The Godfather’s Forsaken Rose Chapter 27
The award results were announced.
For my role in a literary film that explored the complexity of human nature, I won Best Actress.
When my name was called, the audience rose in applause.
Under the spotlight, I walked slowly onto the stage and accepted the heavy trophy from the presenter. My eyes were slightly red, but my smile was bright.
I gave a brief acceptance speech, thanking the director and the crew.
At the end, I looked toward Adrian in the audience. My voice was gentle but firm.
“Finally, I want to thank one person in particular. My love, Adrian Castellano. Thank you for staying by my side and giving me support and strength. Half of this trophy belongs to you.”
The camera immediately cut to Adrian.
He stood and blew me a kiss, his eyes bright with emotion. Warm laughter and applause filled the room.
Dominic turned off the television.
In the darkness, he gasped like a dying man.
No.
He could not simply watch me walk into someone else’s arms.
He had to do something.
The celebration banquet after the awards was held at the Beverly Hills Hotel arranged by the festival.
It was late by the time Adrian and I, surrounded by assistants and bodyguards, walked toward the underground parking garage.
Just as we reached the car, a dark figure staggered out from behind a pillar and blocked our way.
Dominic.
He looked worse than he had on television. His suit was wrinkled, his tie crooked, his eyes webbed with frightening red. He smelled strongly of alcohol and carried the despair of someone on the edge of collapse.
He stared at me.
His voice was hoarse, like an old bellows.
“Bella… congratulations.”
He took one step forward, almost begging.
“Let’s talk. Five minutes. No, three. Give me one more chance. The last one. Please. Without you, I really… I can’t keep living.”
Adrian immediately moved me behind him.
His eyes were cold as he faced Dominic.
“Dominic, look at yourself. Wake up. Bella is with me now. She’s happy. Stop disturbing her life.”
“Happy?”
The word seemed to trigger Dominic.
He lifted his head sharply and looked at Adrian with crazed eyes.
“What right do you have to make her happy? What do you know about her? Do you know she gets cold in winter and steals the blankets in her sleep? Do you know she can’t handle spicy food but loves it anyway, and drinks ice water every time to cool down? Do you know she…”
“Enough.”
I interrupted him and stepped out from behind Adrian.
I looked at Dominic calmly.
There was no hatred in my eyes.
No resentment.
Only deep exhaustion, and a trace of pity.
“Dominic, don’t bring up the past anymore. It’s been over between us for a long time.”
“It isn’t over. How could it be over?”
Dominic reached for my arm in agitation, but Adrian blocked him.
As the three of us stood there, none of us noticed the black car at the entrance of the parking garage.
Whether the driver was drunk or the vehicle had gone out of control, it suddenly accelerated, swerving wildly toward us.
“Careful!”
Adrian reacted first, shouting as he moved to pull me fully into his arms.
But someone was faster.
Almost by instinct, before anyone else could react, Dominic used all his strength and shoved me away from the outer edge of the group.
The force sent me stumbling into Adrian’s arms.
Dominic, however, was left directly in the path of the oncoming car.
Bang.
The impact echoed through the empty garage.
Dominic’s body flew like a kite with its string cut, then crashed hard onto the concrete several yards away.
Blood spread beneath him at once, staining the ground red.
For a moment, time stopped.