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00:00After seven years together, Michael Gambino finally agreed to marry me.
00:05The wedding venue was packed with guests, and congratulations filled the air.
00:09But I couldn't bring myself to feel happy.
00:12Sure enough, just as we were about to exchange rings, Michael's sworn sister, Sophia, burst in.
00:18In front of everyone, she snatched the wedding rings and tossed them into an ice bucket.
00:22Then she smashed the nine-tier champagne tower to pieces before dropping to her knees and clinging on Michael's leg,
00:28sobbing and throwing a tantrum.
00:30Michael, I don't want you to get married. You promised you'd stay with me forever.
00:34Michael immediately bent down to comfort her, speaking in a gentle voice.
00:38Then he looked up at me.
00:39Gianna, Sophia's having another episode. We'll have to call off the wedding for now.
00:42We can talk about getting married once she's better.
00:44He said it so casually, just like every other time, as if canceling our wedding were no big deal.
00:51I pressed my lips together, struggling to keep my voice steady.
00:54Michael, tell Sophia to leave, right now.
00:58As long as she's here, this wedding isn't happening.
01:00Michael's expression instantly turned cold.
01:03Gianna, you know what Sophia's going through. Do you really have to force me to choose right now?
01:07I looked into his eyes, searching for even a trace of the warmth I'd once known.
01:11But all I found was indifference.
01:13I'd been through scenes like this countless times over the past seven years.
01:16Michael told me that Sophia had been kidnapped because of him when she was little,
01:20and she'd suffered a brain injury as a result.
01:22Ever since then, she'd had episodes where she would completely lose control.
01:26His guilt over what had happened made him excuse her behavior again and again.
01:31Three years into our relationship, Sophia barged into my birthday party and pointed an accusing finger at me in front
01:37of all our friends.
01:38Bitch, what makes you think you're good enough for Michael?
01:42She smashed the cake in my face and trashed the entire room.
01:48Our friends were so furious that they pulled out their guns, ready to blow her brains out.
01:54But Michael stepped in front of her and wouldn't let them touch her.
02:00Gianna, Sophia has a brain injury. Don't hold it against her.
02:07On Valentine's Day, Michael and I were out on a date when Sophia suddenly showed up.
02:13She flipped our table, splashing hot oil onto my legs and leaving me with severe burns.
02:17As Michael wiped Sophia's hands clean, he looked over at me.
02:20Gianna, she's having an episode. She didn't mean to hurt you.
02:23But the worst incident happened at my mother's funeral.
02:26Sophia showed up uninvited and burst into laughter in front of everyone.
02:31Good riddance! The old bitch is dead! Now it's the younger bitch's turn!
02:35That's what you get for trying to steal Michael from me!
02:38I couldn't take it anymore.
02:40I drew my gun and aimed it straight at her head.
02:43Apologized to my mother.
02:46But Michael grabbed me and held me back.
02:48Look, don't blame her.
02:51She can't control herself right now.
02:53Every single time, Michael saved all his concern for Sophia.
02:57My feelings always came second.
02:59Now, Michael gently patted Sophia's back while giving me a cold stare.
03:02If you really loved me, you wouldn't force me to choose at a time like this.
03:05I looked at the broken champagne glasses strewed across the floor,
03:07then at our wedding rings lying in the ice bucket.
03:10Suddenly, the whole thing seemed ridiculous.
03:14I gave you seven years, Michael.
03:16I said calmly,
03:17For seven years, I've been waiting for you to make a choice.
03:20Today is your last chance.
03:22Me or her.
03:26Sophia buried her face in his chest and whippered.
03:28Michael, please don't abandon me.
03:34Something flickered in Michael's eyes,
03:36but his expression quickly turned cold again.
03:38He looked me straight in the eye.
03:40Fine. Then we're breaking up.
03:42I'd known that would be his answer all along.
03:46I turned to face the room full of guests,
03:48doing my best to maintain my composure.
03:50The wedding is canceled.
03:52Sophia clutched her chest and whined to Michael.
03:54It's so stuffy in here. I can barely breathe. Let's go.
03:58Michael immediately took her away.
04:00He didn't even bother to look back at me.
04:07After the guests had left,
04:08I returned alone to the home we'd carefully prepared for our marriage,
04:11and began packing my things.
04:14It wasn't long before Sophia posted an update on social media.
04:17The short video showed them sitting in a dimly lit VIP booth at a bar,
04:21with music blasting in the background.
04:22Sophia held a drink in one hand and pressed herself against Michael,
04:25making exaggerated faces at the camera.
04:27Michael's collar was unbuttoned,
04:29his tie hung crooklit,
04:30and his cheeks were flushed from drinking.
04:32His eyes were glazed over.
04:33The caption read,
04:34Michael's single again.
04:36We're celebrating.
04:36Just the two of us, as it should be.
04:38Some bitch needs to get the hint and stay away.
04:41It wasn't Sophia's mockery that hurt the most.
04:43It was the fact that Michael was perfectly fine with it.
04:48The wedding dress I'd spent six months designing now felt like one big joke.
04:53A few minutes later,
04:54a message from Michael popped up on my phone.
05:13I could almost see the indifference on Michael's face as he typed those words.
05:22Whatever warmth I had left for him vanished.
05:25I picked up my phone and replied,
05:28Don't bother.
05:33Just as I finished packing my suitcase,
05:36the bedroom door swung open.
05:38Michael walked in,
05:39supporting a drunken Sophia.
05:46Sophia had too much to drink.
05:47She kept insisting on sleeping in our wedding bed,
05:50and I couldn't talk her out of it.
05:53Gianna, please try to understand.
05:56Try to understand?
05:58Those words brought a flood of memories rushing back.
06:01Six months ago,
06:02we just finished decorating this bedroom for our wedding.
06:05My mother had come over,
06:06thrilled to see it.
06:07She wanted to sit on our brand new bed
06:09and see how comfortable the mattress was.
06:11But Michael had stopped her without a second thought.
06:14Ma'am,
06:15it's a Gambino family tradition.
06:17No one else is allowed to touch the wedding bed.
06:19It's bad luck.
06:23I could still remember the embarrassment and disappointment on my mother's face.
06:28Yet now,
06:29when it came to Sophia,
06:31that rule suddenly meant nothing.
06:33I couldn't be bothered to argue with him anymore.
06:38I zipped up my suitcase
06:39and headed straight for the door.
06:41Michael seemed caught off guard by my reaction.
06:44He froze for a moment.
06:45Where are you going?
06:47I didn't answer.
06:49I didn't even slow down.
06:51There was nothing left to say to a man
06:52who refused to see what was right in front of him.
06:55But just as my fingers touched the doorknob,
06:58slap!
06:59The blow caught me completely off guard,
07:01leaving my cheek burning.
07:03Sophia had pulled away from Michael.
07:04She gared at me through drunken eyes,
07:06pointing an accusing finger in my face.
07:08Michael asked you a question, bitch!
07:10Are you fucking deaf?
07:12At first,
07:13I had no intention on fighting with Sophia.
07:16After seven years,
07:17scenes like this were nothing new.
07:19But when she saw that I wasn't responding,
07:21she only grew more poison.
07:23Without warning,
07:24she hurled the half-empty liquor bottle in her hand
07:26straight at me.
07:29I instinctively jerked my head to the side,
07:31but the bottle still slammed hard into my temple.
07:34A sharp, searing pain shot through my head.
07:37But Sophia wasn't done yet.
07:39She pointed a finger right in my face and screamed,
07:42her voice dripping with malice and madness.
07:44Get the fuck out, you bitch!
07:47You're just as disgusting as that dead mother of yours!
07:50She deserved to die young.
07:51Something inside me finally snapped.
07:54You fucking bitch.
07:55I put every ounce of strength I had into my fist
07:57and punched her square in the face.
07:59Sophia let out a short, piercing scream.
08:02She stumbled backwards several steps
08:03before crashing to the floor.
08:05She clutched her nose.
08:06Bright red blood poured through her fingers
08:09and dripped onto the floor.
08:10For a split second,
08:12the entire world seemed to stand still.
08:14Sophia!
08:15Michael's panicked shout pierced the silence.
08:17He rushed over and crouched beside her,
08:19helping her up before wiping the blood
08:21from her face with his sleeve.
08:22When he turned to look at me,
08:23his eyes were filled with shock and fury.
08:26Gianna, what the hell are you doing?
08:28Have you lost your fucking mind?
08:30You know Sophia has a brain injury.
08:32How could you hit her that hard?
08:33I stared at Michael.
08:35All he could see was Sophia,
08:36lying on the floor and groaning in pain.
08:39He didn't even spare a glass
08:40at the blood still running down the side of my head.
08:42I wanted to confront him.
08:44Was Sophia allowed to get away with murder and arson
08:47as long as she was having an episode?
08:48Was I always going to be the one
08:50who had to sacrifice everything
08:51and be understanding no matter what she did?
08:54But before I could get a single word out,
08:56pain tore through my head
08:57as if something had exploded inside my scale.
09:00The world spun violently before my eyes.
09:03Then everything went black.
09:06When I regained consciousness,
09:08I was lying in a hospital bed.
09:12You're awake.
09:13I turned my head slightly
09:14and saw a doctor standing in my bed.
09:16He was looking down at the medical chart in his hands.
09:18How are you feeling?
09:18You have a mild concussion
09:20and a laceration near your temple.
09:21It took five stitches to close the wound.
09:24You're lucky.
09:25None of the glass shards hit anything vital.
09:26He paused, sounding both serious and incredulous.
09:28The man who brought you in.
09:29He's your boyfriend, isn't he?
09:31His sister was making quite a scene in the ER,
09:33crying and screaming.
09:34He spent the whole time comforting her.
09:36He didn't even come to check on you.
09:40I gave a faint, humorless smile,
09:42but said nothing.
09:46The doctor sighed at my reaction
09:48and didn't press any further.
09:50That evening,
09:51the door to my hospital room opened quietly.
09:54Michael walked in.
09:55His clothes were slightly deshambled,
09:57and he looked exhausted.
10:00He approached my bedside
10:01and stared at my pale,
10:02weakened face for a few seconds
10:03without saying anything.
10:06What did the doctor say?
10:08I answered calmly.
10:10I'm not dying.
10:11Michael frowned.
10:13Gianna, don't talk like that.
10:14Sophia...
10:15What about her?
10:15I cut him off
10:16and looked him straight in the eye.
10:18Michael pressed his lips together.
10:19You fractured her nasal bone.
10:20They're still treating her.
10:22More importantly,
10:23she's terrified.
10:23She's been emotionally unstable ever since,
10:25and her condition is getting worse.
10:26A fractured nose.
10:28I felt absolutely nothing
10:29when I heard that.
10:30If anything,
10:31I wished I'd hit her harder.
10:33So?
10:38Michael seemed taken aback
10:39by my indifference.
10:40When he spoke again,
10:42his voice took on
10:43that familiar, lecturing tone.
10:45Gianna,
10:46I know you're angry,
10:47but can't you be
10:48a little more reasonable?
10:51Sophia was drunk,
10:53and she was having another episode.
10:54She couldn't control herself.
10:57You're perfectly healthy.
10:59Why would you stoop to her level
11:00and hit her that hard?
11:05Here we go again.
11:06I looked at him,
11:07the man I'd loved for seven years,
11:09the man who had almost
11:10become my husband.
11:12Suddenly,
11:13he felt like a complete stranger.
11:14So because she can't control herself,
11:16that gives her the right
11:17to smash a liquor bottle
11:18against my head?
11:19Michael's eyes flickered.
11:20She didn't know what she was doing.
11:22And insulting my mother?
11:23She didn't know
11:24what she was doing then either.
11:25She was talking nonsense.
11:27Michael raised his voice.
11:28What's the point of holding
11:28a sick person accountable
11:29for things like that?
11:31Why shouldn't I?
11:33My voice turned cold.
11:34Just because she's sick,
11:35I'm supposed to let her
11:36trample all over my dignity
11:38and disrespect my dead mother?
11:40Michael,
11:41you made a mistake back then.
11:42You're the one
11:43who feels guilty about it.
11:44Why the hell am I the one
11:45who has to pay for it?
11:46Michael froze.
11:47He'd never heard me speak
11:48to him so bluntly before.
11:50That's not what I meant,
11:51Gianna.
11:51Can we both just calm down
11:52for a minute?
11:53I'm sorry.
11:54Once Sophia settles down,
11:55we can sit down
11:55and talk about this properly.
11:56I cut him off.
11:57There's nothing left to talk about
11:58and you don't need to apologize.
12:00I closed my eyes,
12:02feeling the dull ache
12:02still throbbing in my temple.
12:04We were over the moment
12:05you walked out of our wedding
12:06and took her to a bar,
12:08still wearing your wedding suit.
12:09Michael's brows drew together
12:11and his voice rose sharply.
12:13I told you,
12:14I was just trying to calm her down.
12:15Gianna, can't you try
12:16to understand my position for once?
12:18I'm caught in the middle here.
12:19This isn't easy for me either.
12:20I looked at him.
12:21My heart no longer stirred
12:22for this man.
12:23Then you don't have to be
12:24caught in the middle anymore.
12:25Just leave, Michael.
12:27Go take care of that
12:28sworn sister of yours
12:29who can't live without you.
12:30She's more important than I am.
12:33Michael opened his mouth
12:34as if he wanted to say something else.
12:36But in the end,
12:37his expression turned cold.
12:38He turned around
12:39and walked out of the hospital room.
12:43Michael didn't show up again
12:45for the next few days.
12:46After I was discharged
12:47from the hospital,
12:48I went to the cemetery alone.
12:49I wanted to say goodbye
12:50to my mother
12:51before leaving the city for good.
12:53But when I arrived,
12:54the sight before me
12:55made my blood boil
12:55and my limbs turn ice cold.
12:58It was Sophia.
12:59She had a shovel in her hands
13:01and was frantically
13:02digging up my mother's grave.
13:03Dirt was scattered everywhere
13:05and the headstone
13:05lay toppled on its side.
13:07Stop!
13:08My mind went blank.
13:09I charged toward her
13:10without a second thought.
13:13But before I could even reach Sophia,
13:16two burly bodyguards
13:17dressed in black
13:18rushed out from the side.
13:19They grabbed me by both arms
13:21and held me in place.
13:23No matter how hard I struggled,
13:24I couldn't break free.
13:26Let go of me!
13:28Sophia, I'll fucking kill you!
13:31My eyes burned with rage
13:32and my voice was hessed
13:33from screaming.
13:34Just then,
13:35Michael hurried over
13:36and stepped between
13:37Sophia and me.
13:38Gianna, don't get worked up.
13:39Calm down.
13:40Calm down?
13:40You're telling me to calm down
13:42while that fucking lunatic
13:43digs up my mother's grave?
13:45I shot him a furious glare.
13:47Michael avoided my gaze,
13:49speaking as though
13:50I were the one
13:51being unreasonable.
13:52Ever since you punched Sophia,
13:54her condition has gotten worse.
13:55She can't handle
13:56any kind of emotional stress
13:57right now.
13:58Can't you just try to understand?
13:59Hearing Michael defend her
14:00only made Sophia more smug.
14:02She stopped digging
14:03and flashed me a wide grin,
14:04her expression twisted
14:05with malice and madness.
14:06Then she raised the shovel
14:07and slammed it down
14:08on my mother's urn,
14:09which was now exposed
14:10in the grave.
14:11No!
14:14Felt like my heart
14:15had been ripped apart.
14:16Crack!
14:17A sickening sound rang out
14:19as the shovel struck the urn,
14:20leaving a crack
14:21in its hard surface.
14:22As if she'd found
14:23a new toy,
14:24Sophia struck it again
14:25and again
14:26until the urn
14:27shattered completely.
14:28My mother's white ashes
14:30spilled out onto the ground.
14:31Sophia tossed the shovel aside,
14:33raised her foot,
14:35and stomped on the ashes.
14:37Then she ground them
14:39into the dirt beneath her shoe.
14:41Mom!
14:43At that moment,
14:44I could almost hear
14:45my heart shattering.
14:46Rage, despair,
14:48and unbearable grief
14:48crashed over me
14:49all at once.
14:50Tears of blood
14:51streamed uncontrollably
14:53down my face.
14:54Michael never once
14:55looked at me.
14:56His attention
14:56was entirely on Sophia.
14:58When she finally stopped,
14:59he approached her carefully
15:00and asked in a gentle voice,
15:01Sophia, are you done?
15:03Do you feel better now?
15:04Sophia dusted off her hands
15:05and nodded
15:05with a cheerful grin.
15:06Thank you so much, Michael.
15:08I feel so much better.
15:10Then she turned
15:11toward my mother's ashes
15:12and spat on them.
15:14Come on.
15:15Let's get you home.
15:15Michael spoke softly to her,
15:17then motioned
15:17for the bodyguards
15:18to release me.
15:19He wrapped a protective arm
15:20around Sophia
15:20and walked away
15:21without looking back.
15:22I dropped to my knees
15:23and crawled
15:24toward the scattered ashes.
15:26With trembling hands,
15:27I tried to gather
15:28my mother's ashes,
15:30now mixed with dirt
15:31and Sophia's spit.
15:33Sharp fragments
15:34of the broken ink
15:35sliced into my palms.
15:37Blood dripped
15:37into the soil,
15:38but I couldn't feel a thing.
15:40Just then,
15:41my phone vibrated
15:43in my pocket.
15:44I pulled it out numbly.
15:45A message from Michael
15:47appeared on the screen.
15:48Gianna,
15:49I promise this is
15:50the last time.
15:51I've already made
15:52an appointment
15:52with a specialist.
15:53I'm taking Sophia
15:54to Switzerland tomorrow
15:55for treatment.
15:56Once she's better,
15:58we can put all of this
15:58behind us.
16:00I'll make it up to you.
16:01Everything you've suffered today,
16:03I'll make up for it tenfold.
16:04I stared at the message,
16:06my face completely blank.
16:08I took off my jacket,
16:10already soaked through,
16:11and carefully wrapped
16:12my mother's ashes in it.
16:14Then I buried my phone
16:15in the dirt
16:15and struggled to my feet.
16:17There would never be
16:18another chance.
16:19Michael,
16:20I don't want you anymore.
16:22I stumbled away
16:23without looking back.
16:26The next day,
16:27before boarding his flight,
16:29Michael called me.
16:31No answer.
16:33He stared at his phone,
16:35frowning slightly.
16:36Gianna always answers my calls,
16:37even when she's mad at me.
16:38Is she really that angry
16:39this time?
16:40Michael.
16:40Sophia leaned against him,
16:42clinging to his arm.
16:43My head hurts so bad.
16:44There's this constant buzzing.
16:46Michael had no choice
16:47but to put his phone away.
16:48He raised a hand to her temple
16:49and gently massaged it.
16:51We're boarding soon.
16:52Just hang in there.
16:53Once we get to Switzerland
16:54and see the specialist,
16:55you'll feel better.
16:56Sophia slept through
16:56most of the flight,
16:57which lasted over 10 hours.
16:59Whenever she woke up,
17:00she clung to Michael,
17:01chatting away
17:01and complaining
17:02about the terrible airplane food
17:03and uncomfortable seats.
17:05Michael patiently comforted her,
17:06but his mind was somewhere else entirely.
17:09After arriving in Switzerland,
17:11he took Sophia to see
17:12several renowned neurologists
17:14he'd contacted in advance.
17:16They ran a series
17:17of comprehensive medical examinations.
17:19Then came the agonizing wait.
17:21A few hours later,
17:22a comprehensive diagnostic report
17:24was placed in front of Michael.
17:26Mr. Gambono,
17:27based on our extensive examinations
17:29and evaluations,
17:30we found no structural
17:31or functional abnormalities
17:32in Ms. Viteri's brain.
17:34Simply put,
17:34there's no evidence
17:35of any neurological disorder.
17:42Michael froze
17:43as though he hadn't understood a word.
17:45What?
17:46That's impossible.
17:47She's had problems
17:48since she was a child.
17:49She loses control
17:49of her emotions all the time.
17:50Her behavior...
17:51We understand your concerns,
17:52Mr. Gambono,
17:53but the test results
17:54are all right here.
17:56The doctor pointed to a series
17:58of brain scans
17:59and medical data.
18:01Her EEG, MRI,
18:03and cognitive assessments
18:05are all within normal limits.
18:06From a neurological standpoint,
18:09Ms. Vitara is perfectly healthy.
18:11Fury surged through Michael.
18:13He slammed his gun
18:14onto the desk.
18:18Are you telling me
18:19you got it wrong?
18:21I paid you people
18:22a fucking fortune.
18:24I didn't come all this way
18:24just to have you brush me off.
18:27Sophia, clearly.
18:31The doctor flinched at the sight
18:33of the gun
18:33but did his best
18:34to keep his voice steady.
18:37Medical diagnostics
18:38are based on evidence,
18:40Mr. Gambona.
18:41Perhaps you should consider
18:42other possibilities.
18:44Other possibilities?
18:46Michael.
18:46Just as Michael
18:47stood there in shock,
18:48Sophia approached him
18:49as she always did,
18:50wrapping her arms
18:51around his arm
18:52and speaking in a sweet,
18:53pleading voice.
18:54Are these doctors
18:56trying to scam us?
18:57My head still hurts so much.
18:58Can we please leave?
18:59I want to go home.
19:00Michael instinctively
19:02pulled his arm away.
19:10Sophia's arms
19:10closed around empty air.
19:12She stared at him
19:13in confusion.
19:14Michael?
19:15What's wrong?
19:17For the first time,
19:18Michael looked at Sophia
19:19as though he were
19:19seeing her clearly.
19:21Beneath those
19:21carefully innocent eyes,
19:23he could now see
19:24a trace of smugness
19:25and calculation.
19:26It was so obvious.
19:27How had he failed
19:28to notice it
19:29all these years?
19:30Mr. Gambona?
19:32Michael didn't respond
19:33to the doctor.
19:36Michael stumbled
19:37out of the examination room.
19:40His fingers trembling
19:42as he dialed
19:42my number again.
19:46We're sorry.
19:47The person you are
19:48trying to reach
19:48is not available.
19:49We're sorry.
19:50The person you are
19:51trying to reach
19:52is not available.
19:52The cold,
19:53automated message
19:54repeated over and over.
19:56He refused to give up.
19:58He called again
19:59and again,
20:00but no one answered.
20:02Sophia followed him out,
20:04looking irritated.
20:08Michael,
20:09why are you ignoring me?
20:10I feel awful.
20:11Michael slowly raised his head
20:13and looked at her.
20:13There was no trace
20:15of his usual indulgence
20:16or guilt in his eyes.
20:18Sophia shrank back
20:19under his stare.
20:20For a moment,
20:22she even forgot
20:22to keep up her act.
20:24Michael didn't confront her.
20:26He simply said coldly,
20:29We're going back
20:30to New York.
20:40Once they returned to New York,
20:41Michael called his company.
20:43The HR department told him,
20:44Gianya hasn't come into work.
20:46He contacted their mutual friends.
20:48Every single one of them
20:49said they hadn't seen me.
20:51Michael felt like
20:52a part of him was missing.
20:55Michael began to panic.
20:56He pulled every string
20:58and used every resource
20:59he had to find me.
21:01Sophia was furious about it.
21:05One day,
21:06she barged into Michael's study.
21:08Why the hell
21:09are you still looking for her?
21:11That bitch isn't worth it.
21:13She nearly beat me
21:14to death that day.
21:15Look,
21:16I still have the scar.
21:17She's a fucking psycho.
21:21No wonder her mother
21:22died so young.
21:23Get out!
21:26Michael glared
21:27at her viciously.
21:28Sophia froze,
21:29then raised her voice.
21:31You're yelling at me
21:33over that outsider?
21:34Michael,
21:35have you forgotten
21:36what happened
21:37when we were kids?
21:37I said get out!
21:43Sophia stormed out,
21:44kicking the door
21:45hard on her way.
21:47Three days later,
21:52Michael received an email
21:53from a private investigator.
21:56Attached was a video
21:57filmed at an underground bar.
21:58In the footage,
21:59Sophia held up her drink
22:00and bragged to her friends.
22:02Her face flushed
22:03with excitement.
22:04Gianna?
22:08You mean that bitch
22:09who's been licking
22:09Michael's boots
22:10for seven years?
22:14She's fucking nothing.
22:17All I had to do
22:18was throw one little tantrum
22:20and the wedding
22:20she'd spent six months
22:21planning got canceled.
22:23Someone in the group
22:24cheered her on.
22:27Damn, Sophia.
22:28You've got the Gambino Don
22:29wrapped around
22:29your little fender.
22:31Sophia let out
22:31a mocking laugh.
22:33Michael?
22:33He's just an arrogant,
22:35brainless fucking idiot.
22:38When we were kids,
22:39I got kidnapped
22:40because of him.
22:41I lied and said
22:42I'd suffered a brain injury.
22:43All I had to do
22:44was fake a few headaches
22:45and act crazy
22:46and he bought
22:46every word of it.
22:48He's been feeling guilty
22:49about it for over a decade.
22:53Sophia narrowed her eyes
22:54smugly.
22:55Just wait and see.
22:56As long as he feels guilty
22:57about what happened,
22:58I can keep playing him
22:58for the rest of his life.
23:00One day,
23:00I'll have him kneeling
23:01at my feet
23:01barking like a fucking dog.
23:03The clinking of glasses
23:04mingled with bursts of laughter.
23:06Under the dim bar lights,
23:07Sophia's face
23:08looked twisted and ugly.
23:10Michael watched the video,
23:12his blood boiling.
23:14He drew his gun
23:15and fired a shot,
23:17shattering the glass doors
23:18of his liquor cabinet.
23:21He thought back
23:22over the past seven years
23:24to every time
23:25Sophia had clung to him
23:26after one of her
23:26so-called episodes.
23:28Every time he'd
23:29abandoned me for her.
23:31Every time she'd cried
23:32and apologized.
23:33It had all been an act.
23:36The study door opened
23:37and Sophia walked in
23:39carrying a plate of fruit.
23:41Michael, have some fruit.
23:45Michael stood up
23:46and slapped her
23:47across the face
23:48with all his strength.
23:49Sophia stumbled
23:50from the blow
23:51and the plate
23:51crashed to the floor.
23:53She clutched her cheek,
23:55her expression shifting
23:56from shock
23:57to wounded innocence.
23:58Michael,
23:59what are you doing?
24:01My head hurts so much.
24:03Michael glared at her.
24:05Go on.
24:06Keep pretending.
24:08Sophia froze.
24:09Then she grabbed her head
24:11and crouted down again.
24:13It really hurts.
24:14God, it hurts so bad.
24:15Michael tossed his phone
24:16at her feet.
24:23Didn't you say in that video
24:24that you were faking
24:25all those headaches?
24:29Sophia's expression froze.
24:30She lowered her hands
24:31and straightened up.
24:32You had someone
24:33investigate me?
24:34She let out a cold laugh,
24:35dropping her helpless little act.
24:36Fine.
24:37You caught me.
24:38I've been playing you
24:39this whole time.
24:40So what?
24:42Michael was trembling
24:43with rage.
24:45Why?
24:46Why?
24:48Sophia scoffed.
24:50Because you're a fucking idiot.
24:52All I had to do
24:53was put on a little show
24:54and you believed every word.
24:56You felt so guilty
24:57that you spoiled me
24:58like I was your own little sister.
25:00With a dumbass like you around,
25:02I could have anything I wanted.
25:04And as for Gina,
25:05her voice dripped with malice.
25:08I just couldn't stand that bitch.
25:11What makes her so special?
25:15Why should she get to have you?
25:17I wanted to ruin everything she had.
25:21If you hadn't stopped me,
25:22I wouldn't have just scattered
25:24her mother's asses.
25:25I would have gotten rid of Gina too!
25:27Michael flew into a rage
25:28and fired several shots
25:30into the seatbelt.
25:32Get the fuck out!
25:33From this day forward,
25:34I never want to see your face again.
25:36This is my home too.
25:38Sophia dropped onto the couch,
25:39looking smug.
25:40Don't forget, Don.
25:41You're the one who publicly
25:42told everyone the truth
25:43about my injury.
25:44You're the one who promised
25:45to take care of me
25:46for the rest of my life.
25:47Do you really want all your men
25:48to find out that
25:49Don Michael Gambano
25:50doesn't keep his word?
25:53Michael's face remained expressionless
25:55as he picked up his phone
25:56and called his bodyguards.
25:59Sophia's eyes widened in disbelief.
26:01You bastard!
26:02You wouldn't dare!
26:04A minute later,
26:05the bodyguards dragged Sophia out
26:07as she screamed curses
26:08at the top of her lungs.
26:13Michael locked the door behind them.
26:15Then he leaned against it
26:17and slowly slid to the floor.
26:19Memories from the past seven years
26:21came rushing back.
26:23All the times I'd silently given in.
26:25The blood running down my temple.
26:27The lifeless look in my eyes
26:29when Sophia discredited my mother's ashes
26:30and the way I'd looked at him
26:32one last time.
26:33And every single time,
26:35he'd chosen to believe a liar
26:36who'd been faking her illness.
26:39He pulled out his phone
26:41and dialed my number again
26:42with trembling fingers.
26:45All he heard was the cold,
26:47automated message
26:48telling him my phone was turned off.
26:51He refused to give up.
26:53He called again and again
26:56until his phone grew hot in his hand.
27:00Until a choked sop
27:01finally escaped his throat.
27:03Outside, darkness had settled over the city.
27:06New York suddenly felt unfamiliar
27:08and impossibly empty.
27:10Michael wrapped his arms tightly around himself,
27:13his fingernails digging deep into his arms.
27:16Gianna, where the hell are you?
27:20After leaving New York,
27:21I settled down in a small coastal town
27:24in the south.
27:25No one here knew who I was
27:27and life moved at a much slower pace.
27:30Slow enough that I could appreciate
27:32every sunrise and sunset,
27:34every ebb and flow of the tide.
27:41I rented an old house by the ocean
27:43with a small yard.
27:44Every day, I went fishing
27:46or tended to the hardy flowers
27:48and plants I'd grown in the garden.
27:50My days were quiet and uneventful,
27:52as if all the color had drained from them.
27:55Gradually, I got to know some of the locals.
27:58There was the elderly woman next door
28:00who always brought me vegetables from her garden.
28:02Old Jack, who sold fish down at the docks
28:04and always slipped a couple of extra little fish
28:07into my bag.
28:08And then there was the young man
28:09who always seemed to be smiling.
28:11His name was Dominic.
28:13He was the son of the owner
28:15of a small restaurant in town.
28:17His skin was sun-kissed,
28:18and his bright eyes seemed to hold
28:20all the stars reflected on the ocean.
28:22I couldn't remember exactly when it started,
28:25but whenever I went to my usual fishing spot
28:28along the rocky shore,
28:29there was always another quiet figure there.
28:32Dominic wasn't much of a talker.
28:34He liked sitting beside me in silence.
28:37Sometimes he'd watch the ocean.
28:39Other times, he'd watch as I awkwardly reeled in my line
28:42and cast it back out.
28:44Every now and then, we'd exchange a few words.
28:46Eventually, he started bringing me
28:48freshly baked treats every day.
28:50Sometimes it was butter cookies.
28:52Other times, apple pie.
28:54He'd wrap them in a paper bag
28:55and press them into my hands.
28:57He never said much.
28:58He'd just smile,
28:59revealing two faint dimples.
29:01I knew how he felt about me.
29:03The warmth in his eyes was all too familiar.
29:06After all, I'd once looked at someone
29:08the exact same way for seven years,
29:10but I'd only just begun to emerge
29:11from the darkness of my past,
29:13and the thought of opening my heart to someone again
29:15still made me hesitate.
29:20Dominic wasn't in a hurry, either.
29:23He never pushed me for answers
29:24or tried to pry into my past.
29:27When I went fishing,
29:28he watched the ocean.
29:34When I worked in the yard,
29:35he came over to help.
29:39When I sat beneath the porch roof watching the rain,
29:42he'd wave to me from the end of the lane
29:43before turning around and heading home.
29:46He was like the gentle sea breeze,
29:48quietly brushing past me day after day.
29:53One day, a hurricane warning was issued.
29:56I packed up my fishing gear and hurried home.
29:58The streets were nearly deserted.
30:00Everyone was busy preparing for the approaching storm.
30:04As I rounded a corner,
30:06I stopped in my tracks.
30:08Across the street stood a figure I knew all too well.
30:13Michael, it had been a year since I'd last seen him.
30:16He'd lost some weight, still as handsome as ever,
30:17but there was a weariness face that he couldn't hide and regret.
30:22Michael rushed toward me with his arms outstretched,
30:24trying to pull me into a hug.
30:25I instinctively took a step back, avoiding his embrace.
30:28The hopeful expression on his face instantly froze.
30:30I looked at him calmly,
30:32as though I'd just run into an old acquaintance I barely knew.
30:35Long time no see.
30:37Those four simple words shattered the composure
30:40he'd been struggling to maintain.
30:43Giana.
30:47Michael's voice broke, thick with anguish.
30:51I know I was wrong.
30:53God, I regret everything.
30:58Sophia's been lying to me this whole time.
31:02I took her to Switzerland.
31:04I found the best doctors I could.
31:06But the test results said,
31:07they said there was nothing wrong with her.
31:10He reached out,
31:12apparently trying to grab my sleeve.
31:14I shifted Solly to the side,
31:16and his hand closed around empty air again.
31:19That tiny movement seemed to break him even further.
31:22She fooled me for over a decade.
31:24I was a fucking idiot.
31:30She was faking it.
31:32Every episode, every tantrum.
31:34It was all an act.
31:38I'm sorry, Giana.
31:40It's all my fault.
31:42I never should have made you suffer over and over again.
31:45I never should have kept believing her.
31:47I never should have abandoned you at our wedding.
31:49And I never should have...
31:53I never should have stood by
31:54and let her do that to your mother's ashes.
31:57At the mention of my mother,
31:59his sobs grew heavier,
32:01filled with agonizing regret.
32:02I'm a fucking monster.
32:04I was blind.
32:05I trusted the wrong person.
32:11He broke down completely.
32:12The once arrogant Don,
32:14who had seemed untouchable,
32:15was now begging me.
32:17I know it's too late for anything I say.
32:19I know you hate me.
32:22But I'm begging you, Giana.
32:23Please, just give me one more chance.
32:25Just one.
32:31I know I was wrong.
32:32I've already kicked Sophia out.
32:34I'll never see her again.
32:39Can we start over?
32:40Please.
32:44I swear I'll make it up to you.
32:46I'll spend the rest of my life
32:47making up for everything I've done.
32:52He looked up at me,
32:53his eyes pleading.
32:54I stared at the face
32:56I'd once longed to see
32:57every single day.
33:01I felt no satisfaction,
33:03no pleasure at seeing him suffer,
33:06and not even the slightest trace of pity.
33:10It was like watching a tragic movie
33:12about someone else's life.
33:16I shook my head.
33:19Michael, don't do this.
33:24We've been over for a long time.
33:27The light in Michael's eyes
33:28seemed to go out.
33:30He opened his mouth,
33:31apparently desperate to say something else,
33:33but another voice interrupted him.
33:34Giana!
33:35Michael and I turned at the same time.
33:40Dominic came walking towards us
33:41with a spring in his step.
33:43He glanced at Michael in confusion
33:44before naturally coming to stand beside me.
33:47Mom and Dad sent me to get you.
33:49Dinner's ready,
33:50and they made all your favorites.
33:55Michael stood frozen,
33:57his gaze darting between Dominic and me.
33:59His voice tightened.
34:01Giana, who is he?
34:04The salty sea breeze swept past us,
34:07ruffling the loose strands of hair
34:08across Dominic's forehead.
34:10I was silent for a few seconds
34:12before finally speaking.
34:14Dominic is my boyfriend.
34:18I paused, then added,
34:20We're getting married next month.
34:21The words hit Michael like a wrecking ball,
34:24shattering what little remained of his world.
34:26Dominic was visibly stunned for a moment,
34:28but he quickly caught on
34:30and slipped an arm around me
34:31as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
34:34He flashed Michael a triumphant smile.
34:37Hey, I'm Dominic.
34:39His voice was bright and easygoing,
34:41with the warmth of a young man
34:42who'd grown up by the ocean.
34:43You're a friend of Giana's, right?
34:45Dinner's ready back at our place.
34:46Why don't you come join us?
34:47Michael's eyes locked onto the arm
34:49Darklyn had wrapped around my waist.
34:51Then his gaze slowly shifted to my face.
34:53In the end, he said nothing.
34:54He turned around and stumbled away
34:55in the direction he'd come from.
34:57Only after he'd disappeared from sight
34:59did Dallion gently release me.
35:01He looked down at me.
35:03There was concern in his eyes,
35:05but he didn't ask any questions.
35:07He simply said softly,
35:09Dinner's getting cold.
35:13I nodded and walked with him down the lane
35:15toward the warm glow of the light
35:17waiting at the end.
35:21I thought Michael would finally give up,
35:23but to my surprise,
35:24he showed up again the very next day.
35:26This time, instead of waiting outside in the wind,
35:28he came straight to my front gate and knocked.
35:30Giana, I asked around.
35:31Dominic isn't really your boyfriend.
35:35You still have feelings for me, don't you?
35:37I said nothing.
35:38I just looked at him calmly.
35:40He seemed to take my silence as encouragement
35:42and stepped closer,
35:43his words coming faster.
35:44I know you're still angry with me,
35:48but we were together for seven years.
35:50We loved each other so much.
35:52How can you just throw all of that away?
35:55Remember when I caught a cold
35:56during our junior year of college?
35:58You snuck out of your dorm to buy me medicine
35:59even though it was pouring rain.
36:00You ended up getting a terrible fever yourself.
36:02And for my 20th birthday,
36:04you saved up three months' worth of living expenses
36:06just to buy me that watch I wanted.
36:08Remember the first time we moved in together?
36:12The power went out one summer night
36:14and it was so hot we couldn't sleep.
36:16You stayed up all night fanning me.
36:18He went through those memories one by one,
36:21trying to use the sweetness of our past
36:23to break through the walls I'd built around my heart.
36:25Gianna.
36:26His voice cracked.
36:26Can we start over?
36:28Please.
36:30Let's give us one more chance.
36:32Just one.
36:34I listened quietly until he finished.
36:36Then I asked him a single question.
36:38Michael, when Sophia smashed my mother's urn,
36:46why didn't you think about our seven years together then?
36:55The last trace of color drained from Michael's face.
36:58He staggered,
37:00and whatever light remained in his eyes seemed to shatter,
37:03leaving nothing but emptiness.
37:05He stared at me,
37:07his lips moving several times,
37:09but in the end,
37:10not a single word came out.
37:13Finally,
37:14he turned around and walked away,
37:16disappearing down the lane one step at a time.
37:20I later learned that he'd returned to New York that very day.
37:26A few months later,
37:28a friend suddenly called me.
37:30After exchanging a few pleasantries,
37:32her tone grew serious.
37:34Gianna,
37:34there's something I need to tell you.
37:36It's about Michael.
37:39It's about Michael.
37:41He told me that after returning to New York,
37:44Michael had mobilized every resource the Gambiano family had to take revenge on Sophia,
37:49no matter the cost.
37:54The Vitale family's businesses had been completely destroyed.
37:58They'd gone bankrupt and were drowning in massive debt.
38:05Driven into a corner,
38:07Sophia joined forces with Michael's enemies
38:09and launched a surprise tick on the Gambino family's docks one night.
38:16During the ensuing shootout,
38:18Sophia caught Michael off guard and shot him twice.
38:25One of the bullets hit a vital organ.
38:31Michael's condition is really bad.
38:39The doctors don't think he'll make it another two days.
38:48When we went to see him,
38:49he kept murmuring your name.
38:54After hanging up,
38:55I sat by the ocean for a long time.
38:57The tide rolled in and out,
38:58and the sky gradually darkened.
39:00I thought it over.
39:02In the end,
39:03I booked a ticket on the next available flight to New York.
39:05When I walked into the ICU,
39:09I spotted Michael lying in the hospital bed immediately.
39:12Tubes ran in and out of his body.
39:14His face was so pale that it almost blended into the white sheets.
39:17He'd wasted away to almost nothing.
39:19Only the faint rise and fall of his chest showed that he was still alive.
39:23As though sensing my presence,
39:24his eyelids trembled with effort.
39:26Then,
39:27slowly,
39:28his eyes opened just a fraction.
39:30His unfocused gaze wandered for a long moment before finally settling on my face.
39:34At that instant,
39:35a sudden light flared in his eyes.
39:37His hand was so thin it was practically skin and bone,
39:39yet somehow he found the strength to thrust it out from beneath the blanket and grab my wrist.
39:43His fingernails nearly dug into my skin,
39:45but I didn't pull away.
39:46His lips trembled violently as he struggled to speak.
39:50All that came out were faint,
39:52rasping gasps.
39:53Blood-tinned foam spilled from the corner of his mouth.
39:58He stared at me with every last ounce of strength he had.
40:01There were so many things left unsaid in his eyes.
40:05Regret.
40:06Love.
40:07Pain.
40:08Unwillingness to let go.
40:13In the end,
40:14they all gave way to one final,
40:16desperate plea.
40:21I looked into Michael's eyes
40:22and felt the life rapidly slipping away from him.
40:26The hand gripping my wrist gradually loosened.
40:29Then it fell himply to the bed.
40:31The last glimmer of light in his eyes flickered out like a candle in the wind.
40:36His head tilted to one side,
40:37and his final, faint breath came to a hot.
40:41He died in my arms.
40:44On the day Sophia was executed,
40:47Dominic and I went to the cemetery.
40:49I bent down and placed Michael's favorite lilies in front of his grave.
40:54Dominic stood beside me without saying a word.
40:56He simply gazed at the photograph on the headstone.
40:59After a while,
41:01he gently pulled me into his arms.
41:02His voice was as soft as the breeze brushing past my ear.
41:05Gianna.
41:06He asked quietly.
41:09Have you ever regretted it?
41:14I knew what he meant.
41:15Looking at Michael's name engraved on the headstone,
41:18fragments of the past flashed through my mind.
41:20The way his shirt had fluttered as he ran across the college football field,
41:23and those simple happy days before Sophia had come to between us.
41:27I smiled but didn't answer.
41:28Instead, I gently tightened my grip on Dominic's hand.
41:31Then, hand in hand, we followed the path we'd taken in the cemetery.
41:34Step by step, we left the silent graveyard behind.
41:37Behind us lay a past that had finally been laid to rest.
41:40A yesterday soaked in tears and regret.
41:42Some questions didn't need answers.
41:45And some roads, once traveled, were never meant to be taken again.
41:59And some OF you can do that.
42:06Webeeld3257-5408-13 and a half-breakatory school board,
42:06Now, in the cemetery of the map is just a great way to stay about theIS,
42:09anyone from looking to see Majora or the purple cellhta to see the history of frequency?
42:18Say I'd say someone turns it up.
42:23And I think that a奇 I don't like you.
42:31You