THE MAFIA'S PENANCE

THE APPEARANCE OF A WOMAN

Vernon immediately shifted the chair when I came to see him at a restaurant. He also kissed my lips before I sat down. That's good, everything went the way I wanted.

"Sorry, Viv, suddenly I'm taking you out to lunch, because I have other plans tonight so I can't have dinner with you." Vernon.

I just put a smile on her to respond to her words.

"After dinner, we'll take a tour of Naples for a while, and I'll take you back to the hotel but then I'll have to go. Probably going home at midnight. Doesn't it matter?"

"If you know like that, I'm not coming here with you." My answer is astonishment. "But how else. Alright."

Vernon smiled with my answer that I was forced to agree with.

After that, our lunch was provided. There was almost no meaningful conversation as we enjoyed our lunch together. Until we finished our dinner session and the waiters removed the leftovers and empty plates from the table.

Vernon pulled out a red box that I knew very well what was inside.

"I don't think I've ever given you a gift." Vernon said with a red box that I believe contained a necklace inside.

"Tomorrow it's your birthday, I should've given you a present." My answer made him laugh.

Two servants came to our table with a bottle of red wine and a glass. The man who was carrying two glasses put the glasses in front of me and Vernon.

But suddenly I realized something. Vernon's gaze shifted to the female servant who was standing while pouring red wine into my glass. My heart immediately felt faint when I saw the face of the short-haired maid.

It was Wynetta.

But there's no way Wynetta died ten years ago. The waiter is so similar to the woman Vernon loved that Vernon unknowingly keeps staring at her.

Seeing her made me hold back tears as it felt like everything had gone awry when a woman very similar to Wynetta instantly turned Vernon's gaze away from me. Anyone can't bear the pain when a beloved husband looks at another woman, and that's how I feel right now.

"Please enjoy, ladies and gentlemen." Said the waiter who was similar to Wynetta.

I held my breath for a moment to regulate my emotions as the maid walked away after filling the two glasses with the red wine she was carrying. All the pain that made my chest tightens I pressed so much that I didn't look pathetic.

It seems that Vernon realized that I also knew what he saw. He looked back at me but without a word. It seemed that he was still very surprised by the presence of the maid whose face was very similar to Wynetta, even the color of her brown hair and green eyes was exactly the same.

"I think I'm going back to Sicily now. You can enjoy your time here." My words gave a wry smile to Vernon.

After saying this I got up from my seat and walked away without waiting for Vernon's answer.

"Est, get everything ready, I want to go back to Sicily right now." I cried as I passed Esteban who was standing near the exit.

"Good, madam." Esteban answered, who followed me from behind and opened the car door for me.

In the car I couldn't hold my tears anymore. I let my tears out but held back my sobbing so as not to be too embarrassing if I heard Esteban or the driver who drove the car.

The fact that Vernon did not pursue my departure makes you certain that after I left, he must have met the servant. A servant who was very similar to a woman who could not be forgotten by him.

"Are you all right, ma'am?" Esteban who was in the front seat gave me his handkerchief.

My chest feels so tight right now. I was unable to answer the young man's question and just took the handkerchief he gave to wipe away the tears I couldn't stop.

It didn't take me long to get to Sicily because I asked to board Arthur's private jet. I want to get away from the place where the woman is.

The guard at the door opened the door for me as I was about to enter. But my steps were stopped because of the welcome from someone who was smiling seeing my presence.

"You're so beautiful, Viv. I'm so sorry why you didn't marry me." Vegard stopped my steps. "You crying? Why are you crying? Are you excited to see me again? It has been a long time since we met. Ah, what a pity yes, you lost your son."

"Silence Veg! I don't want to respond to all of your words." I cried with an annoyed look.

"What's wrong? Where is Vernon? Wow, don't tell me you guys fought. Yes it seems like having a child will keep you guys close, but now what happens.... uh, don't tell me that she's with another woman right now?"

There was no intention of myself serving Vegard's useless prank so I would rather step up the stairs. But without me thinking, Vegard pulled my arm and tried to hug me fortunately Esteban pushed it right away until the man retreated backwards.

"Damn it, how dare you push me?!" Vegard's growls at Esteban. "Who's this fucking kid?"

"Stay away!" Esteban was about to walk forward towards Vegard.

I held Esteban's arm to hold the young man back from acting further. It seems he doesn't know who Vegard is or if he doesn't care about it.

Esteban held back his steps and I immediately advanced towards Vegard because there was something I wanted to ask him. Ah, no, I knew he wouldn't say it either so I just wanted to tell him something.

"How dare you push me?!" Vegard is still upset with Esteban.

"Veg, I know if I ask you a question you won't answer either." My words were standing right in front of Vegard with a sharp look. "Then I just want to tell you something about ten years ago."

Vegard's face seemed to change, his angry look on Esteban instantly disappeared after hearing my words.

"I know you were with a woman in the room when I came to shower bullets on you. And even more surprisingly, I also knew that you guys were fucking when I went in and shot that woman." I said with a threatening smile. "It seems I also know who that woman is."

My feelings got a little better after saying that to Vegard. I walked up the stairs to my room.

"You better not act recklessly, Est. You don't know who he is, do you?" I told Esteban when we were on the floor of our room.

"I don't want to know who he is. It doesn't matter to me. I just want to take care of you, madam. That's my top priority." Answer Esteban.

Esteban's presence with me makes me feel better now. I held back my tears so that I would never cry again after this.

The words of Vernon when he was 10 years old made me think a little about facing everything without crying.

You won't finish anything by crying.

...–NATZSIMO–...

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