That afternoon, I oversaw the discreet transfer of Don Vittorio’s body from the clinic to the family’s private chapel.

The clinic director, a man who knew better than to ask questions, finally murmured one as we left.

“Your husband… the heir… he is not coming?”

I offered a thin, bitter smile.

“He is detained.”

The words tasted like ash.

I’d visited Vittorio just the day before. He’d been complaining of chest pains. I’d brought in the discreet Swiss cardiologist, not the family’s usual butcher. After the check-up, Vittorio had pulled me aside, his voice low.

“I spoke to Antonio. He agreed. When I return from Lake Como, you two will go to the chapel. A proper ceremony. Then the legal papers. It’s time.”

Hope, fragile and dangerous, had bloomed in my chest. He’d always refused, saying vows were for fools and business was binding enough.

Seeing my face, Vittorio had patted my hand, his eyes old and weary.

“You are a good woman, Sofia. My son… he is spoiled. Be patient. Build your life.”

Now, that life was shattered glass.

I was finalizing the funeral arrangements with the undertaker when my phone buzzed—seventeen missed calls from Antonio.

I called back.

“What the hell is wrong with you, Sofia!” he roared. “You canceled my cards? Do you have any idea the scene you caused? I was in a goddamn boutique in Gstaad! The manager looked at me like I was some common thief!”

“My money is not your personal fund for Chiara’s shopping sprees, Antonio.”

Silence. He wasn’t used to pushback.

“What did you just say?”

“You heard me. The family’s funds are not for your girlfriend’s legal fees or her new wardrobe. The account you tapped was for payroll. You compromised our people’s security.”

He sputtered.

“You’re… you’re actually angry? Over money? Sofia, it’s nothing! A rounding error! And I only brought the card you gave me. How am I supposed to get home? I even bought you a gift! You’ve embarrassed me!”

There it was. The faux apology, the crumb of a gift, designed to shut me up and make me compliant. It had worked for years.

Not anymore. The weight of his father’s coffin was heavier.

“Your father’s funeral is in three days,” I said, my voice devoid of emotion. “If you care to pay your respects, be there.”

I moved to hang up.

“Wait!” His tone shifted, a crack of uncertainty. “The same lie? This is about the money, isn’t it? The half-million? You’re that petty?”

“This is about your father being dead, Antonio.”

He exploded.

“Shut up! Don’t you dare say that! My father is on a business trip! You disgusting, lying—”

“Chiara ran him down. The clinic declared him dead. Who exactly do you think is lying?”

He gave a harsh, disbelieving laugh.

“Now you drag Chiara into your fantasies? Fine. You want proof? I’ll call him right now. On video!”

I heard fumbling, then the digital ringtone of a video call connecting.

It rang. And rang.

Antonio frowned, the pixelated image on my screen showing his confusion.

“That’s… odd. He should have picked up.”

Chiara leaned into the frame, her smile serene. “He’s probably busy, Tony. You said yourself your father hates these new phones.”

Antonio’s frown eased. “Right. Yeah. You’re so thoughtful, Chiara.”

He turned his scowl back to me. “Last warning, Sofia. Use my family’s name like this again, and I’ll end this. For good.”

The threat, once a knife to my heart, now felt like a paper cut.

“End it, then. No church, no state. It’s just words, Antonio. Say them.”

He blinked. Stunned.

“You… you want to leave?”

“I want you to face reality. You don’t have a wife. You have a resource. And this resource is tapped out.”

I heard the sharp intake of his breath.

Chiara’s eyes narrowed. She kept her tone sweet. “Sofia, don’t be rash. We’ll talk when we’re back. Dinner, my treat. A peace offering.”

Usually, Antonio would interrupt, defending her from having to apologize to me.

This time, he was silent. He looked… nervous. His lips were pale.

“Chiara… maybe we should go back early. I’m tired.”

She jerked her head back. “What? You wanted to try the other slope tomorrow. What’s going on?”

He glanced at my image on his screen. “I’m just… tired. And my father’s birthday is coming up. The big one. I should be there.”

I didn’t wait to hear more. I ended the call.

Standing up, my elbow knocked a small, carved wooden box off the hall table. It was a pair of antique dueling pistols, replicas. A gift from Antonio years ago.

The one that fell was the smaller, feminine one. As I went to place it back, a sliver of light caught an inscription on the grip.

[For Chiara. All my love, A.]

My hand went cold. I picked up the matching pistol.

[Antonio. Forever.]

They weren’t a gift for us. They were a monument to them.

The tiny, detailed weapons seemed to mock me. All the excuses I’d been fabricating for him, for us, evaporated.

There was no saving this. There never had been.

I sat in the silent foyer for a long time. Then I called Gina.

“Pack all of Don Antonio’s personal effects. Have them sent to his father’s villa in Palermo.”

She was too well-trained to show surprise. “Immediately, signora.”

I threw myself into the funeral preparations. The mass, the security, the guest list of made men, rival bosses, and politicians.

…

Antonio raced from the airport, Chiara trailing behind him, bewildered.

“Tony, what is the rush? You’re acting strange.”

“My father’s birthday!” he snapped, the lie coming easily. “It’s important.”

They arrived at the compound. The grand gates were open, but the house felt still. Empty.

“Sofia!” Antonio bellowed, storming inside. “Where is she? My father’s birthday is this week! Why isn’t anything prepared?”

Gina appeared, her face carefully blank.

“Signor Antonio. Your… the Signora Sofia is not here.”

“Where is she? Fetch her!”

Gina didn’t flinch. “She is at the funeral, sir.”

“What funeral?” he sneered. “Have you lost your mind?”

“Your father’s funeral, sir. Don Vittorio. He passed four days ago. The signora has been handling everything.”

The color drained from Antonio’s face.