Page 149 of Monster in Disguise

"There can be," he insists, though there's little conviction behind his words. We both know how things work in our society.

"No... We'll just live separately," I suggest weakly.

"It's all my fault, damn it. I practically offered you up to him," Enzo mutters, anger flashing in his eyes.

"You only wanted to protect me," I say, placing a comforting hand on his arm. "Who could have known, really?"

An uneasy silence falls between us before Enzo breaks it with a hesitant question. "Lina, I know this is awkward, but I have to ask. Are you...?" His gaze drops to my stomach, and I understand what he's asking.

"No. I'm not." The tension drains from his face, and he lets out a sigh of relief.

I understand his perspective. A child would make it incredibly difficult to cut ties with Marcello. While I know that, there had been a deep sense of disappointment when I got my period yesterday. Did I want a baby—his baby? I don't know, and I can't explain why it had hurt me the way it had when I'd seen the first signs of spotting.

Because you love him. As much as you hate him.

The mere thought of him brings a bitter taste to my mouth. The once nameless person with piercing amber eyes now has a face and a name, haunting me in my nightmares.

I try to put on a brave front for Enzo's sake, assuring him that I am fine. But as soon as I close the door to my room, I can no longer deny the truth. How could I be fine when the one person I trusted above all else betrayed me in the cruelest manner? Every time I close my eyes, I am met with the image of him among shattered glass, his expression desperate and lost. It is incomprehensible how he could deceive me and still play the victim.

Taking a deep breath, I push aside these thoughts. I need to compose myself for Claudia's sake.

With determination, I make my way to the bathroom, determined to wash away the remnants of this painful memory with a shower. But as soon as I catch sight of myself in themirror, my resolve falters. With trembling hands, I slip off the dress from my shoulders and turn to face the mirror. My gaze travels down my back, following the angry scar that forms two distinct letters.

The M undoubtedly stands for Marcello. But what about the C? My mind races through possible names or initials until it hits me like a bolt of lightning.

Chimera.

My heart stops at the realization. The man who abducted me had mentioned Chimera, said that I was a gift for them. Could it be that...

Turning off the water, I quickly fasten my dress and make my way to Enzo, drawn in by the sound of his heated argument with Allegra. As I approach, his eyes meet mine, and he tells her something that visibly shakes her. With a brief urging from Enzo, she retreats, shooting me daggers with her fiery gaze. Though I can't recall ever crossing her, there is no time to dwell on it now.

"What is it, Lina?" Enzo's brows furrow as he takes in my flushed face and disheveled appearance.

"Chimera," I say breathlessly, causing his eyes to widen in surprise. "Have you heard of that name?"

Without hesitation, Enzo guides me towards his study and shuts the door behind us.

"Why do you ask?"

"You know about the C and M tattoos on my back. I believe the C stands for Chimera."

Enzo falls deep into thought at my words.

"Please tell me why you think that."

With Marcello's cryptic mention of Chimera in connection to the nun's murder still fresh in my mind, I recount all the details from that fateful night.

"That bastard..." Enzo growls, clenching his fists in anger.

"Enzo?"

"He's obsessed with you, Lina. Fucking obsessed. It all makes perfect sense now..."

Confused by his sudden outburst, I press for more information. Threading a hand through his dark hair, Enzo continues.

"Think about it. He came to me seeking a marriage alliance and then suddenly you were forced to leave Sacre Coeur because you were being threatened by the Guerras."

A frown tugs at my lips, my stomach turning with unease at his implications. Can Marcello really be capable of such malice?

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