He Faked His Death I Faked My Love

"Eliana, are you serious?" Julian Hayes called the moment he received my message.

The moment I said yes, his voice trembled with unconcealed joy.

"That's wonderful! But I'm still overseas; it'll be a few days before I can get back. Eliana, can you wait for me? I'll come for you next week!"

I agreed without a second thought. If Lorenzo was willing to fake his own death just to be rid of me, there was no reason for me to hold on any longer.

The next day, the De Luca family held a memorial service for him at the estate's chapel. I dressed in black mourning clothes, ready to attend… only to be stopped at the door by the family's Soldati.

"Ms. Ricci, you cannot enter."

I stiffened, my voice turning to ice. "I am his widow. Why can't I attend?"

"Eliana, I'm so sorry," a cloying voice cut in. "But Lorenzo gave instructions before he passed—there was to be only one woman at his memorial, and that woman is me."

Carina stood before me, a delicate wreath of lilies in her hair, her words laced with malice.

"You've been cast out by the De Luca family. You have no place here. You should leave on your own before you embarrass yourself further."

My chest heaved with anger. "This is the De Luca estate. What right do you have to tell me to leave?"

"And what if 'Matteo' was the one who said it?" A smirk played on her lips, her eyes dripping with contempt.

A familiar figure passed the doorway. Then, with startling speed, Carina grabbed my hand, slammed it against her own chest, and threw herself violently to the ground.

"Carina! Are you alright?"

"Matteo"—no, Lorenzo—rushed over, pulling her up with a look of alarm before turning to roar at me.

"Eliana, what the hell do you think you're doing? Carina was just trying to talk to you, and you dared to lay a hand on her?"

"Matteo, it's all my fault," Carina murmured tearfully, her eyes wide with wounded innocence. "I just assumed she knew about today's arrangements, so I told her. I didn't expect her to react so strongly. If she doesn't want me at the memorial, I'll just leave."

She made to turn away, but he caught her wrist and pulled her into a tight embrace.

"No, Carina, you've done nothing wrong. The one who should leave is her."

He held her gently, but his gaze turned on me, seething with disgust.

"Eliana, my brother made it clear that only Carina could attend. You have no right to be here. Leave on your own before I have you thrown out. Don't embarrass yourself."

I stared at the face I had loved for five years, now a mask of cruelty. The pain in my chest was so sharp it stole my breath.

He had sworn we would be together forever, until death do us part. Eliana, we'll be together forever.

And yet, the man who had pledged his eternal loyalty to me wouldn't even let me attend his fake funeral.

"Matteo, are you sure those were Lorenzo's words?"

I gave him one last look, a sliver of hope still flickering in my heart.

But I knew the truth—he was Lorenzo. And the coward would do nothing but hide behind his brother's name to crush me.

For a fleeting moment, his expression wavered, but it quickly hardened again. "Of course. Eliana, you have been cast out of the De Luca family. Do not show your face at an event like this again."

Without another glance at me, he led Carina away.

Tears blurred my vision. My heart plummeted into a darkness so profound it felt like I was suffocating. Five years of love, and I wasn't even allowed a proper goodbye.

Fine, I thought, a bitter resolve hardening inside me. If you think she's more deserving, then so be it. I'll cut all ties and leave you to each other.

When I returned to the estate, physically and emotionally drained, I picked up the phone and dialed the number of a discreet private clinic.

"Hello, yes, I'd like to schedule an abortion for tomorrow."