Chapter 129: Shattered Truths

"Grandma, I love you, but I don't believe you," Jacqueline said, her voice mixing frustration with a tone of disbelieving wonder. Her gaze was unyielding, set by years of memories that painfully clashed with the revelation which Penelope had just shared. "You can't just come now and tell me my parents are still alive after I watched them die. You can't expect me to believe that the people I grew up with weren't my parents."

Penelope took a deep, slow breath, her hand reaching delicately for Jacqueline's. But Jacqueline stepped back, crossing her arms protectively over her chest, eyes agleam with unshed tears. Penelope's face softened, but she seemed momentarily lost for words, as though even she struggled to comprehend the weight of what she was asking Jacqueline to believe.

Jacqueline, I know this is overwhelming," Penelope began, her voice shaking. "But I promise you, everything I'm telling you is true. They're alive. I can take you to them… You just have to trust me."

Jacqueline shook her head, trying to suppress the rising tide of emotion that threatened to engulf her. "Trust? " she repeated, almost in a whisper, as though the very word had become foreign to her. How can I even trust this, Grandma? You're telling me my whole life is a lie.

The only thing I want right now is to go and bring back my baby sister from the hospital." Her voice was partially fractured, showing the concealed vulnerability.

Penelope's face fell, her expression contorting in a mix of guilt and desperation. "I'm not asking you to abandon her, Jacqueline. All I want is for you to see with your own eyes. to see that your real parents are out there and there's so much more to your past than you can have ever imagined.".

But Jacqueline's voice stayed resolute, laced with a determined edge. "I don't care about any of that right now. I have to be here for my sister." Suddenly, the faint, far-off noise of footsteps sent their argumentative words to a grinding halt. Both women turned towards the doorway, as words died away.

Alessandro and Romano entered, impassive, save streaks of dark crimson which stained their hands and clothes alike-the signs of the confrontation still clung to them like leeches. The air grew thick with tension that seemed to wrap itself around the inanimated limbs of every person in that room, leaving them speechless.

Romano, grim-faced, his jaw clenched, met Jacqueline's eyes. "We took care of it," he growled low, yet reassuring. But with a move deeper into the room, Ariel, trembling, slid from her station against the wall and went to her knees, her eyes streaming with tears.

"Ariel…," he whispered, but she was lost to silent sobs already, the terror of tonight's events etched into her face.

"Ariel, hej…," Alessandro's voice gentled further, and he fell on his knees beside her, laying a soft touch on her shoulder. "It's over now. You're safe."

Ariel looked up at him, wide eyes, shrouded with shock. "How… how many people did you…?" She couldn't utter it, but her gaze fell to the blood smeared across his hands.

Alessandro met her gaze with a steady calm. "Enough to make sure no one would ever come after us again," he replied, his tone steady, though a flicker of something darker lurked in his eyes. "But you don't have to worry about that. It's my job to protect all of you.

Ariel's shoulders heaved as she pressed her hands against her face, fighting to keep down the weight of his words. Romano shifted beside her, his face softening as he reached and pulled her close, gently cradling her trembling form. "We're here, Ariel. We're here," he murmured.

Jacqueline had watched the scene, her heart pounding. She was relieved they were finally safe, but there was something in the quiet determination of Alessandro's voice, something in the fierceness of his gaze that brought a new fear into view. Her hand unconsciously sought Penelope's as if to anchor herself amidst the chaos.

"Alessandro." she whispered, not able to shift her gaze away from him. "Are you. are you hurt?

He turned to her then, and his eyes gentled. "No. None of it reached us. We made sure of that." He held her gaze a moment longer, then gave a faint reassuring smile. "You don't need to worry about me.

Penelope's hand clamped down on Jacqueline's as she spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "This is why you need to know the truth, Jacqueline. There's a history, depth to all of this that you can't begin to fathom. If you understood who you truly were, it may help in seeing why all of this is occurring.

Jacqueline's face flickered, resolution weakening under Penelope's stare. "I don't know if I am ready for more secrets, Grandma," she said hoarsely. "I've lost so much now; how can I believe you?

Penelope sighed, the pain in her face. "Because you're stronger than you know, Jacqueline. And because, if you don't learn the truth, if you don't confront it, then the past will keep haunting you… and those who surround you.

Just as the words left her lips, Alessandro's hand brushed against Jacqueline's arm, grounding her. "You don't have to go through any of this alone," he whispered. "We are all in it together."

Romano, his arm still tightly wrapped around a tearful Ariel, looked up and nodded, his voice sure. "Whatever this truth is, Jacqueline, we'll face it with you.

Taking a deep, steadying breath, she let her eyes dart from face to face among those she loved. She had never felt so uncertain, and she knew full well the path ahead would hardly be easy to tread. Yet in that moment, a spark of bravery flared in her chest-one she had never known she possessed.

"Fine," she said, her voice shaking a little. "But promise me this-no more secrets. If we're doing this, I want everything laid bare. Every single truth."

Penelope nodded solemnly. "I promise, Jacqueline. This is it. No more secrets."

Ariel wiped her tears away, her eyes red but determined. "We're family, Jacqueline. Whatever it is… we'll face it together."

Romano smiled a little, looking to each one of them in turn. "Family," he repeated, the word weighted with meaning he hadn't known he needed.

Alessandro took Jacqueline's hand firmly yet comfortingly. "Then it is decided: together we will go and see what fate has in store for us." He turned toward Romano, exchanging one of those silent looks that spoke volumes about the known risks of their road ahead.

Jacqueline nodded, her heart heavy yet resolute. She faced Penelope, her voice softer yet so much stronger. "Lead the way, Grandma."