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**Chapter 28: The Forgotten Room**
As the whispers of the vineyard faded behind them, Luca and Isabella found themselves back at the estate, the tension between them palpable. The engraving in the grove had been a breakthrough, but it raised more questions than answers.
"We're missing something," Isabella said as they entered the house, her steps slowing in the main hallway.
Luca stopped beside her, his thoughts clearly racing. "If Emilia left clues outside, there's a chance she left something inside too. We just haven't looked in the right places."
Isabella's gaze wandered across the hallway. The faded wallpaper and creaking floorboards held a certain charm, but also a sense of decay, as though the house had secrets of its own. Her eyes landed on a painting—an old, weathered portrait of the vineyard in its prime.
"Have you ever looked behind that?" she asked suddenly.
Luca frowned. "No. Why would I?"
"Because people hide things," Isabella replied, moving toward the painting. "And if Emilia knew she was in danger, she might have hidden something where no one would think to look."
Together, they lifted the painting from the wall, revealing a small wooden panel with an ornate keyhole.
Luca's breath caught. "Do you think…"
"It has to be," Isabella said, pulling the tarnished key from her pocket. Her hands trembled slightly as she fit the key into the lock.
The mechanism clicked, and the panel swung open to reveal a narrow staircase descending into darkness. The air that wafted out was cool and damp, carrying the faint scent of earth and mildew.
"A hidden room?" Luca whispered, his voice filled with a mix of awe and apprehension.
Isabella nodded, switching on the flashlight they had brought with them. "Let's see what's down there."
The staircase creaked under their weight as they descended, the faint light revealing stone walls lined with shelves. Old books, jars, and papers filled the room, their contents layered with dust and time.
Luca picked up a journal from one of the shelves, his fingers brushing over the worn leather cover. "This belonged to her," he said softly.
Isabella turned her flashlight to the far wall, where a series of faded photographs hung in frames. One of them caught her attention—a picture of Emilia standing in the vineyard, holding a small, ornate box.
"What's this?" Isabella murmured, moving closer.
Luca joined her, his brow furrowing. "It's the same emblem as the one she carved in the grove," he said, pointing to the faint design on the box.
Isabella's mind raced. "If we find this box, we'll find the answers we're looking for."
But before they could look further, the sound of footsteps echoed from above, sending a chill down both their spines. Someone was in the house.
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