me home.

Lucaro followed behind me, complaining about why I didn't wear more clothes, telling me to walk more slowly and to be careful of the slippery path.

When he noticed Enzo, he asked carefully, "Wendy, when you spend so long praying at church, is it really only for Carlo? Did you think of me, even for a moment?"

I didn't dare look back or show any expression that might give me away. I gritted my teeth and clenched my hands tightly inside my pockets.

I had thought of him—every thought in my heart, every longing, was only for Lucaro.

But I couldn't say it, nor did I dare to.

Enzo approached me and said, "Ms. Santoro, Don Altieri is going up the mountain to race with a few friends. He asks if you would like to come, and that he wants you to bring him luck."

As soon as he finished speaking, I saw a black sports car approaching from a distance and stopping in front of me.

The car was extremely expensive, and I had heard that there were only five like it in the world. After Carlo bought it, he had it specially modified, spending hundreds of millions of dollars to do so.

The car window rolled down, revealing Carlo and a beautifully dressed woman in the passenger seat.

Before Carlo could explain, I calmly said, "Have fun, you guys. I'll head back first."

In the past, Carlo rarely troubled me. Especially now, since he had a beautiful companion by his side, I figured he wouldn't invite me out again.

That was why I hadn't expected that when Carlo heard this that day, he would make the beautiful woman get out of the car.

Carlo patted the passenger seat and called my name. "Wen."

I instinctively glanced at Lucaro beside me. I had promised him before that I would never do anything that endangered my safety.

But if I said that out loud, Lucaro would definitely become suspicious.

No. I only had one last step. I couldn't falter now.

"Alright." I obediently got in.

I was smiling, but my heart ached deep inside. I didn't even need to look at Lucaro to imagine his expression right now.

He had to be utterly disappointed in me.

Carlo hadn't expected me to agree. A flicker of emotion crossed his face as he lowered his head and kissed the back of my hand.

He was saying something gentle, but I didn't pay attention. I only heard Lucaro's voice in my ear.

"Wendy, did you forget your promise to me so quickly? Don't go! It's too dangerous! Have you already forgotten everything before? Or was I never important to you in the first place?"

A sharp pain pierced my heart, and for a brief moment, it felt almost impossible to breathe.

Just then, Carlo suddenly kissed me. But because I instinctively flinched, his kiss only lightly landed on my cheek.

Carlos didn't get angry. Instead, he just chuckled softly. "Wen, you're my lucky charm."

I didn't respond to him. I just looked out the car window at Lucaro's figure gradually fading into the distance.

Tears streamed uncontrollably down my face, but I quickly wiped them away.

Just wait a little longer, Lucaro.

In 12 days, all of this would come to an end.