Chapter 132 The Facade

“No!” Vittoria screamed, quickly covering her son's eyes. “What have you done, Mom?” she cried. “He... he was your son, your own blood!” She sobbed, wanting to rush to her husband's lifeless body lying on the floor, surrounded by a pool of blood, but Alessandro's men held her back at his command. “Leave me! You got my husband killed—now let me see him one last time!” she bellowed at Alessandro. “Vittoria, take Lorenzo to your room,” Maria instructed firmly. Vittoria glared at her mother-in-law in disbelief and disgust. “Go to your room, Vittoria!” Maria's voice rose, cold enough to make Vittoria flinch. Breathing heavily with anger, Vittoria stared at Maria with tearful eyes filled with loathing before retreating to her room with Lorenzo. “What have you done?” Alessandro bellowed, snatching the revolver back from Maria. He hadn’t wanted Enzo to die so quickly; he had planned to make him confess his sins and reveal who else had betrayed the Mafia king. But Maria had ruined everything. “He deserved it,” Maria faltered, though her expression remained cold. “And I deserve this punishment for giving birth to such a son. What could be a more cruel redemption for me than to kill my own child with my own hands?” Alessandro was momentarily shocked. He hadn’t expected this from his stepmother. He didn’t want Lorenzo to witness his father's death just as he had watched his mother die when he was young. But most of all, he hadn’t expected Maria to kill her own son. “But you didn’t have to do it. I didn’t want you to go through this,” Alessandro said, concern filling his voice. “Don't worry, son. I'm alright. I only lost one useless son; my other son is still alive,” Maria replied with a weak smile, gently caressing Alessandro's arm. “You are the one who deserves to live.” She lowered her eyes, trembling with emotion. “I regret that I couldn't save Aria and your child back then,” she murmured, tears welling up as she sobbed, her pain pouring out. Alessandro wrapped his arm around her shoulder to comfort her. “Don’t blame yourself,” he said softly, guiding her to the nearest sofa and motioning for his men to clear Enzo’s body from the floor. Maria nodded, sniffling, as Alessandro handed her a glass of water. He still found the incident difficult to process. His hand itched with the urge to punish Enzo for what he had done to his wife. “Alessandro, can I ask one thing from you?” Maria whispered, looking up through her wet eyelashes. “Of course,” he replied, brow furrowing in concern. “He was a bad man, but he was my son after all,” she said, tears streaming down her face. She looked at Alessandro with hope in her weary eyes. Alessandro sighed, conflicted about how to respond. He had never shown mercy to anyone who betrayed him, but after his mother's death, Maria had become a mother figure to him. Though he was cold-hearted, he couldn’t bring himself to hurt someone he cared for. “As you say, mother,” he agreed in his signature indifferent tone. Maria smiled through her tears, holding Alessandro's hand tightly. “I have one more request, Alessandro.” “Tell me, mother,” he replied, straightening his back and fixing her with an intense gaze. “I don't want the world to know how Enzo deceived his brother. I want him to go in peace and with respect,” Maria demanded insistently. “Mother, I can't promise you that,” Alessandro refused curtly. “Everyone should know how he died and why he had to die,” he declared fiercely. “Please, Alessandro,” Maria pleaded, her voice trembling with desperation. “He already got what he deserved for deceiving you. He had to die by his own mother's hand. But I don't want Vittoria and Lorenzo to suffer for his sins. They are innocent, and they will have to live with the tag of a traitor's wife and son if this information gets out.” She implored, clutching Alessandro’s hand. Alessandro looked over at Lucas, who was watching him with an unreadable expression. Their eyes met, and a silent understanding passed between them. “Alright. Just for you, Mother,” Alessandro agreed reluctantly, his voice heavy with the weight of his decision. “Thank you, son,” Maria whispered, her lips trembling as she smiled and pulled Alessandro into a tight hug, burying her face in his chest. Alessandro sighed, embracing his stepmother as she trembled and wept. But what he couldn't see was the vengeful expression that surfaced on Maria's face—no one saw it.