𝙳𝚒𝚊𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚍𝚜 𝙸𝙸𝙸

𝙼𝚎𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚑𝚘𝚕𝚢

The air hung heavy, almost suffocating.

And despite the one beside her literally struggling to breathe, Mina sensed the same suffocating weight.

It was...him.

His cool hand cradled her jaw tenderly, his eyes filled with curiosity as they locked onto hers.

Tears streamed down her face effortlessly, a release she didn't need to force.

"H-how are you a-alive, Marcello?"

Marcello observed Mina's reaction with a smile, pondering whether her tears were a result of missing him or disbelief at the scene unfolding before her.

Moving closer, his hand still firmly on her jaw, he whispered softly into her ear.

"How could I die, when I still haven't gotten my night with you?"

Mina's eyes widened in an instant.

Marcello, maintaining a steady distance with the gun, observed her reaction.

In the midst of their confrontation, Leonardo's breaths gradually slowed, reaching his final moments.

"NO! I'm going to kill you, but this time, I'll get the job done!" Mina declared, reconnecting the wire to Leonardo's oxygen.

In an instant, Leonardo's breathing steadied, and Mina breathed a sigh of relief.

Relief flooded Mina as Marcello refrained from pulling the trigger, yet her mind still raced with a whirlwind of emotions.

"Bet you're wondering why I didn't pull the trigger, aren't you? Well Mina, I had to regain your trust before I propose my deal." Marcello remarked with a smile.

Tensing up, Mina swiftly moved to Leonardo's side, positioning herself protectively in front of him, her gun precisely aimed at Marcello.

"You'll never regain my trust, EVER! I don't care about your deal and you are NOT leaving this home alive today." Mina hissed.

Marcello chuckled, advancing slowly as Mina's gaze intensified.

Leonardo, unable to move, felt a tear rolled down his cheek.

He longed to rise, to help Mina, but the cruel reality restrained him.

Mina bore the weight of protecting herself, the baby, and him.

It was truly an unfair burden.

With each step Marcello took, Mina's heart raced.

The thought of taking another life weighed heavily on her, haunted by Lucia's death and the burden she carried upon herself.

She couldn't do it.

Her heart could not handle the guilt any longer.

As Marcello loomed before her with his tall frame, Mina dropped the gun, overwhelmed by his presence, and succumbed to sobs.

"WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME? P-PLEASE, JUST KILL ME NOW! I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!" Mina cried, her heart breaking with each uttered word.