เมื่อเพลงจบ…ไม่อาจมีวันคืนดังเดิม

The cold barrel of the gun pressed against Camilla Ferrara's temple. I felt every tremor of fear running through her body.

Antonio Gatti's eyes were bloodshot as he tried desperately to stop me. "Martina, calm down. Whatever it is, come at me. Let Camilla go."

My hand trembled, my heart wrenching violently. Even now, Antonio still shielded Camilla above all else.

My eyes burned red as I tightened my grip around her throat, watching her face turn a mottled purple. "You want me to calm down? You turned my mamma's ashes into fireworks and set them off. Who could stay calm after that?"

Camilla struggled in my chokehold, her cries growing desperate. "Antonio, save me! Martina's lost her mind!"

Her piercing screams stabbed at him, one cry after another.

Antonio finally snapped, his voice dropping to a threatening growl. "Martina, what the hell are you talking about? I don't understand any of this.

"I've given you my name and made you my wife. Why can't you tolerate one woman by my side? Even jealousy has its limits."

His words sent a sharp pain through my chest, like a fist seizing my heart and crushing it over and over.

Just a few days ago, I'd left to handle a family conflict. When I returned, the urn I kept on my bedside table was gone.

I searched frantically until I finally learned the truth from one of the cleaning staff. Mamma's ashes had been taken by Antonio and turned into fireworks, set to be launched that very night in the busiest district of New Wis City.

I went mad trying to break through and stop it, but security cordons blocked my way at every turn.

Guarding those lines was Antonio's most trusted security team. Their captain barked at me, "Tonight is Signorina Ferrara's birthday.

"Signor Gatti specifically ordered that no one approaches, especially you, Signora. Don't even think about ruining Signorina Ferrara's special night."

I could only stand there helplessly, watching them launch Mamma's ashes into the sky. I watched the two of them kiss beneath the fireworks while my screams were drowned out by the explosions overhead. Even now, that feeling of utter desperation made my eyes sting.

Then came a bang. Searing pain shot through my arm. The gun slipped from my grip and clattered to the floor.

Antonio had shot me.

Seizing the opportunity, Camilla shoved me hard before throwing herself into Antonio's arms, playing the fragile victim.

Gritting my teeth, I forced myself up and grabbed the gun with my uninjured hand, aiming straight for Camilla's heart. But Antonio lunged forward. The bullet only caught Camilla's shoulder.

"Martina, what the hell has gotten into you? Are you actually trying to kill her?"

Looking down at Camilla, unconscious in his arms, Antonio's eyes reddened. I hadn't seen him lose control like this in years.

The last time was at our wedding. Under the witness of our family elders, he'd held me close and kissed me in that sacred cathedral, his tears falling onto my face.

"Martina, I've finally made you mine."

But now, his desperation was no longer for me. It was for another woman.

With Camilla unconscious, Antonio had no interest in dealing with me. He rushed out with her in his arms, shouting for Luca Ricci, his Underboss, to get the doctor.

Before leaving, he barked orders at Marco Vitale, the Gatti family's Consigliere. "Don't let anyone treat her wounds. When I get back, I'll deal with her myself."

I gasped for air, my clothes soaked through with blood still gushing from my arm. Marco directed two household staff to drag me into the Gatti family's holding cell, the room reserved for traitors.

They threw me roughly onto the floor and left without another word. All I could do was tear strips from my clothes and bandage the wound myself.

Bitterness churned inside me as I remembered Mamma's final moments, how she'd cried and gripped my hand. "Martina, I truly believed Antonio was worth trusting. That's the only reason I agreed to this marriage."

But in the end, both Mamma and I had been wrong about him. After all these years, Antonio's heart had changed completely.