Page 49 of Monster in Disguise

I hurry after her, suddenly worried that she might try to touch him. How does she even know him?

"Hello there," Marcello crouches down to be on eye level with Claudia. A small smile tugs at the corner of his mouth and my heart skips a beat. I've never seen him smile before... at least not like this.

"How do you two know each other?" Enzo asks, suspicion lacing his voice.

"We met briefly at Sacre Coeur," Marcello replies, straightening himself and giving Claudia a tender look before his face becomes blank once again. He turns to me and nods in acknowledgment. An awkward silence settles between us as we both just stand there, unsure of what to say or do next.

"Well then," Enzo interrupts, breaking the tension. "The priest is waiting for us in the drawing room. Let's get this done."

The ceremony is short and uneventful, and before I know it, we are signing the marriage certificate—officially tying the knot.

I steal a glance at Marcello out of the corner of my eye. There's still an undeniable distance between us despite our new marital status. I can't help but wonder what he's thinking or feeling behind that impassive mask he wears.

He has a brief conversation with Enzo before turning to me.

"Are you ready?" he asks, his voice devoid of any emotion.

I hesitate for a moment, caught off guard by the question. "Yes... let me just grab my bag," I reply, turning towards Claudia. "Go get your backpack from the room."

She nods and runs off, leaving me alone with Enzo.

"I've had someone take your luggage to the car," he informs me, coming closer to offer some comfort.

"It's going to be alright, Lina," he whispers, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear. "I'm sorry it had to be like this, but..." His voice trails off, filled with regret and pain.

I give him a quick hug before heading towards the room to gather my things. I can't help but wonder what lies ahead for me now that I am officially married to a man who seems so distant and closed off. But I push those thoughts aside and focus on getting through the day—one step at a time.

Marcello stands in the doorway, his tall and imposing figure casting a shadow over us. My cheeks flush with self-consciousness as I pass by him to meet Claudia by the stairs.

"Time to go?" she asks, her voice ringing with anticipation as I hold out my hand for her.

Marcello catches up with us and leads the way towards the car. The sleek black vehicle sits in front of us, surrounded by a few other cars that I can only assume are for our protection. We quickly settle into the backseat while Marcello takes the driver's seat.

The journey is short, and before I know it, we have arrived at Marcello's house. My mind is still reeling from everything that has happened when Claudia grabs my hand excitedly.

"Come on, let's go see!" she exclaims, her eyes shining with curiosity as she pulls me towards the entrance.

I follow behind her, feeling a little lost in this new world I've been thrust into.

As soon as we step inside, we are greeted by an army of staff members bustling around. Marcello addresses one of them before disappearing down a hallway to our left.

"That's it?" I say, frowning at the lack of explanation or instructions.

Before I can dwell on it any further, Amelia, one of the older staff members, approaches us.

"Welcome," she says with a small smile before turning to me and Claudia. "Signor Marcello has instructed me to show you both to your rooms."

My eyebrows shoot up in surprise. Rooms? As in separate rooms?

Amelia leads us upstairs to the second floor where she opens the door to what she announces as my room. My jaw drops at the sight that greets me – it's like something out of a palace.

The room is enormous, easily bigger than any bedroom I've ever seen. A king-sized bed sits in the center but seems almost small in comparison to the rest of the room. Claudia's gasp echoes my own as she runs towards the bed and jumps on it.

"Is this really our room, mamma?" she asks with wide eyes.

I can only nod, still speechless at the opulence surrounding me. I take a few tentative steps into the room, marveling at the massive closets and luxurious furnishings.

And there's even a bathroom attached! I can't help but open the door and step inside, pinching myself to make sure it's all real. The bathroom is a vision in white and gold, with a bathtubin the center and a shower tucked away in one corner. It's like something out of a dream.

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