"My child... how could you do something so foolish?"
My mother held me tightly, her tears soaking into my shoulder.
"Ten years, Adriana. Do you know how long ten years is? A person only gets so many years in their life."
Her voice broke as she cried.
Even after the verdict was delivered, Enzo, the family's trusted legal adviser, still couldn't accept what had happened.
He removed his glasses and slowly wiped the lenses, using the small movement to gather his thoughts.
"Adriana," he finally asked, "you were at your birthday dinner that night, weren't you?"
His eyes sharpened.
"Then why did every surveillance camera nearby lose only the footage from that exact evening?"
I fell silent.
I wasn't sure how much truth I should reveal.
Before I could answer, the sound of high heels echoed through the hallway.
Each step struck the concrete floor like a warning.
"So you're Adriana."
A sweet voice carried through the room, soft on the surface but hiding a blade underneath.
Gia appeared.
Salvatore's childhood sweetheart.
The woman who had always remained in his heart.
She wore a crimson dress that hugged her figure, walking toward us with the confidence of someone who already believed she belonged there.
Her hand was intertwined with Salvatore's.
Their eyes met with the kind of intimacy no husband should show another woman.
My father's expression darkened instantly.
"How dare you come here?"
His voice was filled with disgust.
"Did you come to watch Adriana fall?"
In our world, a man's loyalty was everything. To my father, seeing Salvatore bring another woman here while I was being taken away was an insult he could barely tolerate.
I quickly tried to stop him with my eyes.
I didn't want things to become worse.
But Gia only laughed.
A sharp, pleased laugh.
"Adriana, you really are exactly as everyone says."
She tilted her head, looking at me with fake admiration.
"The kind, gentle woman who would sacrifice everything for the man she loves."
"Ten years in prison, and you didn't even complain."
She smiled.
"Don't worry. I'll take good care of Salvatore and Matteo from now on."
Every word felt like poison.
My mother's face changed with anger.
She turned toward Salvatore.
"Adriana is still your wife. What exactly are you doing, standing here holding another woman's hand?"
But Salvatore remained calm.
Almost too calm.
"Mom, don't misunderstand."
His voice was gentle, as if he was the one being wronged.
"Gia and I grew up together. Adriana knows that. She gets nervous around too many people, and her hands shake when she's stressed."
He glanced at their joined hands.
"I was only holding her hand to help her calm down."
As he spoke, he casually wiped his palm against his trousers.
It was a small habit.
One he had never noticed.
One that always appeared whenever he was lying.
Gia leaned closer to him, wearing a fragile expression, looking like a woman who had been hurt.
My father's face turned red with anger.
My mother's hands clenched into fists.
I silently begged them not to lose control.
At that moment, the guards approached, preparing to take me away.
Gia immediately seized the opportunity.
She "accidentally" dropped a document, and the papers flew directly toward me.
The corner struck my face.
I lowered my head and picked it up.
The moment I saw the title, my expression froze.
A dissolution agreement for our blood-bound marriage.
Gia smiled.
"You should sign it while you still have the chance."
"You've occupied Salvatore's side for long enough. Now that you're a convicted criminal, you should leave the Ortega family."
I looked at Salvatore.
Waiting for him to say something.
Anything.
But he remained silent.
Instead, he tightened his grip on Gia's hand and wrapped his other arm around her waist.
Right in front of me.
Right in front of everyone.
My father stood frozen.
He had nothing left to say.
I lowered my eyes and prepared to sign.
Then Matteo spoke.
My son.
He had been hiding behind Gia the entire time.
"People who kill others don't deserve to be mothers."
His voice was cold and unfamiliar.
"I want Aunt Gia to be my mommy."
My mother stepped forward, wanting to pull him away.
But Matteo bit her hand and pushed her down.
Then he ran back behind Gia, laughing.
As if nothing had happened.
My mother stared at him in disbelief.
Only a few days ago, he had still been the sweet child who held onto my hand and called me Mommy.
The guards began urging me forward.
Salvatore looked impatient.
My father quietly shook his head, telling me not to sign.
But I turned away from all of them.
No one could see my expression.
No one could see my hand.
I slowly turned my wedding ring around my finger once.
Then I threw the papers aside.
The moment the documents fell, Salvatore released Gia's hand.
He rushed forward and picked them up.
For the first time, genuine panic appeared on his face.
"Don't sign it, sweetheart..."
His voice changed.
"This is all my fault. I was the one who let you marry him."
My mother cried as she chased after me down the corridor.
Her grief was so overwhelming that even the guard stopped.
The prison rules were strict, but after a moment of hesitation, he sighed.
"I need to use the restroom."
It was an obvious excuse.
But he gave us five minutes.
My mother grabbed my hands tightly.
"It's all your mother's fault."
"I'll go to Enzo. I'll tell him everything. I'll tell him Salvatore was the one who did it. You were only protecting him."
I gently pressed her hands, stopping her from saying his name.
Not here.
Not inside these walls.
In our world, some names carried consequences.
And prison walls had ears.
Even from the end of the corridor, I could feel Salvatore and Gia watching us.
A few people had gathered nearby, whispering and staring, enjoying the scene like they were watching a performance.
"Mamma, don't worry about me."
I looked into her eyes.
My voice was calm.
"I'll take care of myself."
"Before I came here, I already told Enzo everything."
"He and I studied law together. He knows what to do."
"He'll protect you and Papa for me."
The certainty in my voice made those words sound almost like a goodbye.
And perhaps they were.
