My eyes broadened as I saw Antonio at the entrance of the house. His clothes were totally tattered and his face was tarnished with sweat and dirt. Everyone’s attention turned to him while he ambled deeper into the room. My lips broke and my eyes almost went out of their sockets. “Antonio” Guila, while tearing up, ran to him. She encased him in a tight hug and wrapped her hands around him while her eyes let out more tears. Antonio’s eyes were everywhere apart from me. I remained static on the floor with oceans of tears in my globes. “Don Antonio, you are alive,” Ottaviano said and bowed his head. Antonio nodded and immediately took his eyes away from him. I still couldn’t believe my eyes. My memory trailed back to his wrist watch which was shown to me and I saw his car burn to a crisp while I didn’t see him jump out of it.“Antonio, you are alive” Kira rushed to him immediately Guila broke away. Antonio’s face was blank whilst Kira rushed to him with a broad smile. “Stop!”Antonios’
Kira stormed up the stairs immediately she apologized to me. I, on the other hand, remained Stagnant on the floor. Antonio Stepped to me. At last, his eyes fell upon me. I couldn’t believe that the one I thought was dead was then standing in front of me. My heart was hefty not because he was alive but because I realized that as much as I didn’t have a preference for him, I didn’t want him dead. He unfurled his hand to me. After a few seconds of hesitation and staring at him in wonderment, with his help, I stood up from the floor. Tears crammed up in my eyes as we locked orbs together. His eyes were more open and it was as though he gave me free access to them this time around. There was something softer about the way he gazed.I hurriedly hugged him and girdled my hands around him, clenching and gluing firmly to his body.“I’m happy you are alive” I whimpered and still grasped him. Holding him one more time was ecstatic. It was also the first time I hugged him of my own accord. I br
.-.-.-.-.-“Please Let go of me!” I cried while the guards dragged me. They held my arms tightly and yanked me into the house with my kneels brushing the floor.It was really agonizing but I couldn’t overpower them. I was just a juvenile and had no resilience. My arms became sour and my knees filled with injuries. I was taken into a dark room with no single ray of brightness. “Please, I don't want to be here. Mama, please help” The last person's face I saw before I was thrown into the dark room was my mother's face. She stood close to the staircase with her eyes filled with tears. Her hands were folded which she placed in front of her, a little bit lower than her breast level. I was scared and balked. I heard sounds in the room but couldn’t see anything. I stood up and clung to the wall, my hands pressing firmly to it. My heart was pummeling so fast. My legs were fluttering as I had never been in such a situation. I really wished it wasn’t my situation but then I couldn't escape wh
My heart ached profoundly when I beheld the image of the familiar lady, the same one I had encountered previously. However, this time, she stood alone in the photograph. Her mesmerizing eyes captivated my attention, while her ebony, coiled tresses harmonized flawlessly with her rosy lips. As I caressed the picture, a surge of anguish coursed through my being, intensifying the pain in my heart. I yearned to unravel the mystery surrounding her identity and the reason for Antonio's unwavering attachment to her likeness. Instinctively, my heart whispered that she was the object of Antonio's infidelity, but doubts clouded my mind. I yearned for absolute certainty.Seated in his chair, I leaned back, my hands remaining steadfast on the table, the photograph clasped in my right hand. I continued to scrutinize her countenance, my face contorted with a mix of confusion and curiosity. As I delved into various conjectures that might align with the circumstances, uncertainty persisted. Each conte
"We have never had sex. He has never touched me. I have never felt his warmth in that way," I confessed, my hands gripping the duvet tightly, seeking strength. Uncertain of how she would react, I felt a wave of relief after dropping the bomb."Wait, what?" Guilas exclaimed, her eyes widening in shock. Her mouth stretched to the extreme, and her eyes bulged out of their sockets. Tears welled up in my eyes."Are you saying Antonio is impotent?" she questioned, and I gently tapped her to lower her overly loud voice. She nodded and brought her right hand close to her mouth."Yes," I confirmed with a nod. I wasn't certain if telling her was the right decision, but regardless, I felt relieved after sharing."Oh goodness, I can't believe the almighty Antonio Luca, Capo dei Capi of the Cosa Nostra, isn't even a complete man. Gosh!" she exclaimed, shaking her head in clear disgust and disappointment."Please don't say that," I cautioned her, tilting my head."And why shouldn't I? He always goe
"Emilia?" Guila's surprise was evident, her face contorting with confusion, and her eyebrows furrowing."Yes," I nodded eagerly, hoping she would acknowledge knowing the name or the person. After a brief moment of rolling her eyes, she finally spoke."Yes, I know that name.""Oh, you do?" I questioned, my eyes widening with anticipation. I was completely dumbfounded when she confirmed it. I anxiously awaited her response, desperately hoping for some insight."Yes, I do. There are actually two people I know with that name. One was my classmate back in high school, and the other is also a classmate. Unfortunately, one has passed away, while the other is currently in Spain," she explained. It didn't quite make sense to me."Did Antonio have any connection to either of them?" I pressed, narrowing my eyes. I needed to uncover the truth, as my heart couldn't bear the weight of overthinking the potential links between Emilia and Antonio."No, there's no way Antonio knows either of them," Gui
"I apologize," I murmured, my gaze locked onto Kira's face. Her cheeks flushed crimson, resembling the fiery hues of the Red Sea.Emerging from Guila's room, I accidentally collided with Kira. I had managed to slip out of Ahi Oaks' rooms, providing her with the fabricated response she desired. Yet, as Kira stared at me in silence, she abruptly turned and walked away. I was taken aback, for the Kira I knew would never depart without unleashing a barrage of curses.I watched her until she disappeared completely, seeking solace in her own room. Bafflement clouded my narrowed eyes. Shrugging, I made my way to my own quarters, my mind still preoccupied with Guila's revelations. The more I contemplated them, the more a sense of discomfort engulfed me. It was unfathomable to believe that Antonio could inflict such cruelty upon another person simply because their eyes had grazed the threshold of a room. My curiosity was now fully aroused, and I yearned to uncover the contents within that nece
I felt a firm grip on my wrist, causing my entire body to freeze instantaneously. I couldn't even sense my own breath anymore. To make matters worse, I was unable to turn around, trapped in this pitch-black darkness. My nerves ceased to function, and the courage that had fueled me on this mission evaporated in an instant.With trepidation, I slowly turned backward, only to be confronted by the menacing gaze of Antonio himself. He stood tall, his usual frown etched upon his face, radiating intense anger and hatred. It was as if he had transformed into a shadow of his former self, the Antonio I had known during these past few weeks after the bomb incident.My lips twitched, but I struggled to find the right words to utter. My throat felt dry, and my lips stuck together. My heart pounded heavily within my chest as I trembled inwardly, my hands shaking uncontrollably. Even without a single word from Antonio, my legs quivered with fear. His silence alone spoke volumes, chastising me with a