Gone Before He Loved Me Chapter 08

Gone Before He Loved Me Chapter 08

The screen kept playing.

Next clip—Aurora in a mask, walking through the asylum hallway. A wad of cash in her hand, passing it to an orderly.

Then a phone recording—Vivian’s voice, negotiating.

“Get my daughter a fake treatment order. Copy Matteo’s handwriting. Crank the voltage to max…”

The guests were all standing now. Phones out, recording.

Aurora stumbled backward, knocked over a flower arrangement. Roses scattered everywhere.

Vivian rushed the stage, grabbed the officiant’s microphone, screamed.

“Fake! It’s all fake! Someone’s framing us! Security!”

Matteo stood frozen. Staring at the screen. His fists clenched.

I walked down the stairs slowly. Came to the front.

The moment Matteo saw me, his pupils dilated.

His lips trembled. “Lucia…”

I didn’t look at him. Took the microphone from Vivian’s hand. Faced the crowd.

“I’m Lucia. I’m not dead.”

Chaos erupted again.

Aurora collapsed to the floor. Almost broken.

“No… no, you’re not Lucia… the real Lucia died years ago… you’re just some fake!”

I ignored her. Opened Enzo’s file. Read it aloud, page by page.

Bank statements. Medication records from the hospital. Transcribed phone calls between Aurora and Vivian.

Vivian’s lips quivered. She pointed at me, screaming at security.

“Arrest her! What are you waiting for?! She’s insane—she escaped from the asylum!”

Security started moving toward me—

The church doors burst open.

Officers filed in. The lead one held up a document.

He walked to Vivian. “Mrs. Santoro, you’re under arrest for attempted murder.”

She tried to run. Cuffs clicked on.

Another officer approached Aurora. She fought, tore her dress—and her arms were exposed.

That’s when I saw why she wore long sleeves.

Her arms were covered in scars. Fresh ones.

Everyone froze.

Matteo crossed to me, grabbed my hand. Urgent.

“Lucia, I never loved her—believe me. I suspected she was the one hurting you. I’ve been punishing her ever since, in my own way. Marrying her was just to take everything from her…”

Aurora heard it. Sobbed.

“No… Matteo, I endured all these years… I thought you loved me… why…”

She didn’t resist anymore. Let them take her.

I pulled my hand gently from Matteo’s. Looked at him coldly.

“Matteo. It’s too late.”

Enzo rushed to my side. Voice soft. “Are you okay, Lucia?”

I nodded. Turned. Walked away with him.

…

Six months later. At my father’s grave. I laid a bouquet of flowers.

“Dad. I avenged you.”

Vivian got death for premeditated murder. Aurora, life for attempted murder.

My father’s estate came back to me. Those two evil women got nothing.

The day the verdict came down, I finally let myself cry.

Matteo never gave up. Found new ways to beg every single day.

But it was far too late.

Because Enzo proposed. And I said yes.

During those three years of fighting for the truth, I’d already fallen in love with him.

Matteo was just the past now.

Dusk was falling. I stood, touched my father’s headstone.

“Dad. I’ll come see you again next year.”

I turned. Took Enzo’s hand.

We’d settled in France. Our flight left tonight.

The evening breeze picked up. Enzo draped his jacket over my shoulders.

I smiled at him, laced my fingers through his, and we walked down the hill together.

In that moment, I finally found peace.