Chapter 74 THE END(3)

Chapter 74 THE END(3)
Valentina walked into the room like she owned the entire estate.

Her eyes locked on Aurora like a target.

"Aurora," Valentina said sweetly enough to make the walls rot. "You’re back"

Aurora’s jaw clenched so hard her teeth ached.

This was the sister who was originally meant to marry Matteo.

The sister whose jealousy burned hotter than gasoline.

The sister who secretly orchestrated the attack that caused Aurora’s miscarriage.

The sister Aurora swore she would kill when they see.

Valentina’s gaze dropped briefly to Aurora’s stomach.

Then she smirked.

Aurora’s fingers curled into fists at her sides.

"Valentina," she said, voice cool, controlled. "Still alive, I see"

Valentina’s smile widened. "Disappointed?"

Aurora took one slow step toward her, her mother instinctively placing a hand on Aurora’s arm as if she sensed bloodshed waiting to happen.

"You have no idea" Aurora whispered.

And the entire room tightened like a bowstring ready to snap.

The grand doors of the dining room opened, and Vincenzo’s presence filled the room before he even spoke. He cleared his throat, a low, commanding sound that made the chatter die instantly.

Aurora, Valentina, and Elena followed him in, taking their seats at the long, polished table. Candles flickered, casting shadows that danced across the room.

Aurora’s eyes immediately found her father. "Why the sudden family dinner, father?" she asked.

"My darling daughter," Vincenzo said smoothly, a glint of pride in his eyes, "you’ve proved yourself to be useful, and I’m proud of you"

Aurora rolled her eyes, unimpressed. "Go straight to the point, father"

Valentina’s lips curled in a sly smile. "Father, do something. You said Matteo would be mine. I want back my rightful husband" She leaned back, eyes locking on Aurora. "And I suppose the little replacement thinks she can just take everything away from me? That’s rich"

Aurora’s chest tightened, heat rising in her body. Without thinking, she reached under her coat and pulled out the gun she had stashed. In one smooth motion, she aimed it directly at Valentina, finger on the trigger.

"Drop it, Aurora!" Elena cried, her voice trembling with earnest fear. "Please, don’t do this!"

Aurora’s eyes closed for a brief moment, anger boiling through her veins, her grip on the pistol tightening. She opened her eyes again, jaw set.

Valentina’s eyes gleamed, sensing an opportunity. With a quick, practiced motion, she grabbed the gun from Aurora’s hands, twisting it and aiming it directly at Aurora’s head.

"Bang"

Aurora barely had time to duck, the bullet embedding itself into the wall behind her. Shards of plaster fell to the floor.

Meanwhile, Vincenzo sat calmly at the table, fork in hand, picking at his food as though nothing had happened.

Elena’s voice shook. "Valentina! Drop the gun!" She lunged toward her daughter, that distracted Valentina.

Aurora, heart pounding and adrenaline surging, didn’t wait. In one swift movement, she snatched the gun back, the metal cold and heavy in her hand. Without hesitation, she pulled the trigger.

The shot rang through the room.

Valentina’s eyes widened in shock. Blood blossomed across her chest as she stumbled backward, collapsing to the floor with a harsh thud.

Elena didn’t hesitate. She was at Valentina’s in an instant, cradling her face and shaking her lightly.

Aurora’s hands were trembling, the gun still in her grip. Her eyes, fierce and wild, never left Valentina’s lifeless form.

She just killed her own sister.

Does she deserves it? Yes

Does she regrets it? No

Vincenzo finally looked up, calm as ever. "Well," he said smoothly, taking another bite of his food, "that was… tough"

Elena’s hands shook as she clutched at Aurora.

"Why did you shoot her?! She’s your sister!" Elena yelled, voice cracking, panic rising.

Aurora’s jaw tightened, eyes hard as steel. "She would have killed me first if I didn’t duck it" she spat, voice low but deadly.

"You brought out the pistol first!" Elena shouted, horror-stricken.

Aurora’s chest heaved. "Of course you would take her side! You always ignored everything she did to me growing up! I was always the spare daughter!"

Without another word, she tossed the pistol on the floor and stormed out, the echo of her heels against the marble a rhythm of finality.

Once outside, the cool night air hit her, sharp and freeing. She pulled out her phone and dialed Matteo, needing to hear his voice, to feel steady again.

"How was the mission?" she asked, her tone surprisingly light, betraying none of the adrenaline still coursing through her veins.

"Successful, baby" Matteo replied, his voice warm and relieved.

"Then we should celebrate it. On my way to the Empire" she said, a faint smirk tugging at her lips despite the chaos.

"How was the dinner?" he asked, curiosity laced with caution.

Aurora’s lips pressed into a thin line. "Ended with someone dying" she said bluntly, ending the call without waiting for a response.

She slid into her car, the leather cool against her palms. The engine roared to life as she sped to the highway, wind whipping through her hair, the city lights blurring past.

A soundtrack blared through the speakers, perfectly syncing with her. Her hair danced around her face like a cinematic halo, the night air and neon lights painting her as the unstoppable force she had always been.

The Bellanti mansion faded behind her.

This was the end.

But for Aurora? It was just the beginning.