Chapter 14: Shadows and Demons

Sofia's POV

I sit in my room, the afternoon sun slanting through the window, illuminating the delicate folds of my wedding gown. It is beautiful, exquisite even, and yet I find myself unmoved. This is the dress I had always imagined myself wearing on my wedding day.

My thoughts are scattered, as wild and restless as a storm-tossed sea. Where is my mother? I have spent countless hours searching for clues to her disappearance, but the more I uncover, the deeper the mystery seems to run.

And Chiara, my evil step-sister, has been quiet, too quiet. It sets my nerves on edge, like a song played slightly out of tune. I know she is plotting something, but what?

I'm lost in my own thoughts when a knock at the door startles me. A servant enters, a letter in his hand."Miss Sofia," he says. "This was left for you at the front gate."

My heart races as I take the letter, my fingers trembling as I break the seal. The note inside is handwritten, the words scrawled across the page with a fierce intensity."The culprit is closer to you than you expect, sweet Sofia."A chill runs through me, like ice coursing through my veins. I am paralyzed, the words echoing in my mind like a warning.

The culprit.Who sent this? And how much do they know?

My pulse is thundering, my thoughts spiraling.Chiara. Dante. Even My father.

I must find the truth. The answers are out there, hidden in the shadows of the past.

I take a deep breath, steeling myself for the fight to come. Whoever sent this note has made a mistake. They have underestimated me. I am not the helpless girl I once was.And I will not rest until I uncover the truth.The clock is ticking. In two days, I will be married. But first, I must confront my demons and unmask the culprit.

Antonio's POV

I lean back in my leather chair, my thoughts a whirlwind of emotions. Sofia. Bellissima Sofia. Soon, she will be mine. My wife. My queen. My heart thrums with anticipation, a raw excitement pulsing through my veins.

But as I let myself revel in the fantasy of our future, a memory intrudes, a specter of the past clawing its way back to the surface.I see Dante, his face twisted with fear and betrayal."I didn't mean for this to happen, Antonio.

Cazzo," I mutter, shaking my head. Fuck Dante, fuck the past. This is my future now, and no one will take it from me.My heart still racing, I reach for the phone, dialing Vincenzo's number."We have no new leads on Dante," he says, his voice grave. "He's disappeared like a ghost.""Damn it," I curse, my fingers clenching around the phone. "We can't let him ruin this. Not now.

"I'm going shopping," I snap, my voice tight with frustration. "I need to get a gift for my bellissima."Vincenzo chuckles, the humor in his voice jarring against the tension in the air. "Getting weak in your old age, boss?" he teases."No," I retort, a smirk tugging at my lips despite myself. "But she deserves the best. She deserves to be spoiled, and I'll move heaven and earth to make sure she is.

I hang up the phone, my resolve hardening. Dante will not win. Sofia is mine, and I will protect her, whatever the cost.I head for the garage, my mind already buzzing with ideas for the perfect gift. Diamonds? A necklace from the finest jeweler in town?But as I slide into the backseat of the car, my thoughts turn to something more meaningful, more personal. A gift that speaks to our history, our connection.And then, inspiration strikes.

A keepsake from her past, something to remind her of the mother she lost.

I stride into the antique shop, my eyes scanning the treasures that line the shelves. For a moment, I am distracted by the trinkets and baubles, the remnants of history that fill the room. But then, I see it.The jade pendant, glowing emerald green in the dim light. It was her mother's, I realize, a wave of recognition crashing over me."I'll take it," I say, my voice firm.

"Ah," the shopkeeper murmurs, his wrinkled face breaking into a smile. "A man of taste. It is indeed rare, a fine piece of jade from the Qing dynasty. And it bears an interesting history, I am told."I meet his gaze, my expression unreadable. "The history is of no concern to me."The shopkeeper nods, his smile widening. "Of course, of course. A lovely gift," he says, his voice thick with meaning.

I pay for the pendant, slipping it into my pocket as I leave the store. In the car, I take it out, turning it over in my hands. It is cool to the touch, the jade smooth and polished.I imagine Sofia's face when she sees it, her surprise and joy. But I also know that this gift is more than just a token of my love. It is a key, a clue to the mysteries that have plagued her for years.A seed of doubt begins to sprout in my mind. Am I doing the right thing?

As the car navigates through the winding streets of the city, my mind drifts to thoughts of Sofia. The curve of her lips, the way her hair catches the light like the beautiful sunset .

She will be mine, I think, my jaw clenched with determination. I will claim her in every sense, body and soul. I will bind her to me in a way that can never be broken.And then, a new thought occurs to me: my wedding vows. What should I say? How can I express the depth of my love, the fire that burns within me?

My heart thunders in my chest, a storm of emotion raging through me. I imagine Sofia at the altar, her eyes wide and full of love, her heart beating in time with mine."Sofia," I whisper, the name like a prayer on my lips. "I vow to love you, to cherish you, to protect you from all that would seek to harm you."But even as the words tumble from my mouth, I know that they are not enough. I must be honest with her, lay my heart bare before her.

"Ti amo, Sofia. Ti amo con tutto il mio cuore." (I love you, Sofia. I love you with all my heart.)The words feel inadequate, inadequate to capture the ferocity of my feelings, the storm raging inside me. But they are all I have, all I can offer her.I take a deep breath, steadying myself. "I will never leave you, never forsake you. You are my life, my light, my everything."

"Ti amo, mia sole ardente." (I love you, my fiery sun.)The vow feels complete, the words a tangible manifestation of my love. But still, I am haunted by doubt, by the knowledge that our love is a fragile thing, a flame that could easily be snuffed out by the winds of fate.I close my eyes, willing away the uncertainty, the fear."I will make you mine," I whisper, a vow to myself, a promise to the universe. "And nothing will ever tear us apart.

That was your mom's last wish