Chapter five-The truth

_Emilia's POV_

I stood there, frozen in place, as Marco walked away. What did he mean by "playing with fire"? And who was I supposed to be careful around?

I shook my head, trying to clear the cobwebs. I had to focus on finding out the truth about my family's past and their connection to the De Lucas.

I turned and walked back to my room, my mind racing with questions and theories. As I entered my room, I noticed a piece of paper on my bedside table.

I walked over and picked it up, recognizing the handwriting as Maria's.

"Meet me in the garden at midnight," the note read. "Come alone."

I felt a shiver run down my spine. What did Maria want to talk to me about? And why did she want me to come alone?

I looked at the clock and saw that it was already 11:45 PM. I had to make a decision quickly.

I decided to go to the meeting, my curiosity getting the better of me. I made my way to the garden, trying to be as quiet as possible.

As I entered the garden, I saw Maria waiting for me. She was dressed in a long coat, and her eyes were serious.

"Emilia, I'm glad you came," she said, her voice low. "I have something important to tell you."

I nodded, my heart racing with anticipation.

"What is it?" I asked.

Maria hesitated, looking around nervously. "It's about your family," she said. "And their connection to the De Lucas."

I felt a surge of excitement. Finally, I was going to get some answers.

"Tell me," I said, my voice firm.

Maria took a deep breath and began to speak. "Your family, Emilia, they were deeply involved with the De Lucas," she said. "They were part of their organization, and they did... things for them."

I felt a chill run down my spine. What kind of things?

"What kind of things?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Maria hesitated, looking around nervously. "I don't know if I should be telling you this," she said. "But I think you have a right to know. Your family, Emilia, they were involved in some... shady dealings. They did things that they shouldn't have done, and they got in deep with the De Lucas."

I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. What had my family done?

As I looked at Maria, I knew that I had to know the truth. No matter how hard it was to hear.

"Tell me more," I said, my voice firm.

Maria nodded, her eyes serious. "I'll tell you everything I know," she said. "But you have to promise me one thing."

I nodded, my heart racing with anticipation.

"What is it?" I asked.

Maria's eyes locked onto mine. "You have to promise me that you'll be careful," she said. "The De Lucas are not people to be trifled with. They're powerful, and they'll stop at nothing to get what they want."

I felt a shiver run down my spine. What had I gotten myself into?

But I knew that I couldn't back down now. I had to know the truth, no matter what it took.

"I promise," I said, my voice firm.

Maria nodded, her eyes serious. "Good," she said. "Because once you know the truth, there's no going back.”

_Emilia's POV_

I was sitting in the living room, trying to process everything Maria had told me, when I heard the sound of the front door opening.

I looked up to see Marco walking in, followed by a beautiful woman with long, curly hair and a stunning figure. Marco didn't even acknowledge me, his eyes fixed on the woman as he strode across the room.

The woman, Sophia, was clearly besotted with Marco. She gazed up at him with adoring eyes, her face radiant with excitement.

Marco didn't seem to notice me at all, his attention focused solely on Sophia. He took her hand, his eyes burning with intensity as he led her towards the stairs.

"Let's go upstairs," he murmured, his voice low and husky.

Sophia giggled, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "I'd love to," she breathed, her voice barely audible.

As they disappeared up the stairs, I felt a sense of detachment. I wasn't jealous, exactly. I just felt... curious. Who was Sophia, and what was her relationship with Marco?

I shrugged, standing up to head to my own room. I had more important things to worry about than Marco's latest conquest.

As I climbed the stairs, I could hear the sound of laughter and music coming from Marco's room. I rolled my eyes, feeling a sense of amusement. Marco was certainly living up to his reputation as a ladies' man.

I entered my own room, closing the door behind me. I had a lot to think about, and I needed some time to process everything.

As I got ready for bed, I couldn't help but wonder what Sophia's story was. Was she just another of Marco's conquests, or was there something more to their relationship?

I shook my head, feeling a sense of detachment. It wasn't my business, and I had more important things to worry about.

As I drifted off to sleep, I could still hear the sound of laughter and music coming from Marco's room. I smiled to myself, feeling a sense of amusement. Marco was certainly living life to the fullest.

But as I slept, I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. Sophia's arrival had seemed... deliberate, somehow. And Marco's behavior had been... strange.

I pushed the thoughts aside, telling myself I was just being paranoid. But as I drifted off to sleep, I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was waiting in the shadows, waiting to pounce.