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**Chapter 140: The Decision That Binds**
The vineyard was silent. No longer trembling, no longer warning—only waiting. The figures stood before the siblings, unmoving, their presence fixed in time, bound to the land. The whispers of the Veil had settled into something deeper, something unbreakable.
Elena's pendant glowed steady now, the erratic pulses replaced with certainty. The vineyard had reached its limit—it would accept no further hesitation. "This is it," she murmured. "The past demands resolution."
Matteo exhaled slowly, his gaze locked onto the unmoving figures. "The choice we make won't just affect us," he said. "It will shape the vineyard forever."
Isabella stood tall, unwavering. "Then we don't hesitate," she said. "We trust ourselves."
Luca studied the lingering shadows, his instincts sharp. "The Veil isn't pulling apart anymore," he muttered. "It's binding."
Carlo's grip on the ornate box tightened, his expression unreadable. "There is no right or wrong," he said. "Only what endures."
Elena turned to him, breath steady despite the weight of the moment. "Then we choose," she said. "What must be done?"
Carlo met her gaze, holding it for a moment too long. Then, finally, he spoke. "We restore what was lost," he said. "Or we let the vineyard remain untouched."
Pietro let out a slow, wary breath. "And if the past doesn't like our answer?" he muttered.
The wind surged, sharp and final.
**"Choose."**
Elena closed her eyes briefly—then opened them, her voice unwavering.
**"We will."**
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