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**Chapter 29: Starlight Promises**
The night sky stretched endlessly above the Moretti estate, a canvas of deep indigo speckled with stars. Elena stood on the terrace, her arms resting on the stone balustrade as she gazed out at the vineyard bathed in moonlight. The silence of the night was soothing, a reprieve from the chaos that had surrounded her since she and Matteo had returned to San Violetta.
"You're out late," Marco's voice broke through the quiet, soft yet unmistakable.
Elena turned to see him standing at the edge of the terrace, his features illuminated by the faint glow of the lantern he carried.
"I couldn't sleep," she admitted, her gaze returning to the horizon. "Too many questions, not enough answers."
Marco stepped closer, setting the lantern down beside her. "This place has a way of keeping people awake," he said, his tone gentle. "But you're not alone in this, Elena."
She looked at him, her expression softening. "Sometimes it feels like I am," she admitted. "This vineyard, the estate, my father's secrets—it's all so much bigger than me. Bigger than anything I've ever dealt with."
Marco's eyes met hers, his gaze steady and reassuring. "You're stronger than you think," he said. "I've seen it in the way you've handled everything since you got here. And no matter what happens, I'll be here to help you through it."
Elena felt a warmth rise in her chest at his words. "You've been so kind," she said quietly. "I don't know why, but… thank you."
Marco chuckled softly, his smile tinged with something deeper. "Maybe I just see something in you worth fighting for," he said.
His words lingered in the air between them, their weight undeniable. Elena felt her heart skip a beat, the vulnerability in his voice striking a chord she hadn't expected.
Before she could respond, Marco reached out, his hand brushing against hers. The touch was light, tentative, but it sent a jolt through her all the same. She looked down at their hands, then back up at him, her breath catching in her throat.
"Sometimes the answers aren't in the vineyard or the estate," Marco said softly. "Sometimes they're right in front of us."
Elena's heart raced as the distance between them seemed to close. The world around them faded away, leaving only the starlit terrace and the connection that had grown between them. And as Marco leaned closer, his voice barely a whisper, Elena realized that amidst the shadows of the vineyard, she had found something worth holding onto.
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