CHAPTER SIXTYARIAYou know when you feel yourself crashing down into a pit of darkness, when nothing but blackness surrounds you, threatening to swallow you whole, that was what I felt as Fabio’s words sank into my soul.I refused to believe it. No. It’s not possible. I knew my father was killed by the mafia. But Maximo didn’t kill him. Not my Maximo.“Who sent you?” I asked, taking a step back.Fabio swallowed as a painful emotion welled in his eyes.“I know you probably won’t believe me,” he exhaled. “And I can’t begin to imagine how you must feel right now, that a man you barely know is telling you that your new husband murdered your father.”“You’re lying,” I gasped, moving away from him. “You’re nothing but a liar. Who sent you?” I shrieked.“Please, you have to listen to me,” he said urgently. “Soon, your husband will be here and I won’t be able to reveal the truth to you. I need to tell you exactly what happened years ago. It’s the least I owe my old friend, Emilio.”My heart
CHAPTER SIXTY-ONEARIA“No,” my voice broke. “Please tell me it’s not true.”The phone beeped in my ear.“Hello? Hello?” I cried, hoping someone would tell me this is some sick joke. “What’s wrong?” Maximo asked as he rushed to my side. As soon as he touched me, I flinched.His face squeezed into a small frown as he stared at me. “What’s the matter, Red?”It hurt to breathe as I turned to look at him, tears welling up in my eyes.“Tell me you didn’t do it,” I whispered, grabbing the front of his shirt. He was still in his attire from earlier--wedding--but the suit jacket was gone.“Tell me you didn’t kill my father.”Various looks crossed his eyes—shock, fear, acceptance.“Who told you that?” He asked, gritting his teeth. But his murderous gaze was already fixed on Fabio, who stood at a corner of the room.“Stop looking at him and look at me. Face me!” I screamed, squeezing his shirt in my fist. “Look me in the eyes and tell me you didn’t do it, Maximo. Please tell me you didn’t d
CHAPTER SIXTY-TWOARIA The moment we stepped into the casino, the air felt electric, charged with tension and unspoken threats. The bright lights and clinking of chips created a stark contrast to the heaviness in my chest. I was still in my wedding dress, the fabric now flowing around me like a ghost, a reminder of the day that had turned into a nightmare.Maximo's grip on my hand was firm and fiercely possessive as he pulled me toward a dimly lit hallway. The smell of smoke hung in the air—a mix of expensive perfume, sweat, and alcohol. Sounds of conversation echoed along with the music playing in the main room behind us. Maximo pulled me angrily as we hurried down the hall, heading towards the last room at the end of the corridor. Maximo pushed the door open, and we stepped inside. It was a meeting room, and from the looks of things, not a regular meeting. The men here, mostly older men, looked dangerous and viscous, and as my eyes caught a man standing at a corner of the room, I
CHAPTER SIXTY-THREEARIA The cold wind blew around me, biting at my cheeks, but I barely felt it. The world around me had dulled to a muted gray, just like my heart. Aunt Evita and my grandmother, who I later learned her name was Elena, lay beneath the earth, beneath my feet. It’s been five days since they died, on the day that was supposed to be the happiest of my life. Instead, it had turned into a nightmare. The silence in the cemetery was thick, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves whispering secrets to the wind. Even though it was daytime, dark clouds hung low in the sky. It had rained heavily these past few days, as if the universe was mourning with me. Gravestones surrounded me in the large expanse of land, jutting from the ground in different shapes and sizes. On most of them, the inscriptions were faded and illegible, as if the memories of those buried beneath them were slowly being erased. The grass was dark green, patches of it wilting under the weight of the d
CHAPTER SIXTY-FOUR ARIA Settled into the plush leather seat of the car, the city of Milan blurred past in a wash of gray. The heavy rain had been relentless for days, creating a slick sheen on the paved roads. Even now, a light drizzle tapped against the windows, similar to the storm brewing inside me. My heart burned with anger, and I welcomed it. For these few days, I was broken, unable to feel anything. So now, even if the rage hurt, it was better than feeling nothing at all. I hadn’t seen Maximo’s face in five days. Not since he confessed to killing my father and telling me the story about his childhood, not since he shot and crippled a man in my presence before announcing to the rest of his men that I was his queen. As his face conjured in my mind, I felt my rage worsen. He lied to me, even after telling me about his trauma, he lied about not killing Aunt Evita and my grandmother. And I believed him, even after I knew he killed my father. How could I have been so stupid? Ho
CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE MAXIMO My heart thudded at the pure venom in her words. She despised me, and no apology or explanation could change that. I should let her go, just like she wanted, but I knew it was extremely unsafe. With me shooting Roberto and my already existing traitors, the tension was at its highest peak. A war was looming. This was the time when enemy groups usually attacked. As soon as Aria left, I felt the weight of everything crashing down around me. Her sobs continued to echo in my mind, haunting me like a ghost I couldn’t shake. I’d even recognized the pity in Enrico’s eyes as he carried Aria’s crumpled body out of my office. This was the man I was—not a monster, but the devil himself. Desperation clawed at my insides, burning at the tips of my fingers. With a growl, I swiped my hands across my desk, shattering everything in reach—a vase, my computer monitor, and several other items—each crash echoing my heartbreak. Standing up from my seat, I staggered towards m
Trigger warning: This chapter contains content that might be sensitive and triggering to some readers.CHAPTER SIXTY-SIXMAXIMO “Aria?” I choked, rushing towards the bathtub. Her eyes were closed, her mouth slightly open, and her hair was spread out like a halo around her face, matching the color of the water. Her skin was pale, too pale against the vivid red. When I touched her, her skin was ice cold. “No,” I choked, lifting her limp body into my arms. As I carried her out of the water, I saw the deep cut on her wrist. My heart raced with terror as I rushed out of the room, her weight feeling impossibly heavy in my arms. I heard shocked gasps from the housekeepers, who had doubled in number now. Maria stood in the hallway, tears streaming down her face. The others stood with expressions of shock and fear written on their faces. “Get help!” I shouted, my voice cracking as I hurried past them. The house felt like a maze, each step echoing my growing dread. I burst through the fron
CHAPTER SIXTY-SEVENARIAI slowly opened my eyes, wincing at the bright overhead lights that threatened to blind me. I blinked for a few seconds, trying to recall how I got here. As my vision adjusted, I took in the sterile hospital room around me. The smell of antiseptic filled the air, sharp and almost choking. The steady beep of a heart monitor pulsed rhythmically nearby. It was my heartbeat—a heartbeat I didn’t want.And that was when it came back to me. I’d wanted to end it all. I didn’t want to be here, to be stuck with the man who hurt me badly for the rest of my life. But someone saved me, and I had a feeling it was him. There was no one else.Trying to sit up, my eyes spun. I felt groggy, as if I were covered by a heavy fog. The throbbing pain in my head only made me give up and settle back into the hospital bed.I turned my head to look around the room, and that was when I caught sight of Maximo slumped in a chair beside my bed. His head was bent, making his black hair fall