~ANTONIO~ I walked back to my room and Margaret's call came in again. I decided to answer it this time.“Yes, Margaret,” I said briefly.“Antonio, how do you like my present?” She asked with a shrill, excited voice.“What did you gain from this, Margaret?” I asked.“A lot. I was finally able to open your eyes to see Pink Butterfly's real colors. I knew she's been hiding something and deceiving you” she said excitedly.“How did you get those pictures?” I asked.“Oh that! My spy sent it to me” she replied nonchalantly.“Wait. You sent someone to watch my wife?” I asked in disbelief.“Yes. I noticed there's something odd going on between Luca and Gemma at the last party in your house and since then, I asked someone to watch them” she replied.“What the fuck is your problem, Margaret? Why didn't you just mind your business? You just ruined my marriage with Gemma and friendship with Luca” I screamed.“I did it for you Antonio. I don't like you being dec
~GEMMA~ I woke up and looked around me. The room was quite dark but I could tell where I was. I coughed and raised my hand up then I noticed I was receiving drips.I didn't even know someone was sitting beside me till he spoke.“Gemma, sweetheart, you're awake. Are you okay?” Antonio asked.“Get away from me you monster” I shouted weakly. I was still feeling weak.“I'm so sorry darling. I shouldn't have done this to you. I didn't know what came over me. I'm sorry sweetheart” he apologized.I stared at him speechless.What has come over him? Why's he apologizing? I'm also at fault here.“Luca. What did you do to him?” I asked.“I taught him a little lesson and sent him back home,” he replied.“What the fuck did you do to him?” I screamed.“If you keep caring for him like this, it'll make me want to kill him,” he said.I suddenly went quiet.“We're leaving the country in three days time, get ready” he informed me.“What??! What do you mean?? Leave the coun
~GEMMA~ Antonio and I walked back to the room and then he suddenly slammed the door shut and locked it. I wasn't expecting his next action and so it took me by surprise. He pushed me forcefully to the wall and kissed me forcefully. He sucked my lips in his aggressively while I struggled to free myself.A hot slap landed on my cheek, as my eyes became clouded with unshed tears. “Antonio, please. I beg you, don't do this" I whimpered like a hurt puppy.“I've seen why you've been avoiding my touches since. It's because you've been receiving touches from Luca and having sex with him” he shouted.“What has suddenly come over you this evening? You were sweet this evening” I said.“I want you. You're mine Gemma, the earlier you accept it, the better for you. You can't run away from me. I'll make sure you submit yourself to me and it's now" he whispered with a deadass tone and I shook in fear.My heart began palpitating, wanting to break free from its rib ca
~ANTONIO~ It was the chill that had woken me. The sudden coolness of my body where there had once been the warm softness of Gemma's smooth curves curled against me, underneath me. Now there was a waft of colder air that followed the cautious movement she had made from the bed.Oh, she had tried to be careful as possible. She had made every effort not to disturb me and had eased herself, inch by painful inch, away from me and out into the room.She would only be taking such care if she was trying to hide actions from me. The way she had crept from my bed, her obvious need to be gone and not to be seen leaving, caught on my nerves, tugging me wide awake in a second.Not that I showed it. I wanted to be able to watch and observe, to see just what she was planning, before I reacted at all. I had heard her making plans to escape with someone on the phone, it is obviously Luca but I didn't know when, but I think she's about to escape now and I wanted to confirm
~ANTONIO~ I was waiting patiently in the private room with Marco and Gemma. Gemma was still sitting helplessly on the floor at one corner and crying her eyes out.Her cries increased when I brought in my torture equipments and she knew Luca was done for.For some reason, I knew Mateo and Tristan were going to come back with Luca. But if I were to be Luca, I wouldn't come back here for any reason.I was right when the door opened and Luca came in with Mateo and Tristan. I had instructed them to bring Luca to the private room when they finally found him.“You came. Such a loyal lover” I mocked and laughed.“Where is Gemma? Where is she?” He asked.“Over there” I pointed to Gemma's direction.He ran to her and crouched down beside her, touching her all lovingly and checking her out.“Are you okay? Did he hurt you? Did he hit you?” He asked at once.“You shouldn't have come here. Look around you, he's going to kill you with that stuff” she said.Luca
~GEMMA~ I was in the car with Antonio, Isabella and Nanny Emilia. We're leaving the country two days after Antonio Luca and I are trying to escape.He released Luca and sent him home almost half dead when I agreed to go with him.I could feel the pain, hurt and that Luca's heart was broken when I chose to go with Antonio. My words seemed to cause more damage to him and hurt him than all the beatings and torture Antonio melted out to him.But I had no choice, he would die if I didn't do what I did. And I don't want him to die because of me. I don't mind living in misery with Antonio all my life just to save him. He's worth it and more.“When will you start putting yourself first, Gemma?” My inner voice asked.I rolled my eyes and heaved a deep sigh.There's one thing I need to learn! To put myself first! First it was my best friend, Gabriella and now it's Luca.I can't blame myself though, it's because I love them both so much.I was sitting at the
~ANTONIO~ Margaret's dead. She's lying lifelessly in my arms.“Noooooo” I screamed loudly.“Don't die on me, don't do this to me” I cried out.“I'm sorry…. I'm so sorry, Garet. I'm sorry”I held her in my arms for a long time, sobbing fervently with memories of us flooding in my head. Memories of the happy, fun times we had. Our laughters echoing in my head. The way we ran around my house playing like babies. The way we danced together, argued, fought, ate together, had sex and lots more.“I'm sorry Garet. I killed you, I'm so sorry” I apologized.I lifted her up from the floor and took her to her car and laid her on the back seat.Then I walked back to my own car.“I'll take her body home. Let's go back. You'll drive this car while I drive her car” I told Gemma.She nodded and wiped off her tears. I walked back to Margaret's car, entered the car, started it and drove off while Gemma followed behind me. ~GEMMA~ I sat back i
Ivan watched Antonio leave. He couldn't do anything now as he's still heartbroken. Everything still looks like a dream to him.But the dead body of Margaret he held in his arms made him realize that it wasn't a dream. Margaret is really dead! A reality that he has to accept whether he wants to or not.“I swear, I'll kill you Antonio” he swore. “Even if I have to die in the process, I'll kill you” “Explain what you said earlier” Gabriella said, when she finally forced her tongue to speak.She was so shocked when she heard her best friend, Gemma, is the cause of her sister's death.How did Gemma know Margaret?How did she cause her death?Her sister had clearly told her that she doesn't know Gemma or have any connection with her, so how did Gemma cause her death?“Explain yourself,” she repeated.Ivan went on to explain everything he knew about Gemma's and Margaret's beef, everything!!Gabriella was shocked beyond words when he finished.“You mean to tell me that my sist
~GEMMA’S POV~ We got to the prison and they locked both Gabriella and I in a cell room and told us we'll be awaiting trial.We were asked if we wanted to contact our lawyers and we said yes. Margaret's lawyer is going to stand as Gabriella's lawyer.I looked around me and sighed heavily!I think I've gotten used to being locked up in a cell. I was starting to be their regular customer.But now, how do I cope with a baby in my womb in this cell?I'm glad that Nanny Emilia is there to take care of Isabella. They must be so worried about me.**** Gabriella and I didn't speak to each other for three days in the cell. I was still very angry at her and so I ignored her even though she tried to show me care when my early pregnancy symptoms started.I asked for a bowl and threw up in the cell room.“Are you pregnant, Gemma?” She finally asked.I didn't reply to her and looked away.She stood up from where she had been sitting and came to sit beside me.“G
~GEMMA’S POV~ I was coming back from the shopping mall and was driving home in my car. I was almost home when suddenly a car blocked my path and stopped.I quickly pressed the brakes to prevent bumping into the car.Who could it be? Who will be after my life now? I know I have so many enemies but I've resigned from being the “Pink Butterfly”I told the crime family and mafia group that I was no longer interested in working with them. It's war as they didn't want me to quit but they finally accepted.And I've asked Mateo and Marco to go their own ways, so now I have no guards protecting me.I saw the door of the other car opening and the driver stepped out. It was Gabriella.What's she doing here? And why is she blocking my path?She walked to where I was sitting and knocked on the door.I wind the glass down.“What is it?” I asked.“Come down, we need to talk” Gabriella said harshly.“Okay” I replied and opened the door and stepped out of the car.Immedia
“What did you just say?” Gabriella asked when she's finally able to speak. She's speaking in a low voice.“You heard me right,” Ivan replied. He's whispering.“What do you mean by that? How could you ask me to do such a thing? You want me to feel guilty for the rest of my life?” Gabriella asked.“That's the only way I can get out of this. I told you my greatest fear is rotting away in prison and it's about to come to pass now”“I don't want it. And I don't want to tell my dad and implicate him. He's the leader of a Russian Mafia group and would be apprehended and arrested by the police”“And I know my father, he would never go down without a fight. He'll rather die than allow himself to get arrested and I'm not sure if I would be getting out of here anytime soon. One of us must live, one of us must be alive and since I'm already locked up here, I have no choice but to do it” Ivan explained.“Still, you shouldn't have asked me to bring poison for you so you can kill yourse
~GEMMA’S POV~ I woke up and saw that I was lying on a bed in the hospital. I looked around me, no one was with me in my corner.Apart from the other patients in their own beds, no one was beside me and the sudden realization hit me.I was finally alone! Luca is dead. Antonio is dead too.If they were still alive, I would have woken up to either one of them sitting beside me and waiting for me to wake up.I started crying again. Luca's death pained me more.“I'll miss you so much, Luca, so much” I cried out.The doctor walked into the room and approached me.“You're awake, Mrs Gemma” he said.“Where is Luca?” I asked.“The man that died in front of the prison gate? His body is at the mortuary now” the doctor replied.My sobs increased and I began hitting hard on my chest.The doctor held my hands to stop me from causing more harm to myself.“You'll harm yourself and the baby” he told me.My eyes fluttered open in shock and surprise.“Baby? What baby?”
~GEMMA~ It was the fourth day when I was finally released from the prison with the help of Antonio's lawyer and my statement.I told them everything that happened, how Ivan kidnapped me, lured Antonio to come alone, killed Antonio and ran off when he saw the police coming.The police released me when they saw that I was saying the truth and went in search of Ivan but he's nowhere to be found.Antonio was already buried as Luca followed my instructions. Even though I missed his burial, I was glad he's finally buried and would be resting in peace now.I didn't know if I was going to take revenge on Ivan for killing Antonio. I'm tired, and I just want everything to end, no more deaths.Luca was with me in the prison with the lawyer. They're going to escort me out. There's a massive crowd waiting out of the prison walls to interview me.News of Antonio's death and my release has spread out wide and that explains the massive crowd.I'm glad Luca
~GEMMA~“Don't move. You're under arrest” the police officer repeated.They came close to me and picked the gun I was holding with a cloth.The other officers inspected Antonio and investigated the cause of his death after they confirmed he's really dead.“He was shot” one of them said and looked around the environment for more evidence.“Someone called us here,” another said.If it wasn't Antonio that called the police, then who did??“You're the only one and we caught you holding a gun. You killed him right, Mrs Romano?” A police officer asked.I remained mute and stared at them without an answer. They exchanged confused looks between themselves.One went and picked the ropes up.“There's more to this. We need to investigate this well. But for now, you're our prime suspect and the culprit to the murder of Antonio Romano” he said.“Take her away,” their leader commanded.It was then I began screaming.“I didn't kill him. How can I kill my own husband? I didn't kill him! I'm innocent”
Ivan was still laughing till Antonio interrupted him.“Son of Dante Karamazov? Russian Mafia Lord?” He asked.“Yes. I came to Italy just to kill you. My father sent me here and I'm here to carry out his mission” Ivan replied.“I won't go down easily,” Antonio said.“I'll see if you still have that confidence when I blow her head off” Ivan said and pointed a gun to Gemma's head.“Don't kill her. Face me and leave her out of it” Antonio said.“Drop all your guns and kick them far away from you” Ivan instructed.Antonio dropped his guns down and raised his arms in the air.“See, there's nothing on me now. Take the gun away from her” Antonio shouted.“Not so fast! Kneel down. I want to see you beg for life. Who knows, maybe I'll pity you and let you live” Ivan said.Antonio knelt down and Ivan removed the gun from Gemma and pointed it at him, approaching him menacingly.He got close to Antonio and fixed his gun directly at Antonio's face.“If only my dad could see the pitiful you
~ANTONIO~ I heard Gemma's screams for help when I was still talking with Sir Edward and informing him of my plans to leave the crime family and leave the country. Gemma was clearly calling out to me for help.I excused myself from Sir Edward and ran towards the car with Mateo and Marco. Halfway, I saw a car speeding off.It increased the adrenaline in me and I ran faster to the car. When I got to the car, I saw that it was widely open and saw Emilia asleep. Gemma was missing. She wasn't in the car.Who could have done this?“Ivan!!” My inner voice answered.He's the only person desperate enough to avenge Margaret's death.I placed my finger in Emilia's nose to confirm she's still breathing. She must have been knocked off by Ivan before taking Gemma away.“Boss, what are we going to do now?” Mateo asked me.“I fucking don't know” I replied. I was exhausted, frustrated and angry and my brain wasn't thinking right now. It's times like this I wish I
Ivan was furious when he saw Antonio and Gemma come down from the car.The nerves of them, to show their horrible faces here!He quickly jumped in and blocked their path.“What the hell are you doing here?” He barked at them.“I came to pay my last respects to the dead,” Antonio replied.“You're not wanted here. Leave before I do something stupid” Ivan threatened.“We don't want a fight. We just want to pay respects to Margaret and leave. Don't ruin Margaret's funeral with your outburst” Antonio said.Gabriella stepped behind Ivan and eyed Gemma from head to toe.“I won't let you both get close to her corpse” Ivan swore and pushed Antonio hard on his chest.Mateo and Marco stepped in to protect Antonio.“Stop it, Ivan. Allow them to pay last respect to the dead” Sir Edward said. He's present at the funeral. He flew straight to Italy because of the funeral.Ivan had no choice but to step aside for Antonio and Gemma to pass. They walked to Margaret's corpse holding flowers