Page 135 of Monster in Disguise

"Something wrong?" I ask as one of the staff members places a plate in front of me.

"I've given specific instructions to avoid seafood," he notes, picking at his food.

I look down into my plate and see that it's a seafood medley.

"Ew." My daughter makes a face, pushing the plate away from her.

"Why?" I ask, my eyes still on my daughter.

"I have a seafood allergy." He shakes his head, rising to go to the kitchen to inquire further.

"Wow. I have a seafood allergy too," Claudia exclaims. Marcello stops in his tracks and half-turns towards Claudia, his expression inscrutable.

"I'll tell them not to make this mistake again." His voice is tense, and my doubts suddenly double.

Surely it's just a coincidence?

The following days are even worse. I watch Marcello and Claudia even closer, studying their interactions and their behaviors. Suddenly, I see a pattern in everything.

This is getting to me too much. Especially when I search the internet for types of evidence that two people could be related. Short of a DNA test, another far less reliable method is to compare blood types of the parents.

I pause for a second to think. My blood type is O and Claudia's is B. I study some charts and the father can only have a B or AB blood type. Okay, so there's not much to go off. But because I'm so paranoid, I end up asking him late at night in bed.

"Where did this come from?"

"Oh, I've been reading some wellness tips and they take blood type into consideration." The lie rolls easily off my tongue, and I feel a twinge of guilt. I'm going crazy, but if he says O or A, then I can put my worries aside.

"Hmm, that's interesting." He turns towards me, his face mere millimeters away. "It's B, I think."

"Oh." It's all I can say.

"Any tips for me?" He jokes, tugging me closer.

"I'll read up and tell you?"

"Deal." His mouth comes down on mine and I lose track of everything else.

Because this is the man I love.

"Lina, pay attention."Enzo snaps his fingers in front of me.

"Sorry. I've been a little distracted lately."

I'd asked Enzo to meet me at a nearby cafe. I needed someone to confide in, and for all our friendship, I knew Sisi wasn't the best option in this case. Not only because it was her brother I wanted to talk about, but also because she's been too distant lately.

"I see that." He leans back in his seat, studying me.

"Is he mistreating you? You can tell me anything, Lina. I'll make him rue the day he was born if he did anything..."

"No, not at all." I cut him off. "It's not that. He's been nothing but wonderful," I quickly say. I've noticed in the past that Enzo doesn't have the greatest opinion of Marcello, and I have to wonder why.

"You've lost weight, and you look gaunt. What am I to think?" He arches an eyebrow at me and waits for me to talk.

"I..." I start, not even knowing where to begin. "I love him. I love him like I never thought I would." I clutch the cup of coffee in my hands, lowering my gaze. "He's amazing, thoughtful and oh, so kind. He's everything I could have asked for and more."

Enzo snickers at my words, and I raise my head. "Which is why I don't understand why you hate him so much."

"Have you heard anything about his past?"

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