Page 150 of Monster in Disguise

"Isn't the timing a little too convenient?" His voice drips with sarcasm as he gives a harsh laugh.

"But that would mean..." My words trail off, but he continues to spell it out for me.

"He terrorized you on purpose, so you would turn to him for comfort. He became your savior after every traumatic event." A disgusted look crosses his face, and I take a step back in shock.

It all makes sense now.

Father Guerra's strange behavior... The mysterious nun... And then the missing finger.

Only someone who had access to the house could have taken Claudia's ring, just as Enzo said.

"Dear Lord!" My hand flies to my mouth as I try to process everything, blinking rapidly to hold back tears.

"He's a monster, Lina. He manipulated you into thinking you needed him. It's not love you're feeling." Enzo's words are like a punch to the gut, and I can feel the tears threatening to spill over.

But as much as I want to deny it, his reasoning rings true. Marcello's actions were calculated and cruel. How could I have been so blind?

"You need to let everything sink in," Enzo says, shaking his head in disbelief as he pours himself a drink from the cabinet.

"Can I have some too?" I blurt out suddenly, hoping maybe the alcohol will numb the pain. Enzo pauses for a moment, looking at me with a mixture of concern and understanding before pouring me a glass as well.

I hold the glass with both hands, staring at the amber liquid.

Was Marcello really behind everything?

All those reassurances, the kind words, the tender touches. Were they all a lie?

I feel my eyes tearing up, so I quickly tip back the glass, swallowing the contents. The fire traveling down my throat makes me choke.

"But why? Why me? What did I ever do to him?"

"Some people are just unhinged, Lina. It's not your fault. But it worries me. Someone like that is capable of anything."

"You're right. That's why I'm scared for Claudia. What if he uses her against me?"

"You shouldn't go anywhere for the time being. At least until we figure out what we can do."

"Don't do anything dangerous, Enzo," I add, knowing he has a tendency of putting himself in the line of fire for others.

"I don't like this, Lina. I don't like it at all. I'll double the number of guards. Just stay put, okay?"

I nod, assuring him I'll follow his lead when it comes to safety. The last thing I could ever do would be to put my daughter in danger.

It takesme another few days to come to grips with the shocking realization that Marcello had been behind everything.The betrayal cuts deep, and I struggle to believe that someone I trusted could be capable of such manipulation. But as I reflect on his actions and my own gullibility, it becomes clear that he was a master of deception. He preyed on my vulnerabilities, taking advantage of my past as an abandoned outcast fueled by the desire for acceptance.

As angry as I am at myself for falling for his lies, I'm even more devastated by the fact that it was all a facade. Pulling myself together, I push back the tears that threaten to fall once again. Claudia, who had finally found a sense of normalcy in our makeshift family, is now confused and hurt by our sudden departure.

"What was it you wanted to ask me?" I look down at the textbook she's clutching in her small hands. Her features are drawn back in hesitation, unsure if she should voice her thoughts.

"I was reading this problem." She points to the text and explains her disagreement with the formulation.

After carefully considering her perspective, I respond, "I don't see any issue with it." She lets out a frustrated sigh.

"Of course you don't!" Claudia pouts, her tone laced with bitterness. "Marcello would have agreed with me." She crosses her arms defensively.

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. Marcello may have been a manipulative liar, but he had also been a source of comfort and support for Claudia. Now that he's gone, she feels lost and alone.

"But Marcello's not here," I say calmly, trying to defuse the situation.

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