HER REVENGE

53.

Maira opened her eyes, and found herself in a hospital bed, with Matteo sitting by her side. A few police officers were also in the room.

"Mom, you're awake! You've been unconscious for a few days." Matteo said

"What?" Maira said, her voice groggy. "What are you doing here?"

"I was looking out for you, Mom," Matteo said

"You betrayed me,You shot your own mother. How could you do that?"

"I didn't have a choice," Matteo said, his eyes filling with tears. "You wouldn't listen to me. I had to do something."

"You could have talked to me, We could have figured something out. You didn't have to shoot

"But Mom, you were going to shoot her! I had to stop you. I couldn't let you do that."

"You should have let me do it," Maira said, her voice growing louder. "I was doing it for you. I was trying to give you everything."

"I don't need it, I just need you. I need my mom."

"But you can't have me like this," Maira said, tears streaming down her face. "I'm not myself. I'm not the person you need "

"It doesn't matter to me, Mom,You're still my mom, even if you can't walk anymore."

Maira shook her head. "But what does that mean for my life? What am I supposed to do now?"

"You'll have to serve your punishment," Matteo said, his voice somber. "You'll have to pay for what you did."

"What do you mean? What kind of punishment?"

"You're going to prison,I know it's hard, but it's what you deserve."

"You can't do this to me, I'm your mother. I raised you. I love you."

"I know, Mom," Matteo said, his own tears beginning to fall. "I love you too. But I can't let you get away with what you did. I'm sorry."

"I did it all for you," Maira said

"But I told you to stop, You wouldn't listen. Now it's all over." He turned and walked out of the room, leaving Maira alone, tears streaming down her face, as the reality of her situation sank in. She had lost everything - her freedom, her son's respect

★★★
"I don't even know where to start,I know I went too far. I should have listened to you." Massimo said

"Of course you should have,But it's not too late to fix things. We can still make things right." Alessandro said

Massimo nodded, his eyes brimming with tears. "I'm sorry, Alessandro. I'm sorry for everything."

Alessandro put a hand on Massimo's shoulder. "It's okay,"

"I'm so sorry, Chiara,I know what I did was wrong. Please forgive me."

"It's okay,I understand what you were going through."

"It's not okay,You kidnapped my friend. That's not something I can just forget." Lucia said

Massimo turned to Lucia, his eyes pleading. "I know, and I'm so sorry. I never meant to hurt anyone, I am just upset and mad then"

"Lucia," Chiara said  But Lucia just rolled her eyes.

"So what are you going to do now?" Luca asked Massimo

"I'm going back to the state," Massimo said

"Why can't you just stay here?We can all start over. We can all be a family."

"No,I need to start fresh. I need to start over."

Lucia raised her glass. "To the new life, then," she said.