ARIA’S POV
Ever since that evening when Mrs. Fletcher saw Matteo and I in an intimate moment. She had been treating me with a coldness that I couldn’t help but notice. It was as if she was pretending I wasn’t even in the room. Her demeanor towards me had turned completely indifferent.
I reached out to grab Mrs. Fletcher’s arm as she was about to serve Matteo’s plate. She froze, and her wrinkled eyes turned to look at me. I felt like a deer in headlights, and my heart was pounding in my chest as I reached over and took the plate from her hands.
My voice cracked a bit as I said, “I’ll take care of it.” Mrs. Fletcher’s eyes lingered on me for a moment, but she let go of the plate, and I carried it over to Matteo. These past few days had been torture, avoiding Matteo every chance I got. He seemed to like spending time with me, but I had been keeping my distance, probably coming off as cold or uncaring. But I knew it was for the best, or at least that’s what I kept telling myself.
Dinner was served, and I dug into my food, not bothering to wait for anyone else to sit down. Evelyn appeared first, followed by Ben. Jones slipped out without a word, and just as I was about to take my second bite, Carter strolled in, and then Alonzo. Everyone found their seats, and the chatter began, but I kept my head down, pretending to be lost on my plate. A few minutes passed, and Matteo finally walked into the dining room, his eyes distant and his mind somewhere else entirely. He didn’t spare a single glance in my direction as he sat down to eat. I managed to finish my meal quickly and retreated to my room without a word. But before I could even close the door, I heard footsteps approaching, and there he was, standing before me. My heart thudded in my chest as I slowly opened the door just a crack, peeking out at him with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.
“Do you want something, Matteo?”. I asked
“Let me in,” he said, his voice carrying a hint of demand. I swallowed hard, my back pressing against the door. I knew he could easily overpower me, but I wasn’t about to make it easy for him.
“No,” I replied, my tone firm despite the nerves fluttering in my chest. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
He narrowed his eyes, his jaw set in a hard line. “Why are you avoiding me?” he asked, the frustration in his voice palpable.
“I’m not avoiding you,” I lied, praying he couldn’t see through it.
“Let me in”. He said
“Not until you tell me why you’re here”. I said and made an attempt to lock it up, but he held the door open.
I couldn’t help but notice the alluring messiness of his hair, making him even more irresistible. “I just want to listen to you speak,” he said, his voice slightly unsteady. I was taken aback by his words, and it must have shown on my face.
“What do you mean?” I asked, my voice tinged with confusion. He stepped closer to me, his eyes never leaving mine.
“I just want to hear your voice,” he repeated, his voice softening a bit.
“Matteo, I want to be alone”. I said, but he pushed past me, invading my space with his presence. He looked around my small room as I locked the door.
“I want to be alone”. I said as he leaned in.
“I don’t want you to be alone”. He said and tried to kiss me, but I missed out of the way in time.
“That’s not how you listen to me talk”. I said and tried to move away, but he grabbed my arm in his firm grip, and I knew I’d have bruises by the next day.
“What are you doing Matteo”. I asked as I struggled against his grip.
“I see, you’ve learned how to speak to me without cowering away”. He smelled of cigarettes, and his words hurt me like knives piercing my skin.
“Let go, Matteo”. And he did, when he saw tears well up in my eyes.
He closed the distance between us in one swift stride, towering over me, his eyes blazing with intensity. “What does he say to you?” he asked, his voice low and dangerous. “I saw him in here. What does he say to you?” His words struck me like a physical blow, and I couldn’t stop my hands from shaking. He noticed my nervousness, and a sly smile spread across his face as if he were savoring my discomfort. “Well?” he prompted, his voice becoming more insistent. “What does he say to you that’s so interesting?”
“I-I-“. I stammered .
The sadistic gleam in his eyes sent a chill down my spine. “Good girl,” he cooed, relishing in my discomfort. I felt sick, realizing Evelyn had been right about him all along. He had never genuinely cared about me; he’d only been using me to satisfy his twisted desires. Fear coursed through my veins as I backed away from him, my body trembling like a leaf in a storm. He smiled wickedly at my retreat, his hunger for my suffering only growing stronger.
“Aria…” Matteo began, but before he could finish his sentence, the door swung open, revealing Carter. He took in the scene, his gaze immediately settling on my tear-streaked face. He turned to Matteo, his eyes burning with defiance as he confronted Matteo.
“What the fuck, man! She’s your wife!”. Carter shouted angrily, but Matteo smiled.
“Should have clipped those wings a long time ago”. Matteo’s words were like a poison-tipped arrow, his twisted logic blaming Carter for my newfound strength. He turned on his heel, slamming the door with a thunderous bang as he retreated. I stumbled into Carter’s open arms, my tears flowing like a river down his chest. His embrace was a lifeline, the safety I needed in the midst of this storm. He soothed me with hushed words, but the tears kept coming, as if they were washing away the fear and shame that Matteo had tried to infect me with.