บททั้งหมดของ The Forgotten Sister’s Last Night: บทที่ 1 - บทที่ 9

In the Valenti Family, you're born with a chip. It's fused into the bio-watch on your wrist, its digital face counting down every second you have left to live. Everyone could see the numbers ticking down on my twin sister's watch. And on mine.They all knew she would die on our 18th birthday.So Vivian became the untouchable princess of our brutal world.Every diamond-stitched gown was hers. The rarest jewels were hers.Even our father's last shred of humanity was hers. That single sliver of warmth he showed only after his gun was holstered.I used to pity her. Her time was running out.But God, I envied her. She had everything I never did: our parents' love.Then, the night of her 18th birthday party.My parents worried I'd make a scene. That I'd piss off the Don of an allied Family.So they locked me in the cellar. Damp. Cold. While a deadly fever burned through me.I pounded on the heavy oak door, my voice cracking."Mamma, please! Let me out! I'm burning up. My head is splitting o

"Sienna."He spoke softly to the door. "Papa brought you some chocolate. Have something sweet. Stop being mad at us."I floated in front of him, crouching down to look at him.His eyes were so red. The lines around them were deeper than last year. There was gray in his hair now.He was only forty-five, but he looked like an old man who had been through hell."Papa, I'm right here. I'm dead. Please, just go in and look at me.""Sienna?" he called again. He pushed the piece of chocolate under the door.I reached out to touch his face. My fingers passed right through him.He sighed, a deep, disappointed sound. "This kid... still holding a grudge."He nudged the chocolate under the door with the toe of his expensive shoe."Fine. Stay put. But don't cause any more trouble. After your sister is gone… Papa will make it all up to you."I didn't wait for him to find me.I watched his back as he walked away and whispered,"You don't have to, Papa. You don't have to make anything up to me."You'l

"What's wrong?"Mamma's voice was still bright with morning joy. She nudged Papa, who was frozen in the doorway."Marcello, move. I'll go wake Sienna—""Don't go in."Papa's voice was shaking badly. "Papa?"Vivian peeked out from behind Mamma, her big eyes filled with a perfectly measured dose of concern."What's wrong with Sienna?"She called out softly, "Sienna, big sister is here to see you. Stop your tantrum, okay?"I floated near the ceiling, watching her with cold eyes.Her acting was always flawless.Of course, the cold body in the corner couldn't answer her.The cellar was terrifyingly quiet.Mamma finally sensed something was wrong. She shoved Papa's arm aside and forced her way across the damp, dark threshold.She saw the small, curled-up figure in the corner right away."Sienna, stop faking. Get up," Mamma said, walking over quickly.She reached out with her usual impatience and gave my shoulder a hard push.The next second, Mamma froze completely.There was no warmth. No s

The howling in the great hall was deafening.The cries leaked through the heavy doors, attracting the wives of a few lesser bosses, men who depended on the Valenti family.They had come for the party.Now they stood at the entrance, their eyes traveling over the wreckage to the body in Grandma's arms."My God..."A woman in a red dress, holding a glass of champagne, covered her mouth.But her voice was sharp, dripping with a cruel sort of humor."Well, look at this. A little mix-up in the Valenti succession. The dying girl lives, and the living girl dies."She let out a little chuckle, raising her champagne flute. "Seems even God gets the twins confused."The air went still.Mamma Valeria slowly turned her head.The tear tracks were still on her face, but the despair in her eyes had hardened into the madness of a mob boss's wife.Click.The crisp sound of metal.Mamma ripped the gun from her waistband, racked the slide, and lunged. She grabbed a fistful of blonde hair and slammed the w

The SUV entered the heavily guarded private vineyard.There was no New York mob noise here. No cold-blooded calculations. Just the peace of the early morning.Grandma went to the fireplace and lit the dry wood with a match.The warm, golden light flickered, slowly chasing away the chill of the morgue.Grandma walked back to the table.She placed the heavy urn squarely in the center of the long table in the living room.Then, she lit three white prayer candles.The flames danced.Grandma closed her eyes and slowly made the sign of the cross over her chest.It was the Family's oldest, most sacred farewell ritual.I floated in the air, watching it all.Suddenly, Grandma's eyes opened.Her cloudy but sharp eyes looked directly at where I was floating."Sienna."Her voice was hoarse, thick with unshed tears. "Nonna can see you."I felt a jolt.In that instant, eighteen years of pain, suffering, and bitterness broke through.I burst into tears."Nonna Caterina!"I cried out and rushed toward