Chapter 34 - The Venetian Package
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Two weeks into our honeymoon at a private palace in Venice, Italy.
The morning sun reflected off the shimmering waters of the Grand Canal, casting romantic ripples of light across the frescoed ceilings of our master bedroom.
I lay wrapped in silk sheets, resting my head on Ethan's bare chest, listening to the slow, steady rhythm of his heartbeat. His arm was wrapped securely around my waist, his fingers lazily tracing circles on my hip.
"We don't have to go back to New York next week, you know," Ethan murmured sleepily, kissing the top of my head. "We can buy a boat and live on the Mediterranean forever."
I giggled softly, turning to look up at him. "And who runs Carter Enterprises?"
"Lucas," Ethan answered without hesitation. "He's smart. He can handle the board."
"You're terrible," I laughed, pressing a kiss to his jawline.
A quiet chime echoed from the butler's station in the hallway outside our suite.
Ethan sighed, kissing my forehead before slipping out of bed. He pulled on a black silk robe and walked out into the corridor to check on the delivery.
A minute later, Ethan returned to the bedroom, holding a small wooden box wrapped in oiled leather, bound with red wax.
"What's that?" I asked, sitting up in bed, pulling the silk sheet over my chest. "A wedding gift from the locals?"
"It was delivered by a private courier from Rome," Ethan said, frowning as he inspected the unmarked package. "There's no return address."
He sat down on the edge of the mattress and pulled a pocket knife from his robe, carefully breaking the ancient red wax seal.
He opened the wooden lid.
Inside sat an old, silver pocket watch with a cracked glass face. Beside it lay a small, handwritten note written in dark black ink.
Ethan picked up the watch. His face turned pale as ash.
May you like
"Ethan?" I asked, my heart skipping a beat. "What is it? Whose watch is that?"
"It belonged to my father," Ethan whispered, his voice trembling with a terrifying, ancient dread. "He was wearing it the night he died twenty years ago. It was buried with him in his casket."
