Presents!

Serafina Blackstone's POV:

[Italy - A Tower ]

My husband's gift was a gun to the head.

Today was my third marriage anniversary to Roderick Blackstone.

He was a man feared widely across Italy and beyond. Feared and hated.

My husband's biggest haters were my parents, Fabio and Sera Rabbia.

They despised him not because he was openly arrogant. Or too extravagant. Or too greedy.

My parents despised Roderick because, just like them, he was part of the Seven Sins.

It was a crime syndicate. A deadly one.

Though my Papà was the Sin of Wrath, his fury failed to burn my love for the Sin of Greed.

Regardless of Papà's warnings and advice, I married Roderick.

I always loved fashion, and with my husband by my side, we built an empire.

Lumiere.

For three years, he wanted nothing more but my love.

Roderick would pull the biggest surprises whenever we had our anniversary.

He pulled surprises. Not a motherfucking gun.

"Serafina, help me!" Vittoria cried out.

Like I said earlier, Roderick's gift was a gun to the head. By that, I meant my twin sister's.

My body trembled like a drunk, intoxicated as my eyes drank in this bitter scene.

"R-Rick, what are y-you doing?" I mumbled, shock weighing my words.

My stare collided with Roderick. For years, I've stared into his green eyes.

They were always so bright. So shining. So full of life. But now, they were so dark I feared I'd be pulled in.

"Listen carefully, Serafina." Roderick ignored both my question – pain – and even my sister's tears.

His left arm was coiled around her neck like a snake. His right hand held a gun, pressed to her head.

Vittoria shook like a leaf in winter.

Every pore of her skin produced sweat, and she glistened.

Tears rolled down her face, which got redder by the second.

Roderick was suffocating her!

"What's gotten into you?" I demanded. Or cried.

I didn't know. I could no longer control myself. Tears blurred my vision, but not the truth: Roderick had gone mad.

My husband was insane.

"That's Vittoria you're choking!" I continued. "She was the only one that supported us!"

I tried to remind him of those times Vittoria stood up to our parents because of me. Because of him.

She was always the timid one. Still, she fought for my sake. 

"Roderick, you'll kill her!" I yelled, going crazed while Vittoria went limp.

"No." Then he snarled, his eyes narrowed into something more sinful than his actions.

"You'll kill her if you don't fucking shut up, and go sign those documents!" Roderick growled like a predator.

And I, the prey, flinched immediately.

With my weak bones, I rushed to the glass center table. A pen and two documents lay there.

As I grabbed the pen, signing into spaces I could barely see, I cried.

"H-here!" I shouted, pointing the papers to him.

"Take it and leave my sister!" I lashed, my chest rising and falling.

Through squinted eyes, Roderick tilted his head.

"Throw it." He smirked, and I blinked.

What was wrong with him!? His instructions made no sense, but it was fine.

My mind was too jumbled to think properly, and I tossed the papers aside with a broken sob.

"Let her go." I begged, clasping my shaky hands.

I took slow steps, until my knees buckled. They hit the cold floor, and I didn't mind how they throbbed.

All I wanted was for this act of madness to end.

"Please, Roderick!" My cry blended with Vittoria's coughs.

"Oh, my sweet wifey." His laughter then joined, and everything sounded like a symphony from hell.

"You're so beautiful when you beg," Roderick continued, his right arm dropping.

I watched his shoulders sag with joy since Vittoria could break free. But… she didn't.

Vittoria didn't try to run away. She rested against Roderick's body.

"Don't you think your sister's more attractive when on her knees?" My husband asked none other than Vittoria.

I hadn't expected so many things. This scene. The choking. Gun pointing. My sister wrapping her arms around my husband.

What topped the list was her grin. And her giggle!

"Clowns wear makeup. Are they attractive?"

Vittoria's voice was far from ragged or muffled. Not the voice of someone who had been choked seconds ago.

"No, but they are stupid!" Roderick laughed again, and Vittoria giggled.

The sounds echoed in my head since it felt empty. My body felt empty, and I hunched on the spot.

Wait. Wait. Fucking wait!?

What the hell was going on? What in heaven's name was I looking at!?

These questions rested at the tip of my tongue. I couldn't ask them since my tongue felt heavy.

"What you just witnessed was nothing, sister dear!" Vittoria spat.

Her once red and wet face shone with triumph.

Roderick wrapped his arms around her waist, his chin resting on her shoulder.

What the hell!

"I've been practicing that performance for the past three long, long years!" She continued, pointing a finger at me.

"You think Papà would ever make me heiress when you're still around?" Vittoria ranted.

We both looked so alike, but in that moment, I didn't recognize my twin sister.

"I… I never wanted that spot, Vittoria!" I finally responded. Or protested.

Again, I had no idea what was going on. I just needed it to end so, so much.

"You think that brain-dead old man of yours gives a fuck about your opinion?" Roderick also found his tongue.

I gazed at him. Vittoria caressed his chin with a palm, and I bit my lips until I tasted metal.

"Fabio wants you to be the new Sin of Wrath. You and you alone." Deep, soul-cutting hatred rested in his voice as he seethed.

"I'll never accept it without your permission, Roderick! I'm your wife!"

"Not anymore!" Vittoria sharply replied, slicing off a part of me.

I batted my wet lashes, confusion blending with pain.

"Those documents you signed." She pointed to a corner, and like a pup, I followed her arm.

The documents I signed rested there comfortably.

"You just signed away your marriage to Roderick. Your spot as the next Sin of Wrath, and I'll be enthroned since Papà is dead!"

I froze immediately. My stomach stopped churning, and my bones tightened.

Slowly, I turned to Vittoria. I ignored the glint in her eyes as I rose up.

"Papà's not dead," I declared in a mutter, and her lips curled into a full-blown smirk.

"Your second gift is at the Manor, waiting for you."