Romance carnival

Chapter Twelve _ Betrayal in the shadows

The lilies marco had given Isabella still lay in her chamber, their petals wilting,their fragrance fading.She had meant to keep them,fresh,but her heart no longer turned toward them.It turned only toward the memory of Alessandro's kiss in the garden.

But morning brought no peace.

Marco arrived earlier than usual, his expression unreadable as he bowed politely to her father.Over shared bread and coffee,his conversation was warm,respectful,as though nothing had changed.But when Isabella excuses herself to fetch more fruit from the court yard,marco followed.

She gasped when she found him standing there waiting.

"Marco", she whispered. " you startled me".

His eyes,usually kind,burned with something darker. "Tell me, Isabella", he said quietly. "how long have you been lying to me?"

Her throat tightened. "I don't understand _".

"Do not insult me", he snapped, his voice sharp enough to cut. "i saw you with him.in the garden".

Her blood ran cold.

Marco stepped closer,his jaw tant with restrained fury. "Is it true? Have you given your heart to Alessandro Romano ?

Silence stretched between them,heavy as chains. Isabella wanted to deny it,to calm the storm in his eyes, but her lips betrayed her. "yes", she breathed.

Marco staggered back as though struck . pain flashed across his face, quickly buried beneath a mask of pride.

"You....choose him? A Romano? Do you know what you've done?"

"I don't choose this", she whispered,tears rising.

" It simply_".

"simply?" His laugh was bitter. " you've doomed us both.Do you think his family will allow this? Do you think his family will allow this ? Do you think your father will? He believes in me, Isabella.

He trusts that our families will bind stranger together.And you..."

His hand trembled ,then dropped to his side.

" you betray that with a kiss".

Her tears spilled,but marco's gaze only hardened.

"You will regret this", he said,his voice low, final.

"And when you do ,do not expect me to be merciful".

He turned sharply,his cloak sweeping behind him, leaving her crumbling in the Silence of the court yard.

That evening, Alessandro faced his father again.

The elder Romano stood by the window of his study, over looking the canals,his voice like ice.

"your recklessness spreads.marco Bianchi knows. soon,all of venice will know. This ends tonight",

Alessandro's hands curled into fists.

" If marco knows,then let him come. I will not give her up".

His father turned,his eyes blazing with fury. "Then you are not my son".

The words struck harder than any blow. Alessandro held his ground, though his chest burned.

" So be it".

Behind them, Evelina watched in Silence that promised only more chaos.