ARIA’S POV
I paced back and forth in the cold, dark room, my mind reeling with the shocking revelation. The man I thought I fell for, Matteo, was a murderer. He had taken the life of his own wife! The thought sent a shiver down my spine as I recalled the gentle touch of his hands, the same hands that had ended a life.
My heart raced with fear and disbelief, grappling with the darkness that lurked beneath his charming facade. Panic set in as I desperately tried to wrap my head around the horrifying truth. I had to get out and put as much distance between myself and Matteo’s darkness as possible.
But, just as I reached for the door, it swung open, and his henchmen dragged me back in, their grip like a vice. I fought and kicked with all my might, but they were too powerful, too relentless. They flung me back into the room, the door slamming shut behind me, and I was trapped, at the mercy of the monster I thought I knew. I sobbed uncontrollably as I crumpled against the wall, the harsh reality crushing me. How could I have been so oblivious? I thought Matteo was different, that he genuinely cared for me.
But it was all a ruse, a clever manipulation. The door creaked open, and Carter sauntered in, a smug grin spreading across his face.
‘Well, well, well,’ he gloated, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
“Look at you, Aria. Finally, seeing the truth. Finally, I realized you’re a pawn in Matteo’s game.” I glared at Carter, my anger and fear simmering over.
“You knew, didn’t you?”. I accused, my voice trembling. “You knew what he was capable of!”. Carter’s chuckle was cold, calculated.
“Matteo is a monster, Aria. A beast who preys on the innocent. And you’re his latest conquest.” I shook my head, desperate to deny the truth, but Carter’s words cut deep.
“You’re just trying to hurt me,” I spat, trying to sound braver than I felt.
“Maybe a little,” Carter shrugged, his smile sinister. “But the truth is, Aria, you’re trapped. Matteo won’t let his possession go easily. You should have gone a long time ago or better still never married such a monster.”. His words haunted me as he left me alone in the darkness.
I was trapped, with no way out. And the man I thought I loved, the man I thought was my savior, was the one holding me captive. I slid down the wall as my body shook in fear
“How could I have been so blind?” I whispered to myself.
As the hours ticked by, I heard the sound of footsteps outside my door. My heart raced in fear, bracing myself for Matteo’s visit. But it was Carter who appeared, his smirk a sign of doom.
“Matteo wants to see you,” he sneered, his voice dripping with malevolence. I hesitated, my mind racing with dire possibilities. But I knew I had no choice. I followed Carter, my heart heavy with foreboding. The silence between us was oppressive, punctuated only by the sound of our footsteps echoing through the dark hallways. I knew Carter was reveling in my misery, and it fueled my anger. As we approached Matteo’s office, my heart raced faster, my legs trembling with fear.
Carter pushed open the door, and I stepped inside, my eyes fixed on Matteo’s cold, calculating gaze. He gestured for me to approach his smile, a thinly veiled threat.
“Aria, my dear,” he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “I see you’ve discovered my little secret.” I glared at him, my anger and fear boiling over.
“You’re a monster,” I spat, my voice trembling with rage. Matteo chuckled, his eyes glinting with sadistic pleasure.
“Ah, if you say it like that, love. You might hurt my feelings. “He smiled, his eyes locking onto mine with an unsettling intensity. Something was different about him, something that sent a shiver down my spine.
His gaze felt distant, cold, and a chilling reminder that this was a man capable of unspeakable cruelty. The Matteo I thought I knew just hours ago was gone, replaced by a stranger with a heart of stone. The realization was suffocating, and I knew I had to think of a plan, a way out of here.
I shook my head, desperate to deny the truth, but it was too late. My eyes had opened, and I knew I had to escape, no matter the cost. Matteo leaned back in his chair, a cold, calculating smile spreading across his face.
“You see, Aria, there’s no escaping me. No matter how much you try.” I shook my head, trying to clear the fog from my mind, but his words cut deep.
“What are you talking about?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. Matteo chuckled, his eyes gleaming with sadistic pleasure.
“Oh, come on, Aria. You’re not that naive. Don’t tell me you thought we had something going here.” My anger surged at his words, but I refused to let it consume me.
“You used me,” I spat, my voice venomous. Matteo shrugged, his indifference a slap in the face.
“Maybe a little. But you were so eager to be used, so desperate for love and attention that you didn’t even notice when I was pulling the strings.” Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. I refused to give Matteo the satisfaction of seeing me broken.
“You’re a monster,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. His laughter was cold and sent shivers down my spine.
“A monster you thought could ever love you.” I shook my head, desperate to deny the truth, but it was too late. I knew the truth now, and that broke me. I looked at him, and I saw a smirk on his face. He was making fun of me. I turned to the door, and that was when I saw it – a glimmer of hope, a chance to break free from Matteo’s twisted game. I took a deep breath, summoned all my strength, and made a dash for the door.
My heart raced, my legs pumped, and my mind focused on one thing – escape. But Matteo was too quick, too strong. He caught me, his arms wrapping around me like a vice, holding me captive.
“You’re not going anywhere,” he whispered in my ear, his breath cold and menacing. “You’re mine now, Aria. Mine forever.” I struggled, kicked, and screamed, but Matteo’s grip only tightened, his hold unyielding.
I fought back tears, my mind racing with desperation. I had to escape, and I had to break free from this monster’s grasp. But how? Matteo’s eyes blazed with an unhinged passion as he threw me onto the couch, his touch making my skin crawl.
“You’re so beautiful, Aria,” he whispered, his voice dripping with obsession. “So beautiful and so mine.” I cringed, my heart recoiling in horror. But Matteo was too far gone to notice, his words spilling out in a mad torrent.
“I’ll never let you go, Aria. Never. You’re mine now, and I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you.” I knew then that I was trapped in a living nightmare, with a man who had crossed into the realm of madness.
My mind raced, searching for a new way out, a light at the end of the tunnel. I saw an opening, and I ran again for the door, but he pulled me into his chest. I welled and screamed, but my husband held me there professing his possession he had over me.
I struggled and kicked, but Matteo’s grip only tightened around my waist. I was indeed trapped, with no escape, in a mansion in the middle of nowhere. Then, I remembered Carter’s words;
“You’re in too deep, Aria. You’re trapped in Matteo’s web, and there’s no escape.” I realized that Carter was right, but I had to keep fighting, no matter what. With renewed determination, I summoned all my strength and struggled against Matteo’s grip.
I kicked and punched, using every ounce of energy to try and break free. And then, something unexpected happened. Matteo’s grip loosened, and I was able to break free. I dashed towards the door, my heart racing with fear and adrenaline.
I flung open the door and ran out into the hallway, not stopping until I was sure I was safe. I didn’t know where I was going, but I knew I had to get away from Matteo, away from his twisted games and obsession.
As I ran, I could hear Matteo’s angry shouts behind me, but I didn’t look back. I kept running, my heart pounding in my chest, my soul fueled by a determination to escape, to survive, and to never look back. Soon, I was out of the gate and out of the lonely road leading to Matteo’s mansion.