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**Chapter 20: Glimmers of Trust**
The morning after Pietro's unsettling visit, Elena found herself drawn back to the lavender fields. She carried the locket in her hand, its cool metal a reminder of the cryptic warning he had left behind. The sun bathed the vineyard in golden light, but the unease in her chest made the beauty feel hollow.
"Couldn't stay away, could you?"
Elena turned, startled, to find Marco leaning casually against a nearby post, his smile warm and inviting. She hadn't heard him approach, and yet his presence felt oddly reassuring.
"I needed some air," Elena said, tucking the locket into her pocket.
Marco raised an eyebrow, his gaze lingering on her hand. "Is that what you needed? Or are you trying to solve the mysteries of this place all on your own?"
Elena hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. But something in Marco's tone—genuine curiosity rather than prying—made her feel safe enough to speak.
"There's a lot I don't understand," she admitted. "About my father, about this estate, and… well, everything."
Marco stepped closer, his expression softening. "San Violetta has a way of keeping its secrets. But sometimes, those secrets are worth uncovering."
His words hung in the air, and for a moment, Elena felt the weight of her worries ease. Marco's presence was steady, grounding, and she found herself smiling despite the tension that had followed her since her arrival.
"You seem to know a lot about this place," Elena said, her tone playful. "Is that just a perk of being a vineyard manager?"
Marco chuckled, his eyes bright with amusement. "Something like that. But maybe I just have a knack for figuring things out—and people."
Their laughter broke the tension, and for the first time, Elena felt a spark of hope amidst the chaos.
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