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**Chapter 35: Silent Connections**
The library in the estate was cloaked in a warm, golden glow from the setting sun, its tall shelves filled with books that bore the weight of the vineyard's history. Isabella stood by one of the windows, flipping through one of Emilia's letters, while Matteo sifted through the photographs Luca had brought.
"What exactly are we looking for?" Matteo asked, breaking the silence.
"Anything," Isabella replied, her tone focused. "A name, a location—something that ties all of this together."
As she spoke, her gaze shifted toward Matteo. His brow was furrowed in concentration, his fingers tracing the edges of a photograph. There was a quiet intensity about him, a focus that reminded Isabella of her own determination.
"What is it?" she asked, stepping closer.
"This photograph," Matteo said, holding it up. It was the same one of Emilia with the mysterious man, the chapel just visible in the background. "It's strange... the chapel isn't on any of the estate's maps."
Isabella leaned in to study the photograph, her shoulder brushing lightly against Matteo's. She caught the faint scent of cedarwood, something understated but grounding. For a moment, she hesitated, feeling an unexpected warmth rise in her chest.
"You're right," she said finally, forcing her thoughts back to the task at hand. "But if it's not on the maps, it means someone didn't want it to be found."
Matteo nodded, his attention returning to the photograph. "And if Emilia was connected to it, then it could be where she left more answers."
The room fell silent again as the two of them studied the clues in front of them. Isabella glanced at Matteo, watching as the soft light from the window illuminated his face. There was something about him—his quiet strength, the way he listened—that drew her in.
"Why are you helping me?" she asked suddenly, the question slipping out before she could stop it.
Matteo looked up, surprised by her directness. He hesitated, as if choosing his words carefully. "Because I know what it's like to carry the weight of something bigger than yourself," he said finally. "And because I think you're stronger than you realize."
Isabella felt her breath catch at his words, her heart fluttering in a way she hadn't expected. She opened her mouth to respond, but the sound of footsteps in the hallway drew their attention.
Luca appeared in the doorway, his expression tense. "I found something else," he said, holding up an old map.
As Matteo and Isabella joined him, the unspoken connection between them lingered, a silent promise of something just beginning.
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