PROLOGUE

"Mariella!"

"Mirabella, what on earth are you doing here?" It surprises her to see her twin sister tied in the basement. No one's around so she easily gets inside the room.

"Your husband! He... He will kill me. Please... Help me!"

"W-What? He'll never do it. He has principles. He will never hurt women or children." She knows her husband, his principles were proven and tested.

"Have you already forgotten what he had done to our mother? He killed her! He killed her in front of you!" Fear... the expression shows on Mariella's face. "Untie me! Faster!"

With trembling hands, and with fear that Leo, her husband, will kill her sister like he did to her mom, she immediately unties the rope around Mirabella’s wrists and makes her free.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" Leo's baritone voice echoes inside the room that makes shivers down her spine. Mariella hides her sister on her back and fiercely faces her husband.

"I am the one who should ask! Why is my sister here? What has she done for you to do this?!"

"None of your business." He steps closer to them and is about to pull her but Mariella pushes him.

"No! She is my business! She is my sister, my twin sister!" Her teary eyes are full of anger.

"Tie her up." Leo commands his men.

"Ah! No! Let me go!" Mirabella tries to fight but she can't win over them.

"Tesoro mio! Let her go! Are you going to kill her too? Please... I... I beg you. Not my sister."

She holds his arm, begging to have mercy on Mirabella.

"No. I won't change my mind. She must face the consequences of her action!"

"Action? What are you talking about?!"

"Let's go." He attempts to pull her for the second time but she's too hard headed to follow.

"No! Tell me. Tell me, tesoro mio!" Mariella begs for an answer.

"I don't want you to know." Leo gulps while restraining himself from acting soft, especially in that situation.

"But I want to know! Tell me! Tell me!" She gives her several punches on his chest because she can’t understand why he has to do this.

"She killed Luna." There’s no emotion in his tone.

"W-What? No..." Mariella faces her sister Mirabella who is constantly shaking her head.

"D-Don't... Don't believe him, sister." Mirabella is scared to death. "He's telling lies. That man is just deceiving you!"

"Shut up, bitch. Shut your fucking mouth!" Leo is fuming mad. Mariella looks at her husband and she knows... that he's not lying but her sister... she can't do it, right? She can't kill innocent people.

"Tesoro mio..."

"I don't have a choice. An eye for an eye." Leonardo hands Mariella a gun which surprises her. "Shoot her. Kill her."

"W-What? No... No! I can't." She’s about to let go of the gun in her hand but Leo holds it tightly, makes his face closer to Mariella's.

"Do it."

"N-No."

"You're still the same. Soft hearted as expected."

"Please... Don't do this to me." It's almost a whisper.

"Now, choose. Where is your loyalty, Mariella?" 

"Please..." Mariella shakes her head. She doesn't want to choose between two precious people in her life.

"You'll shoot her or I'll shoot you?" 

Mariella feels the pang inside her chest. He’s not kidding while uttering those words. He’s cruel… indeed a cold-hearted Mafia Boss.

"Tesoro mio, don't ---" 

"Choose. I'm being impatient." 

"Tesoro---"

"Stop the drama. You're making me puke." Mirabella gives her full strength and pulls the gun from one of Leo's men. She points it to Mariella and plans to shoot her sister but Leo is quick to move and protect his wife.

"Fuck. Why can't you just choose me?" Blood came out from Leo's mouth. Unlike earlier, his eyes becomes soft again while staring at Mariella.

"Tesoro mio..." Mariella's eyes were bloodshot.

"Close your eyes. I don't want you to see this."

At that moment, Mariella accepts her sister fate and closes her eyes instead, a tear rolls down her cheek. Multiple gunshots were heard in that place.

Mariella feels Leo's weight on her shoulder and a whisper in her ear makes her weak.

"Ti amo, amore mio." Leo painfully whispers before loosing consciousness.