Fourty Six

CHAPTER 46

Cassandra sat silently behind the wheel of her car, trying to regulate her increasingly labored breathing. Her hands trembled as they gripped the steering wheel, while visions of Maria's confession kept spinning in her mind. The emotions she had been holding back finally exploded.

"ARGHHHH!" she screamed, hitting the steering wheel repeatedly with both fists. Tears flowed heavily down her cheeks as she banged her head against the wheel. "Why... why does it have to be like this?"

Her sobs filled the car, her body shaking violently. She wiped her tears roughly, but they continued to flow without end.

"Antonio... you... you must pay for everything," she whispered hoarsely. "Alexander... Maria... how many more lives will you destroy?"

After a moment, Cassandra straightened herself. Her swollen eyes now flashed with hatred. She started the engine and drove at high speed toward Maria's house.

Upon arrival, she knocked on the door hard. Maria opened the door with a confused face, but before she could react, Cassandra had already pushed her against the wall.

"You think you can fool me?" Cassandra hissed, gripping Maria's collar.

"W-what do you mean? Let me go!" Maria tried to struggle.

"Quiet!" Cassandra slammed her fist into the wall beside Maria's head. "I know you're still hiding something. Tell me everything you know about Antonio, or..."

"Or what?" Maria challenged, though her voice trembled.

Cassandra brought her face close, her eyes radiating a threat that made Maria fall silent. "Or I'll make sure you regret your decision for the rest of your life."

"You... you wouldn't dare..." Maria tried to sound brave.

"Don't test my patience," Cassandra pressed her arm against Maria's throat. "You know what happened to Alexander? That's just the beginning of what I can do."

Maria looked into Cassandra's eyes, and for the first time, she saw a frightening madness there. "Alright... alright! I'll talk!"

"Good," Cassandra loosened her grip. "Start talking."

"Antonio... he's not alone," Maria began speaking haltingly. "There's a big organization behind him. They control everything."

"What organization? Who are they?"

"I don't know the exact name. But that silver rose logo... that's their mark. Cale used to say they had connections everywhere – police, government, business..."

Cassandra frowned. "And you're sure Antonio is part of them?"

"He's not just a part," Maria swallowed. "He's one of the leaders."

"Why didn't you tell me this from the start?"

"Because..." Maria began to sob. "They threatened to kill my children if I talked."

Cassandra slowly released her grip. "Listen, I can protect you and your children. But you have to help me destroy Antonio."

"How can you be sure you can protect us?"

"Because I have something Antonio doesn't," Cassandra smiled coldly. "I have nothing left to lose."

With still trembling hands, Maria and Cassandra sat facing each other on the sofa. An oppressive silence enveloped the room, broken only by the ticking of the wall clock that seemed to mock the tension between them.

"Let me make you a drink first," Maria tried to stand, her voice still shaking. "We can talk more calmly while—"

CLICK

The sound of a cocking pistol froze Maria's movement. Cassandra pointed her weapon directly at Maria's chest, her eyes flashing coldly.

"Sit down," Cassandra commanded in an undeniable tone. "You think I'll fall for the same trick? Try to poison me like you did to Alexander?"

Maria slowly sat back down, her face deathly pale. "I... I didn't mean—"

"QUIET!" Cassandra cut sharply. "Enough with your lies."

Tears began welling up in Maria's eyes. "You don't understand... after what happened to Cale, I can't trust anyone. Especially detectives."

"What do you mean?"

"They're all the same," Maria laughed bitterly. "Police, detectives... they promised to protect Cale. But look what happened? He died alone, without anyone helping him!"

Cassandra leaned forward, her gun unwavering. "Tell me, what is Antonio's weakness? There must be something we can use to bring him down."

Maria shook her head slowly, her eyes reflecting deep desperation. "Antonio... he's not a normal human being, Cassandra. He has no weaknesses. No one can touch him."

"Everyone has weaknesses," Cassandra pressed.

"Not Antonio," Maria looked at Cassandra with darkening eyes. "He's discarded everything that could make him weak. Family, love, even his own humanity. What's left is just a monster with a human face."

Maria clenched both hands until her knuckles turned white. Her eyes gazed far away, as if drowning in memories she wanted to bury deep inside. Cassandra could see the change in Maria's face - there was a mixture of anger, regret, and unbridled grief.

"Antonio..." Maria began with a trembling voice, "He promised us a new life. A house in Switzerland, the best education for the children, and a future free from financial problems."

"And Cale believed him?" asked Cassandra, her gun still aimed though her grip slightly loosened.

"You didn't know my husband," Maria smiled bitterly, tears flowing down her cheeks. "Cale... he was the most honest man I'd ever known before meeting Antonio. He never took more than he should, even for a box of candy."

"Then what changed?"

"Antonio needed someone in the government," Maria took a deep breath. "Someone who could give him free access, let him move around without suspicion. And Cale... his position was very strategic."

Cassandra leaned forward. "But why kill him?"

Maria laughed bitterly, her voice breaking with sobs. "Because my husband was too easily provoked. He started asking questions about missing children, about funds that never reached charity foundations. My poor Cale..." Maria bowed her head, her shoulders shaking. "He still believed in goodness, even after Antonio forced him to do terrible things. And that's what killed him."