Page 133 of Monster in Disguise

But this is more than that. It's personal. And I can't think of anyone I've offended. Sure, there's Nicolo and his cronies, but I've barely interacted with them. There is more to this than meets the eye, but I simply don't have enough information.

I call one soldier and instruct him to get rid of the head.

If they're so close... I might just need to plant a red herring.

I get back a little later to the room, and Lina is already tucked in bed. She smiles when she sees me, opening her arms. I slide in and cuddle her.

One thing is for sure. This is war. I can't let anyone take away my happiness. Not when I finally got her.

Catalina

The sun has just begun to peek through the windows of my home when I hear the familiar rumble of the delivery truck. Excitement bubbles in my chest as I rush to answer the door, eagerly awaiting my weekly shipment of fabrics. I had ordered quite a few this time, determined to surprise Claudia with her dream princess dress for her upcoming birthday.

As the driver unloads the large boxes from his truck, I can barely contain my grin. The girls are still sleeping, and Marcello has already left for work, leaving me alone in the quiet house. It's the perfect opportunity to unpack the materials and start planning out the design.

I carry the boxes to my room, eager to see all the different textures and colors. Carefully, I line them up on my bed, arranging them for better visualization. As I make a mental note to throw away the empty boxes later, a small scrap of paper falls out. My first thought is that it might be an invoice, but as I pick it up, I realize it's something much more unsettling.

Don't you want to know who the father of your child is?

My heart races, and I feel a chill run down my spine. Who would leave such a haunting message? Frantically, I search through all the boxes, but there's nothing else inside except this one piece of paper. With trembling hands, I take a seat on my bed, still clutching the note.

No, I can't let this rattle me. Everything is in the past now, and whoever is behind this couldn't possibly know what happened that night. But as hard as I try to push away these thoughts and focus on my work, I can't shake off the feeling of unease that lingers in the air.

I take a while to compose myself. I rip the note into pieces and throw it in the trash. Then, I just focus on my project.

I won't let this bother me.

"Signora Catalina, this came for you." Amelia's voice interrupts my thoughts as she approaches me on my way to breakfast the following day. I frown but take the letter from her. It's written on thick parchment paper, sealed with red wax and a crest that I don't recognize.

I find a secluded spot under the stairs and carefully open the letter. Inside is another note, similar to the one I received yesterday. My fingers tremble as I unfold it, dreading what words will meet my eyes this time.

He's closer than you think.

My heart pounds in my chest as I read those chilling words. Who is doing this? Who is trying so hard to torment me with the worst thing that ever happened to me? The mere thought makes my stomach churn with fear and anger.

Quickly stuffing the note back into its envelope, I ask Amelia to bring breakfast to my room and excuse my absence by saying I am feeling ill. As soon as she leaves, I rush to my room, needing the safety and solitude it offers.

What is happening? I can't make sense of it. I admit that over the years, I have occasionally thought about Claudia's biologicalfather. But not because I wanted to know his identity – it was more out of a desperate need to see if there were any signs of him in my daughter. Thankfully, she has inherited all of her physical characteristics from me – except for her hair.

Shaking my head in disbelief, I refuse to entertain the idea that the note might be right. The thought of my rapist being near me fills me with an overwhelming sense of dread and nausea.

A loud knock on the door startles me. I quickly shove the letter under the mattress, hoping that Marcello won't notice.

"Lina? Are you alright?" His voice is filled with concern as he enters the room. I try to compose myself before he sees me.

"Just a headache, love. Nothing to worry about." I offer him a small smile and reach for his hand, seeking solace in his touch.

But he isn't convinced. He crouches down in front of me, feeling my forehead with the back of his hand.

"You feel warm. Maybe you should rest." His brows furrow with worry.

"It's fine, really. I just needed some water." I try to sound nonchalant, but I can see the doubt in his eyes.

"I can't help but worry about you, Lina. You mean everything to me." His tender words bring tears to my eyes as I wrap my arms around him, holding onto him tightly.

"I love you," I whisper, burying my face in his chest. If only he knew the truth...but I can't bear to tell him.

"I adore you, Lina. Never forget that." He pulls back slightly, his expression still clouded with concern.

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