Four Parting Gifts, Don Falcone

My phone lit up instantly.

Orion's reply was immediate: [Done. Three days. I'll be there.]

I finally let out a breath. At least someone was willing to get me out of this hell.

I stayed in the clinic for three days. In those three days, Vittorio never called. Not once. He finally showed up on the day I was discharged.

"Sorry I'm late," Vittorio said, pushing the door open, his face tired. "Carina's been emotional. She needed me."

I looked at him, feeling nothing but irony. Three days ago, he was having sex with another woman in front of me. Now he was acting like nothing happened.

"Aurelia, about that night..." Vittorio came closer, reaching for my hand. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that to you."

I pulled my hand away.

"It's fine," my voice was as still as dead water. "It's over."

Vittorio frowned. "I know you're still angry, but you have to believe me. It's you I care about. Carina is just..."

"Just what?" I stared at him coldly. "The one you were willing to 'detox' with your own body?"

Vittorio's face changed. "That was different. I had no choice..."

"Enough," I said, standing up and grabbing my bag. "Let's go."

Vittorio wanted to say more, but the doctor came in.

"Mr. Falcone, about your wife's procedure, there are a few things you need to..."

"Doctor," I cut her off. "I'll take the medicine I need to. Don't worry about it."

The doctor looked from me to Vittorio, then said nothing more.

Back at the villa, Vittorio took a family call in the driveway. I walked inside alone. The first thing I saw was Carina, sitting on the living room sofa, a glass of red wine in her hand.

"Well, look what the cat dragged in," Carina drawled, looking up from her wine glass, a smirk playing on her lips. "Finished with your little pity party?"

I stared at her and said nothing.

"Vittorio was so worried you were gone for three days," Carina said, getting up and walking gracefully toward me. "But he was more worried about whether I was traumatized by that night."

She stopped in front of me, her voice suddenly cold and sinister. Her voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. "You want to know a secret, Aurelia? I was the one who drugged Vittorio that night."

My body went rigid.

"I even sent you that message on purpose, telling you he was in danger at the casino," Carina smiled like a demon. "I wanted you to go to him. I wanted you to give yourself to him when he was at his weakest."

"Why?" My voice trembled.

"Because I knew he could never love you," she purred, her eyes glinting with pure venom. "I wanted him shackled to a woman who would always be second best. A constant reminder of the guilt he felt for letting me go."

The room started to spin.

"Now I'm back, Aurelia," Carina caressed my cheek. "It's time for you to leave. Don't make me say it again."

Rage boiled in my chest like lava. I grabbed the bottle of whiskey from the coffee table and threw it in her face.

I got in her face, my voice a low snarl. "Listen to me, Carina Romano. As long as I am the woman with his ring and his name, you will be nothing more than the whore he fucks in the shadows."

Carina froze for a second, then laughed. She looked toward the front door, then immediately dropped to her knees, sobbing into her hands.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I shouldn't have come back!" She cried, tears streaming down her face. "Aurelia, I really didn't mean to ruin your marriage!"

I turned. Vittorio was standing in the doorway. His face was dark.

"Aurelia!" Vittorio rushed past me, pushing me aside to help Carina up. "Are you crazy?"

I stumbled back and hit the wall. The wound on my back throbbed with a fresh wave of pain.

"Carina, are you okay?" Vittorio gently wiped the whiskey from her face.

"I'm fine..." Carina sobbed. "Aurelia's right. I shouldn't have come back and disturbed your lives."

"Nonsense," Vittorio said, holding her. "You're not the one who's wrong."

He turned to me, his eyes full of fire.

"Apologize to Carina. Now."

"Why should I apologize?" I sneered. "Did I say something that wasn't true?"

"Aurelia, that's enough!" Vittorio stood up, towering over me. "Carina already forgave you for drugging her. What more tricks are you trying to pull?"

Tears streamed down my face.

"So in your mind, I'm that evil?" My voice choked. "All these years we've been together, isn't that enough for you to trust me?"

Vittorio's expression was pained. He clenched his fists. He seemed to be struggling with himself.

But in the end, his voice was cold. "I only trust what I see and what I feel."

I was completely hopeless.

I wiped my tears, lifted my chin, and smiled with pride.

"Then I'm sorry, Vittorio. I refuse to apologize," I said, each word deliberate. "Because you two are the ones who are wrong. Not me."

Vittorio's face twisted with rage. The last traces of guilt were gone.

"Fine," he said, pulling out his phone and dialing a number. "Marco, bring a few men over."

Soon, several men in black suits walked in.

"Family law," Vittorio said, his voice devoid of all emotion. "Thirteen lashes."

Carina pretended to plead for me. "Vittorio, let it go, don't hurt Aurelia..."

A bitter laugh escaped my lips. Thirteen lashes. The Falcone family's signature punishment. Reserved for traitors and rats.

He was really going to do this to me.

I straightened my back and met his gaze, my head held high.

"Vittorio. You lay one hand on me, and you will spend the rest of your life regretting it."