Monster in Disguise

16. Catalina

Catalina

W e all meet together at breakfast, after which Marcello declares that he's taken the day off to spend it with me.

As we step out of the car and make our way towards the mall, I can't help but voice my doubts once again. "Are you sure it's okay for us to take the day off?"

"It's more than okay," he replies with a wink, his eyes full of confidence. "I make the rules, remember?"

I avert my gaze, feeling a flush of heat rise to my cheeks. How can he be so effortlessly charming? Sometimes I wonder if he's even real.

Ever since that unforgettable afternoon in his office, I've found it nearly impossible to get him out of my mind. The fact that I have a chance at a real marriage with him still feels almost surreal, something I never thought possible in the past.

And as we grow more comfortable with each other, perhaps romance will blossom too. The physical attraction between us is undeniable—though I'm still apprehensive about what that might entail. But knowing that he shares my fears brings me some peace of mind.

A driver takes us to a nearby mall, a few discreet cars following behind to ensure our safety. Once we arrive, I turn to him and ask curiously, "So where are we going?"

"I know you went shopping with your Assisi and Claudia, but I heard you didn't get anything special for yourself," he explains.

"You...heard?" I frown in confusion.

"I asked Claudia.” He shrugs nonchalantly.

"That little traitor," I mutter playfully under my breath. "But I don't understand what you mean by 'something special.' I bought everything I needed."

"Perhaps too little," he remarks with a teasing smile.

I blink in surprise and look up at him quizzically.

"Just remember, I have plenty of money," he adds confidently. "You don't have to worry about being frugal."

"But I don't need much," I protest. "I've always been used to wearing the same clothes for years."

He suddenly stops.

"And that is the issue, Lina. You shouldn't have suffered like that."

I'm still not sure why he's insisting on this topic. I like clothes. What girl doesn't? But I would rather get a few quality pieces rather than a lot that will get destroyed at the first wash. And I have everything that I need thanks to Enzo and Marcello's generosity.

"I lived in a convent, Marcello. They're not known for their extravagant attires."

He purses his lips thoughtfully. "You should have never been sent there in the first place, Lina," he adds, a hint of regret in his voice.

"It is what it is." I shrug. "I'm happy I'm not there now."

At that, he smiles.

"And because you're here now, you get to be extravagant. So today we're getting you something special." With that, he tentatively reaches for my hand. His fingers twine through mine, slowly.

He blinks and gulps down hard as he gets used to the touch. I don't move, letting him go at his own pace and become comfortable enough to hold my hand.

The mere fact that he's trying is a wonder in itself. And when he succeeds in holding tightly onto my hand, I can't help the beaming smile that spreads over my face.

He gives me a small nod and we proceed toward the entrance of the mall. Behind us, a group of men dressed in dark suits follow closely, their watchful eyes scanning the crowds around us.

As we walk through the bustling mall, the sound of chatter and footsteps fills the air. The glittering displays of countless shops catch my eye, tempting me to stop and browse. My gaze lingers on a dazzling jewelry display, but I quickly avert my eyes. I don't want Marcello to spend exorbitant amounts of money on me.

Just one glance at the prices and I am shocked—when did a simple pair of earrings start costing tens of thousands of dollars? Perhaps it's because I've been sheltered for so long, but this sheer extravagance astounds me.

"Oh shit." Marcello suddenly stops in the middle of the mall. My brows furrow as I look up at him.

"I'm such an idiot."

"What do you mean?"

"I never got you a ring, did I?"

My mind reels at the words he just spoke. I had never considered wearing his ring on my finger, but as I imagine it, a warmth spreads throughout my body.

His eyes sparkle mischievously as he catches my bashful expression. "That can definitely qualify as something special," I stutter, feeling my cheeks flush with color. "But please, nothing too grandiose."

He raises an eyebrow at me and gives me a knowing smile. With a firm grip on my hand, he leads me back to the extravagant jewelry shop we had passed by earlier. My heart races as I remember the exorbitant prices of the rings displayed in the window. Did he see how much they cost? But then again, he did say he has money...

"I'm sure there are other stores where we can find more affordable options," I mutter, trying to hide my unease. But he seems determined to go inside.

"This one," he declares confidently, pushing open the heavy door.

I follow behind hesitantly as his security detail surrounds us, drawing attention to our presence. The sales assistant, a young man around my age, greets us with a smile and asks how he can assist us.

"Can you show us your diamond engagement rings?" Marcello asks directly, not wasting any time.

The assistant's eyes widen slightly at the request but quickly recovers and heads to another display case. He carefully selects several glittering rings and presents them to us.

"Diamonds?" I murmur in disbelief. "Those must be incredibly expensive..."

"And incredibly beautiful," Marcello interjects smoothly, sending me a wink that makes my heart skip a beat. "Like you."

I blush furiously and lose all train of thought regarding the prices of diamonds. Although I'm wary of receiving such a gift from him, haven't I always dreamed about it? Every girl dreams about her fairytale wedding, and growing up, I certainly did my fair share of daydreaming even knowing my marriage would be an arranged one with someone my parents chose for me. But it was only after I entered the convent that those dreams intensified. Perhaps it's because I never thought they could materialize, so every time I'd go to sleep, I would imagine I met the love of my life who fell for me at first sight and decided to marry me—and take me and Claudia out of the convent. I always pictured a handsome man with a kind smile who would not only love me but also my daughter. And so far...I'm almost afraid to admit to myself how close Marcello is to that faceless man I once pictured.

The sales associate shows us more available rings. They don't even have a price tag attached to them, so I assume they must not be too expensive. That makes me more comfortable in browsing them.

"What do you think of this?" Marcello asks as he picks out a rose gold ring with a big diamond set in the middle.

He takes my hand and slides it over my finger. We're both surprised how well it fits without any adjustment.

"This is beautiful," I breathe out.

"That one is a five-carat natural diamond set against an eighteen-carat rose gold band. A wonderful choice."

"Do you like it?" Marcello asks, almost unsure of himself.

I'm speechless so I can only nod meekly.

The sales associate takes my silence as indecision, so he starts endorsing all the features of the ring.

"May I see that one?" I ask as I take the diamond ring off and point toward an emerald one a few rows down.

"Certainly."

The sales associate gives me the ring and Marcello places it on my finger. It's a white gold band with the most stunning emerald set against a row of small diamonds.

I am speechless as I stare at the beauty of it.

"It goes well with your eyes," the sales associate mentions.

Marcello gives him a harsh stare.

"Indeed, it does," he adds tensely.

"How much is this?"

"The price doesn't matter," Marcello swiftly says. "We'll take it."

"But—"

"You like it. We'll take it," he interrupts me.

"It is a good choice," the sales associate chimes in. "A beautiful ring for a beautiful lady." He smiles at me as he reaches out to take the ring and pack it.

Before he can touch me, Marcello snatches my hand away.

"My wife," he emphasizes, "will keep the ring on."

The sales associate blinks. "I can?—"

"You can ring it up for us," Marcello counters.

"Of course," the man adds with a feeble smile.

I look at Marcello questioningly. Why is he suddenly so tense? He has a menacing look on his face that I don't think I've seen before.

I'm still wondering about that as he quickly pays and leads me out of the store.

"You were rude," I tell him honestly. "He was only trying to help us, as is his job."

His fists are clenched by his side and he mutters something inaudible under his breath.

"What?"

"He said you were beautiful," he says through gritted teeth. "I didn't like how he... looked at you."

"I don't understand. How?" I frown.

He takes a deep breath and scrubs his hand over his face. "He looked at you the way only I can look at you, Lina," he says slowly.

Is he... is Marcello jealous?

"He was just doing his job," I add again in an effort to diffuse the situation.

"Then perhaps I should be the one to do my job better." He turns to look at me. "You are beautiful. The most beautiful. And I am lucky to have you with me," he tells me sincerely.

His words touch my heart and I take a step forward, raising myself on my tiptoes and placing a kiss on his cheek.

"Thank you. And thank you for the ring too. It's gorgeous."

His cheeks redden and he looks away, suddenly uncomfortable.

"I think I saw a pink dollhouse over there. Maybe Claudia will like it," he suddenly says and changes the subject.

With a smile, I follow him. He's right, Claudia does like it. But I like it more, because even when he wants to give me something special, he doesn't forget about my daughter.

Marcello, Marcello... Can I allow myself to fall for you?