Chapter 2
The night wind in the church parking lot carried a chill as I pulled my coat tighter and walked quickly toward my car. Behind me, I could hear Marco's hurried footsteps.
"Val, wait!" His voice carried obvious irritation.
I didn't turn around, continuing forward.
"Valentina!" Marco's hand grabbed my arm, his grip tight enough to make me wince. "What the hell do you think you're doing? Embarrassing me in front of the family?"
I shook off his hand and turned to face him. His face looked distorted under the dim streetlights, those eyes I once loved deeply now only made me sick.
"Embarrassing you?" I laughed coldly. "Marco, you think you were the one who got embarrassed tonight?"
"You know what Lucia went through. She needs our support—"
"She needs your support," I cut him off, "not ours. I'm very clear about the difference."
Marco's face grew even uglier. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Just as I was about to answer, a deep voice came from behind us: "Need any help?"
I turned to see Dante stepping out of that black sedan. His tall frame seemed especially imposing in the darkness. Even in this tense atmosphere, his voice remained calm and reassuring.
"This is none of your business, Dante!" Marco angrily turned toward his uncle. "This is between me and my wife!"
Dante walked closer, his gaze moving between Marco and me. "Doesn't look like a friendly conversation."
I took a deep breath, looking at Marco's face flushed red with anger. The fear and pain from my past life suddenly surged up.
"We're talking about divorce tomorrow."
The moment those words left my mouth, the parking lot fell eerily silent. Marco's expression looked like he'd been struck by lightning.
"Are you insane?" His voice was almost a shriek. "Divorce over some little misunderstanding? Val, what's wrong with you?"
Dante's eyes narrowed as he studied Marco's aggressive stance. "Marco's definition of a 'misunderstanding' seems rather violent."
Marco turned to Dante, his eyes flashing with dangerous light. "You better stay out of our business!"
"Then let's see about that." I said calmly.
Marco's face completely darkened. He moved closer to me, his voice low and threatening: "Val, if you dare divorce me, I'll make sure you get nothing. Absolutely nothing."
The moment he finished speaking, Dante stepped between Marco and me. "Don't threaten her."
The two men faced off, tension thick in the air. I knew I needed to get out of here before things got worse.
"I want to go home." I looked at Dante. "Could you give me a ride?"
Dante nodded. "Of course."
Marco stared at us, anger and disbelief mixing in his eyes. "Val, you're actually letting my uncle drive you home? What are you trying to pull?"
I ignored him and walked straight to Dante's car.
Sitting in the leather seats of Dante's car, I could finally breathe. The interior was quiet, only the low hum of the engine and occasional passing traffic outside.
"You okay?" Dante's voice broke the silence.
I turned to look at him. He was focused on driving, his profile particularly striking in the dashboard's dim glow.
"Dante," I hesitated, "if I told you that Lucia's victim status is all fake, would you believe me?"
He didn't answer immediately, instead stopping at a red light and turning to look at me seriously. "Do you have proof?"
I shook my head with a bitter smile. "I had it in my past life. This time I need to collect it again."
"Past life?" His eyebrow raised slightly, his voice carrying an emotion I couldn't read.
I realized I'd let something slip, but strangely, I didn't want to take it back. Maybe it was because this man gave me a sense of safety, or maybe because I desperately needed someone who could understand me.
"I know this sounds crazy," I said softly, "but I've been through all this before. I know how Lucia framed me,I know about the relationship between her and Marco, and I also know..."
My voice caught. The images I saw before dying in my past life flooded back: Marco and Lucia kissing in the hospital corridor, documents transferring family assets, and Lucia's triumphant smile by my hospital bed.
"I know how they planned to kill me."
Dante's hands tightened on the steering wheel. The light turned green, but he didn't immediately drive.
"They hurt you." It wasn't a question.
"They killed me." My voice was barely a whisper. "It started with what looked like an accident – a truck crashed into my car. But when I was rushed to the hospital, barely alive... that's when they finished the job. They gave me poisoned blood during the transfusion, knowing about my heart condition, knowing I couldn't survive it."
Dante started the car, but I could feel the coldness radiating from him.
"This time will be different." He spoke quietly, but with a reassuring firmness in his tone.
I looked at him, a strange feeling rising in my chest. "Why? Why are you willing to believe what sounds like crazy talk?"
He glanced at me, something unreadable in his eyes. "Because I've been watching. Sometimes, even without evidence, intuition tells you the truth."
When we reached my house, I saw Marco's car already parked there. He was leaning against the car door, and seeing us return together, his expression instantly twisted with rage.
"This is your choice?" Marco rushed toward us, his voice hoarse with anger. "Being with my uncle?"
"Marco, you better calm down." Dante got out of the car, positioning himself in front of me.
"Calm down?" Marco laughed maniacally. "My wife is alone with my uncle, and you want me to calm down?"
He suddenly swung his fist at Dante, but Dante was faster. He dodged and grabbed Marco's wrist, restraining him.
"If you dare have any inappropriate relationship with my uncle," Marco struggled while still being held, his eyes fixed on me, "I'll destroy you! I'll let the whole family know what kind of slut you are!"
Dante's grip tightened on Marco's wrist, making Marco gasp in pain.
"I told you, don't threaten her." Dante's voice carried a dangerous edge.
He released Marco, who rubbed his wrist, eyes full of venom.
"You'll both regret this," he pointed at us, "I guarantee you'll regret this!"
With that, he turned and walked to his car, the engine roaring as he drove away.
Dante walked me to the door, and as I was getting my keys, he suddenly spoke: "Val."
I looked up at him.
"Call me if you need anything." He handed me a business card. "Anything at all."
The moment I took the card, our fingers briefly touched. A strange current ran through my body, making my heart suddenly race.
"Thank you." I said softly.
He nodded and turned to leave. I watched his figure disappear into the night, complex emotions swirling in my chest.
Back in my room, I sat exhaustedly at my vanity. Everything that happened today felt like I'd been through a war. But this was just the beginning – I knew harder battles lay ahead.
Just as I was about to take a shower, something small on my vanity caught my attention. It was a USB device I'd never seen before, with a small note attached:
"Want to know the truth? —A friend"
My hands trembled slightly as I picked up the USB. What was this? Who put it here? My heart began to race.
