Drastic Steps

The quiet of the early morning was shattered by the incessant ringing of Bella's phone. nightmares that haunted her now felt far too real, memories of her marriage unraveling, of her life spiraling out of control, and of the impossible choices she had made.

She picked up the phone without looking at the caller ID. "What is it?" she asked, her voice rough, expecting more bad news.

"It's done," Vito's voice came through the line, cold and detached.

Bella sat up in bed, her heart pounding. "What do you mean, 'it's done'?"

"Sofia," Vito replied with an air of finality. "She's gone."

Bella's pulse quickened, though she had expected this. Sofia had played her part, but once she had become a liability, there was no room for mercy. Still, hearing it confirmed brought a strange mix of relief and sorrow. Sofia had been a key player in her plot against Roberto, but she had been reckless.

"And Roberto?" Bella asked, her voice quiet but laced with tension.

"He doesn't know yet. Marco's handling it, but it won't be long before he finds out. We need to be ready."

Bella closed her eyes, letting out a slow breath. She had anticipated this moment, had prepared for it. But there was a lingering fear that gnawed at her, an uncertainty that everything could still fall apart.

"I'll deal with Roberto," she said, her voice resolute. "Make sure everything else is in place."

Vito hesitated for a moment. "Are you sure about this? Once you confront him, there's no going back."

"I know," Bella whispered, her eyes narrowing. "But I've waited too long for this."