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**Chapter 36: In the Shadows of Trust**
The vineyard was quiet as Carlo paced through the grove, his lantern casting faint flickers of light against the twisted branches. His expression was unreadable, his steps deliberate as he moved deeper into the maze of lavender. The weight of his role as constable pressed heavily on his shoulders, but tonight was different—tonight, the vineyard felt heavier.
Carlo's mind raced, replaying the events of the last few days. The resurfacing of Emilia's belongings and the whispers of the DeVinci legacy had shaken him. He had spent years keeping the vineyard's secrets buried, believing it was the right thing to do. But now, with Elena, Matteo, Isabella, and Luca digging where they shouldn't, the fragile balance was crumbling.
He paused by the fountain, the soft trickle of water breaking the stillness. His thoughts lingered on the letter addressed to Emilia—the one he had read but never intended to let anyone else see. Its warning echoed in his mind, a reminder of the dangerous truths the vineyard held.
"Why now?" he murmured to himself, his voice barely audible. "Why can't they leave it buried?"
From the shadows, a figure emerged. Carlo stiffened, his hand instinctively reaching for his sidearm. The man who approached was older, his weathered face illuminated briefly by the lantern's glow.
"Still playing the hero, Carlo?" Pietro said, his tone laced with sarcasm.
Carlo relaxed slightly, but his expression remained guarded. "What are you doing here, Pietro?"
"Same as you," Pietro replied, his gaze wandering to the grove. "Trying to keep them from tearing apart what should've stayed hidden."
Carlo frowned, his frustration evident. "It's only a matter of time before they find the chapel. You know that, don't you?"
Pietro chuckled, shaking his head. "If they do, it's not my problem. But you—you've always had this sense of duty. Always trying to protect something that was never yours to protect."
Carlo's jaw tightened. "I made a promise."
"To who?" Pietro asked, his tone sharp. "To Emilia? Or to yourself?"
The silence that followed was heavy, the weight of Pietro's words cutting deeper than Carlo wanted to admit. He turned away, his lantern flickering in the breeze. "Whatever they find in that chapel—it's not just history. It's a curse."
Pietro shrugged, his indifference clear. "Let them face it. Maybe it's time someone did."
As Carlo watched Pietro fade back into the shadows, he couldn't shake the feeling that the vineyard was closing in on him, its secrets unraveling faster than he could keep them contained.
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