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**Chapter 21: Blossoms of Trust**
Days turned into weeks, and Elena found herself seeking Marco's company more often. Their shared walks through the lavender fields became a routine, a reprieve from the weight of the estate and its secrets. Marco had a way of grounding her, his easy charm and quiet understanding a beacon in the storm that had engulfed her since her return to San Violetta.
"Do you ever feel like this place is alive?" Elena asked one afternoon as they stood at the edge of the vineyard.
Marco smiled thoughtfully, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "Alive? Maybe not in the way you mean. But it has a soul, I think—a history that breathes through its vines and stones."
Elena looked at him, surprised by the depth in his words. "You really love this place, don't you?"
"I do," Marco admitted. "It's not just a vineyard to me—it's a part of who I am. And now, it's a part of you, too."
His words made Elena's heart flutter, but she pushed the feeling aside. "I don't know if I want it to be," she said quietly. "There's too much I don't understand. Too much that feels... wrong."
Marco turned to her, his expression soft but serious. "Whatever's haunting you about this place, you don't have to face it alone. I'm here."
The sincerity in his voice caught her off guard, and for the first time, she felt a spark of hope amidst the chaos. Their conversation lingered in her mind long after the sun had set, its warmth a reminder that she wasn't alone.
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