Page 118 of Monster in Disguise

"Really?" She leans back, horrified.

"Yes, why?" Now it's my turn to frown. What would she have against Marcello? Any woman with two good eyes could see what a catch he is.

"Well, aside from his looks, which granted are quite superior, his reputation is one of the most stained I've ever heard of."

"What do you mean?"

"You haven't heard?" She tilts her head, an eyebrow raised.

"I don't know what you mean. I'm aware he's been living outside the famiglia for the last ten years," I start, but she cuts me off.

"Oh dear, I mean before that. Marcello and his father had the worst type of reputations. No self-respecting woman would have been caught having any connection to them."

"Why?" I'm confused. On the one hand, I am curious to hear what she's talking about, but on the other, I don't know whether to believe a word she says.

"Oh my," She raises a hand to her mouth. Then, she quickly looks around, as if what she's about to impart is of utmost secrecy.

"You didn't find this out from me but," she leans in to whisper, "they used to attend brothels and engage in the most despicable acts." She looks towards the door again, before adding, clearly scandalized, "In groups!"

"I don't understand." My brows furrow in confusion.

Cosima looks frustrated at my question.

"They went to orgies. Everyone knew. They were the most debauched events; the things people would say about what went on inside those events..." She shakes her head.

Orgies? I don't think I've heard that term before. I'd ask her what it means, but I don't think my question would be received well, so I just nod and let her continue.

"They would have even ten women in a night. Sex, drugs, alcohol. Every debauched thing in the book. Some rumors say they even had animals." Her face is horrified as she recounts this.

I'm a little disturbed at her descriptions that I even tune out some words.

"Sodomy and the likes." She shudders. "I'm extremely surprised your brother accepted the match. He must have known."

My face is blank at this point, and I remember snippets of Enzo's disapproval of Marcello. At the time, it made little sense... But what if... No! I shake myself. I can't just trust whatever she's saying.

"I see," I simply reply. She continues chatting away, regaling me with more lurid tales about the Lastra family.

"Why, his mother killed herself. The second wife ran away. And then there's that third wife. She killed herself too. I wonder if there might be a curse."

I'm so shocked by what she's saying that I just smile and nod.

Finally, she changes the subject.

"Look at them. Don't they look good together?" Cosima gushes about Sisi and Rafaelo.

I turn in their direction, and they seem cozy. They are sitting a little too close together, and Rafaelo's head is tilted towards Sisi intimately. Sisi, too, is smiling and talking animatedly with him.

I'm stunned by this development. Blocking everything Cosima told me out of my mind, I take a moment to focus on the two of them.

They are around the same age, with Rafaelo only two years older at twenty-two. But considering his problems, I wonder if Sisi isn't just being kind to him.

When the visit draws to a close, I take Sisi aside to ask her how it went.

"I like him. He's sweet," she replies and blushes.

"Sweet," I repeat, a little taken aback. "That's great!"

"I'd like to keep seeing him, if that's possible." She seems enthusiastic about this, and I'm happy for her. If she likes Rafaelo and wants to befriend him or more, why shouldn't she?

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