Chapter 16: A Step
Uncharted Waters
Isabel woke up with a faint, lingering ache–a last in her chest that Matter’s work had left behind. She replayed them in her mind, searching for clarity that just wouldn’tcome He had made his stance eleva, pet she remained restless. Dragging beneli ont at beil, she sank into her desk chair, hoping that pouring her thoughts into a f words
mightcalm the chan in her mind.
But the blinking cursor the empty page didn’t help. Every sentence she typed telt like sand slipping through her fingers, washing the second it was formed. Frustrated, she picked up her phone and tried calling Vhr. Always the voice of reason, the cals to her stora, Visi was some she relied on in times of uncertainty. But the call ang
nanswered. Sighing, she dropped the phone beside her keyboard, feeling creasingly isolated.
A soft knock broke the silence, and Sienna peeked in “Good morning, Misael Would you like some cultre?”
“Yes, please.“Isabel replied, offering this
Snaretured moments later, placing the cup on label’s desk. She moved to leave, but somthing stopped Isabel “Stenna?” she began
Sienna panned, looking at her with gentle, attentive eyes. “Yes,miss?”
babel hestated, wondering if she should even ask. But cerbosity got the better of her. “He you heard anything about what went down yesterday?”
Sienna’s expression dilat change, but a glume of something appeared behind her composed demeanor. I might have, miss,” she said carefully. “not think it’s best left as it
tubel frowned. “Why? Workin’t knowing more help me.. understand?”
“Notabean,” Sienna replied with a tant, knowing smile. Sometimes, knowingless helps you see things as they are, without all the added weight”
bubelwanted to press her father, but sina had already straightened up, her gaze soft but resolute. “I’ll prepare some breakfast for you miss,” she said quietly and left the mom, leading bubel Beeling ftrated than be
Sighing, Isabel her coffee down and turned back to the window. The city beyond was wolding up, bathed in golden light a pull urged her to step outside, achance to clear her mind and distract herself, even if Just for a while So, without a second thought, she pushed off the desk, headed to the closet, grabbed a simple out and slipped it on
After a final glance in the mirror, she picked up her phone to allence it, placed it in her perse, and left, feeling a sense of Liberation as she stepped into the larly, simit streets. The destival was in full swing, an enchanting blend of sights, sounds, and smells pulling her into embrace Strolling along the cobblestone paths, she let the vibrant hum of the
crowd wrap around her. It was exactly what she needed.
Admiringan display flowers, she heard a familiar voice.
“Isabella,” be greeted, his valor smooth and cud
Tuming, she saw Don Antonio standing behind her, his way smile curving up just enough to hit that he’d been expecting her. For a split second, she was caught off guard, but
quickly collected herself.
“Von,” she said, feeling a flicker of surprise mixed with curiosity.
“Yes, me,” hereplied, his expression amused.
bel took a small breath, glancing at him. “What brings you here?”
“Same as everyone, I suppose,” he answered, his gaze sweeping over the bustling scene around them.“The festival, the company–perhaps a bit of curiosity as well.” His eyes peted back on her with a knowing look.
There was an undercurrent to his words, something that hinted at more, but she decided to match his casual tone. “Well, It’s a nice escape,” she replied nonchalantly. “Indeed,” he said. Then he paused, studying her for a mom “Take Mt’s not here with you?”
She raised an eyebrow. “No. I’m here on my this time.”
His smile widened, and he nodded approvingly “an independent spirit. I can appreciate that the gestured to a nearby cade “Care to join me for a drink?”
tubel besited, glancing at the busting crowds around them. A part of her wanted to avoid getting tanglind in what we might le between him and Martes. But another part- apertdien by a gang curiosity–wanted answers. She nodded “stonedrink”
They settled at a table outside, and as she sipped the drink he ordered, she studied him carefully, searching for any clue to his motives. He seemed at ease, yet there was an intensity beneath his calm surface, a kind of restrained energy she couldn’t quite decipher.
*So, Don,” she started, aiming for a casual tone, “you and Malles seem to have complicated history.”
His smile didn’t felter, but there was a faint shift in his
“Compleated is one way to put it,” he replied lightly
bellatedford, attempting to appear nonchalant “And by complicated, you mean?”
He chuckled, taking a longap from his drink. “Isabella, sometimes it’s better not to dig too deeply into things you may not fully want to understand.”
She met his gaze, refusing to back down. “So,t’s true then. There’s something more to it.”
He tied his head as if considering her woods. “We all have our pasts, Isabella Sometimes, they’re best left buried.”
Frustration flickered in her chest as she sensed that he was trying to sidestepher questions. “But you don’t strike me as the type to love thing buried,” the challenged.
He leaned back, his gaze steady. “You’re right. I don’t but also know that there are some things worth keeping locked away, for everyone’s sake. ”
Isabel wanted to press him மாமகள
her, to demand an explanation that his expression had grown guarded, his eyes hardening
nigh to sigl that anymore questions would ge
ubile to keep the disappointment from her sane. “You won’t tell me anything?
He sighed, his expression softening slightly. “Curiosity is a powerful thing, label. It can drive you to places you never imagined. But sometimes, it’s better to leave certain parts unexplored.”
Frowning, tabel debt a mix of frustration and inte. There was much he won’t saying, so much that lingered beneath the surface of his creally chosen wards.
s she stood to leave, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small card, holding it out is ha. “In case you ever need a bit of clarity or just a friend,” he said smoothh- label took the card, glancing at it realpping it into her bag “Thanks,” shempled, though the wasn’t sure if she meant it.
Chase To A Step to Uncharted Waters
2/2
Walking away, his words echoed in her mind, a puzzle she couldn’t quite plece together. She felt no closer to answers than when she’d started, but something told her this was only the beginning.
Making her way through the streets and heading for the estate, a small smile crept onto her face. It wasn’t because of anything in particular. She was simply glad that this trip was starting to seem more like investigative journalism than just writing about the warm climate and colorful streets of Sicily.
she was determined to find out the truth; she was sure of that
At that moment, she picked out her phone from her purse to order a tax or call Alberto. She didn’t plan to walk to the estate; the distance would kill her without a doubt.
But then her eyes widened when she picked out the phone and looked at the screen.
She bad missed calls about ten of them
And they were from Matteo.
