Chapter 8
He stared at the case files she had handled, his jaw tightening as he processed the details.\
Was she thinking about the promise he made to support her dream of becoming the best forensic specialist? Or had she already moved on, charting a new course for her life?
“Get the jet ready now! I’m bringing her back myself! I want eyes on her at all times!“”
“She’s mine. She always will be.“N
After a ten–hour flight, Vincenzo arrived in Milan. He stood in front of the forensic lab’s entrance, his hand hovering mid–air, unable to knock.N
In the end, he just slid down against the wall, sitting in silence.
The next morning, the lab director arrived and informed him that she had already left the city.“.
Vincenzo’s heart plunged into an icy pit. His footsteps were unsteady as he stumbled out of the building.”
Following the intel team’s lead, he weaved through Milan’s narrow, twisting streets, terrified that if he was even a second too late, he’d lose her forever.
Then, in front of an old cathedral, his steps came to an abrupt halt.”
She was standing on the steps, capturing the last photograph of a victim’s body. Sunlight filtered through the stained glass windows, casting a glow over her white lab coat.\
She was focused, her expression calm, completely in her element.”
Vincenzo’s face twisted into a bitter smile.
She looked so independent, so sure of herself – and it killed him to realize that she had become this way without him. After hesitating for what felt like an eternity, he approached – but he didn’t dare get too close. His voice was hoarse and trembling with remorse:”
“Sandra… I’m sorry. I was a bastard back then.“}
“All these years, I thought it was just guilt. But when you left, I finally realized–I’m in love with you. I’m madly in love with you. Without you, I don’t know how to keep going. I regret it. I regret every time I hurt you. I owe you more than I can repay in this lifetime. Please… let me stay by your side and make it right. Everything I have, my castle, the organization, even my life- it’s yours.”
“I just want to protect you like I always have. Please, Sandra… let me stay.“>
The church bells tolled, their solemn chimes echoing through the vast stone hall as the pipe organ began to play a
requiem.
After a long pause, she turned to look at him.”
Alessandra’s POV
“You don’t have the right to stand by my side anymore, Vincenzo. Nothing you have belongs to me. It’s all Bianca’s. You’ve even drawn up a will for her, haven’t you?“}
My voice was steady, but inside, I was trembling.”
“I lived in the lie you created for years. Do you know how much I hated myself when I learned the truth? Hated myself for loving you–the man who killed my father?“”
I stared at the face I had spent five years waking up next to–the powerful godfather of Sicily. Perhaps everyone meets someone like this at least once in their life–someone you’re willing to entrust your whole heart to, only to be met with a betrayal so deep it nearly destroys you.”
I stood at the top of the church steps, looking down at him with a smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes. My heart was nothing but barren wasteland beneath the facade.”
“Vincenzo, I will never forgive you. Not in this lifetime.“”
Under the blazing sunlight, Vincenzo shivered, his lips curling into a broken smile.
“But I… I still love you, Sandra.” His voice was barely a breath, swallowed by the church’s echoing silence.
I lifted my camera and captured the expressions of the grieving mourners in the church. Except for the man in the corner.
His head was bowed like he was bearing the weight of the world on his shoulders.\
“Miss, could you take his last picture?“”
I turned toward the soft voice. An elderly woman stood before me, holding out a worn family photograph. A smiling man stood at the center–the son she had just lost.”
“Of course.” I smiled faintly and raised the camera.\
With a soft click, I captured their last moment together.”
