Augusto stood beneath the streetlight, watching Serafina’s figure disappear into the darkness.
He did not move.
Not until she was completely gone.
Only then did something inside him finally snap.
A violent wave of anger surged through his chest.
He turned and punched the brick wall beside him.
The impact split his knuckles instantly.
Blood dripped down his fingers.
But for the first time in years, Augusto did nothing.
He didn’t reach for the small bottle of sterilizing alcohol he always carried.
He didn’t wipe away the blood.
He didn’t care.
No one was there to see it.
No one was there to ask why the man who hated even the slightest stain was standing there with his hands covered in his own blood.
His phone vibrated.
A message from Ceciliana appeared.
[Want to have a drink?]
Augusto stared at the screen for several seconds.
His mind was still filled with Serafina’s final words.
But his anger was stronger.
He replied.
[Where?]
Not long after, they arrived at one of the Family’s private clubs.
It was a quiet place reserved for people with power.
The guards lowered their heads when Augusto entered.
The bartender immediately prepared his usual drink without needing an order.
Ceciliana sat across from him, slowly swirling the wine in her glass.
“If you ask me…”
“She’s just been spoiled by you for too long.”
Augusto remained silent.
The ice in his glass slowly melted.
Ceciliana continued.
“She knows you’ll always forgive her.”
“She knows you’ll always come back.”
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
“She would never really leave you.”
Her hand rested lightly on his shoulder.
“If it wasn’t because of you, do you really think she could ever stand against me?”
Augusto didn’t respond.
At that moment, his phone vibrated.
The name displayed on the screen made his eyes narrow.
Serafina.
For a second, his irritation disappeared.
Then a strange confidence appeared in his gaze.
Of course.
She couldn’t hold on for long.
She was finally calling him.
Apologizing.
Admitting she was wrong.
Augusto answered.
But there was no voice.
Only the sound of waves crashing against the shore.
His brows slowly furrowed.
“Cat got your tongue?”
His voice carried a hint of cold mockery.
But on the other end of the call, Serafina was unable to answer.
Her hair was being pulled tightly backward.
Bruno Salvatore’s hand twisted painfully against her scalp.
She bit down on her lip, refusing to cry.
But a broken sound still escaped.
The man snatched the phone from her hand.
“Don Augusto Marchetti?”
His voice was rough and arrogant.
“I’ve heard plenty about you.”
“The great Don of the Marchetti Family.”
He laughed.
“But I don’t understand one thing.”
“If you’re really that powerful…”
“Why haven’t you settled your future father-in-law’s debt?”
A toothpick rolled between his teeth.
“Carlo Colombo owes money.”
“And debts always have to be paid.”
Augusto’s expression changed.
His grip tightened around the phone.
“How much?”
“Five hundred thousand.”
Bruno’s voice was full of amusement.
“Cash.”
“Or don’t blame me when things get ugly.”
“People who owe us money have a habit of disappearing into the sea.”
Augusto’s eyes turned cold.
His bloody fingers tightened.
“Let me speak to her.”
“Let Serafina speak to me herself.”
For several seconds, only chaos came through the phone.
Then Carlo’s desperate voice sounded.
“Please…”
“Please don’t hurt her…”
The next second.
A scream.
A scream filled with unbearable pain.
Augusto’s heart stopped.
Then Serafina’s voice came.
Weak.
Shaking.
Broken.
“Augusto…”
“My father…”
“He got into trouble again…”
“Please…”
Her breath trembled.
“Please help us.”
“I’ll pay you back.”
“I promise.”
That single word.
Please.
It pierced through every defense Augusto had built.
Hours ago, Serafina had stood before him with cold eyes.
She had told him he meant nothing.
She had walked away without looking back.
But now…
She was asking him for help.
She was still turning to him when she had nowhere else to go.
The anger inside him vanished.
Only pain remained.
He opened his mouth.
But before he could answer, Ceciliana’s hand covered his.
“Augusto.”
Her voice was soft.
“Wait.”
“How do you know this isn’t another trick?”
Her fingers briefly touched the bracelet on her wrist.
Then she smiled.
“You know better than anyone how much you hate being deceived.”
Augusto froze.
“But…”
His instinct told him to go.
To save her.
To find her.
But another voice held him back.
Ceciliana leaned closer.
Her breath brushed against his ear.
“Even if it’s real…”
“If you rush there now, she’ll only think you’ll always save her.”
“She needs to understand fear.”
“She needs to understand that you’re the only person she can rely on.”
Through the phone, Serafina’s voice continued.
Each word was weaker than the last.
Each plea pulled at his heart.
Ceciliana sensed his hesitation.
She took the phone from his hand.
“We’re both women.”
“I understand exactly what she’s doing.”
“If she wants you back, she should just admit it.”
“Why make everything so dramatic?”
Her voice sharpened.
“You hate lies more than anything, Augusto.”
On the other side, Serafina’s breathing became frantic.
“I didn’t…”
“I didn’t lie…”
“Augusto, please…”
“Just this once…”
“For the sake of…”
Her voice suddenly stopped.
The call went silent.
Augusto stared at the phone.
The unfinished sentence remained hanging in the air.
Then he remembered what Serafina had said earlier.
“You mean nothing to me.”
Those words cut deeper than anything else.
His finger moved.
He ended the call.
No explanation.
No hesitation.
No goodbye.
The room fell silent.
The liquor burned down his throat.
But it could not erase the image in his mind.
Serafina crying.
Serafina begging.
Serafina needing him.
Again and again.
Almost unconsciously, his hand moved toward the phone.
Ceciliana noticed.
She gently lifted her wine glass and touched it against his lips.
“Don’t give in.”
“This is something she needs to learn.”
Augusto’s fingers stopped.
His thoughts were a storm.
After a long silence…
He lowered his hand.
And slowly nodded.
Five hours later.
At exactly five in the morning.
The sharp ringing of his phone shattered the silence.
Augusto opened his eyes.
Still half trapped between sleep and reality, he answered.
“Hello?”
“Is this Don Augusto Marchetti?”
The voice on the other end was unfamiliar.
Cold.
Official.
“Yes.”
“Who is this?”
A strange feeling suddenly climbed up his spine.
“This is the district police department.”
The officer paused.
Then continued.
“We regret to inform you…”
“Miss Serafina Colombo entered the sea last night.”
“Her body was recovered at approximately one in the morning.”
“She was pronounced dead at the scene.”
Augusto stopped breathing.
The entire world seemed to freeze.
“Her final outgoing call…”
The officer’s voice continued.
“Was made to your number.”
“We need you to come in and assist with the investigation.”
