GEMMAMy eyes widened in astonishment at what I just said and my mouth flew open. For a few minutes, I couldn't say anything.Antonio wants me to eat dinner on the same table with him?I remember the last time I ate on the same table with him, I got severly punished. Now he's asking me to eat with him?What has gotten over him today?He's being so nice to me today. First, he bought too many gifts for me, then he returned my phone to me and now he's inviting me to have dinner with him. Wow!!"Surprised, ain't you?" He asked and chuckled softly.Geez!!!Did he just chuckle??I scratched my eyes to ensure I wasn't seeing things and cleaned my ears to make sure I was hearing well. This time, he laughed out loud."You heard me clear Gemma. Eat with me tonight" he repeated.I wanted to ask why, but I didn't dare to question him."Okay boss" I replied, bowed my head at him, opened the door and walked out of his room.I ran to my room excitedly, still not believing I have gotten my phone back
GEMMAI stood up from my bed, went to the door, opened it and walked out of my room.I trotted happily along the long hallway and descended the stairs with smiles beaming on my face.I walked to the kitchen and I saw Nanny Emilia set to prepare dinner just as I expected."Nanny Emilia" I called happily."Gemma. Your face is glowing with excitement, you look so happy this evening. What's the secret?" She teased.I laughed out loud."Nothing Nanny Emilia. I'm just so happy" I replied."Because of the gifts Antonio got for you?" She asked."Uhmm, yes…and I got to talk to my best friend" I replied."Really? You have a phone?" She asked."Yes. But it got seized and I just got it back now" I replied."Wow, that's nice. I see Antonio is starting to change towards you" she said.I nodded my head positively. I was tempted to tell her that he asked me to eat with them on the same table but I wanted to see her reaction when she sees me sitting on the same table with her, Antonio and Isabella."W
GEMMA Antonio's cold and cruel eyes made me very nervous that I didn't know when my spoon slipped out of my hands and fell hard to the ground."Careful" he barked at me and I almost jumped off my seat in fright."What's wrong dear?" Nanny Emilia asked."Nothing….I'm…I'm fine" I stuttered as I bent to pick my spoon from the floor.Antonio's eyes were still fixed on me, watching every movement I made.I wondered why he's looking at me that way. It was a dangerous look, a look he gave to me whenever I do something bad or go against his rules.What wrong did I do?I began thinking hard of where I went wrong when suddenly Antonio's words replayed in my head."Your calls are being monitored"My eyes widened at the sudden realization.Wait! Does it mean that he heard all my conversations with Gabriella??Damn it!!!**** Antonio watched the conflict of emotions going through Gemma's face. He saw the confusion, surprise, shock and panic on her face. She met his gaze and q
GEMMA I kept on struggling to free myself from the strong grip around my neck. My attacker wasn't ready to let go. I know it'll be no other person than Antonio.When I couldn't struggle anymore, I gave up and almost couldn't breathe again.It was then he left me and I fell to the ground helplessly and coughed out loud.I was still choking and coughing when he switched on the lights.I was right, it was Antonio.He watched me still struggling to breathe on the floor with a smile of satisfaction on his face and the smile disappeared and got replaced with a scowl."You're planning to tell me?" He asked with a voice I dreaded so much.I shook my head negatively as I couldn't talk. I almost died! And was still recovering from the shock."I overheard your conversation. You plan on meeting your best friend and telling her the whole truth?" "No…no boss" I managed to say."And do you think I would let your best friend live after she gets to know everything?" He asked and my eyes widene
GEMMA I hastily stood up from my bed not minding the pains I was feeling on my body anymore.I wore my flip flops, walked to the bathroom to brush my teeth."Ouch" I groaned in pain, my body warning me to slow down but the fear of what Antonio would do to me didn't let me slow down.I painfully and hurriedly brushed my teeth, came out of the bathroom and walked straight to the door.I opened the door and walked hastily through the long hallway.I passed Antonio's room and saw that it was locked. He must be waiting for me downstairs to unleash on me again.Descending the stairs was hell for me considering the stinging pain I was feeling in my ass but I still managed to descend the stairs.My eyes darted to the dining table but I saw no one sitting there, not even Isabella.Of course! She must have gone to school. But then, where was Antonio?I walked to the kitchen and almost bumped into Nanny Emilia as she was about to come out from the kitchen."Good morning Nanny Emilia" I gree
GEMMA I quickly turned around and saw that it was Antonio."Boss" I called you in surprise."I don't like it when you lock your door. You're always stressing me out by making me find the keys to unlock your door" he said."I'm sorry boss" I quickly apologized."Henceforth, you mustn't lock your door again. It's a new rule now" he said.It meant I won't have my privacy again, I wanted to object to it but I dare not."Okay boss" I nodded like a timid rabbit."The cage? Where did it go?" I asked."Come with me, I want to show you something. I have a surprise for you" he said.He walked out of the room and I trailed behind him reluctantly. I wondered where he's taking me to and the surprise he wants to show me.He got to the unused room, the room he's been frequenting these past few days and stopped.I stopped too and watched him bring out the keys to the door."Ready?" He asked me with a sinister smile on his face. He's looking too excited to show me whatever it is he wanted to sh
GEMMA I hurried downstairs to the kitchen and met Nanny Emilia staring into space in the kitchen."Nanny Emilia" I called.She turned around immediately."Oh dear, where have you been?" She asked. "I can't find where I kept the ingredients to prepare lunch""Oh that, I know where it is" I replied and walked straight to a corner of the kitchen and fetched a tied nylon lying carelessly on the table."Here it is, ma'am" I said and gave it to her. She stretched out her hands and took it from me."Thank you, child. I tend to forget things a lot these days. I really must be getting old" she teased and I chuckled."Let me help you out with preparing lunch" I said and she nodded her head in agreement.We prepared lunch together amidst laughter and talks and almost an hour later, we're done preparing lunch.I dressed the dining table and assisted nanny Emilia in dishing out the meal and soon everyone was eating.I didn't eat with Antonio as I took my food to the kitchen to eat as he coul
GEMMA"Go to the bed" I heard him say and my eyes shot open.I obeyed immediately and purposely walked slowly to the bed so that my ass was jiggling.When I turned back to look at Antonio, the look I saw on his face was satisfying. I smiled a knowing smile and between split seconds, Antonio was right behind me.He grabbed me and pushed me roughly to the bed and I fell like a weightless being on the bed.He removed his shirt and laid on top of me."This is what you like?" He asked.I nodded and stretched out my hands for him to tie it. He tied my wrists and pushed them above my head.Then he brought out a blindfold and blindfolded me.I heard him dip his fingers into the glass of water, taking ice. Then he bent and kissed me lightly on the lips with the ice in his mouth. I felt the coldness of the ice and I gasped.Then he left my mouth and kissed my neck with the ice at the tip of his tongue. I moaned softly.He trailed down kisses to my chest and down to my breasts, then he licked m
~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