ARIA’s POV
I laid on the bed, my eyes fixed on the door as it creaked open. Matteo had ordered for my release, and now I enjoyed my soft plush bed. Matteo entered, a smile plastered on his face, and my heart raced with fear. He approached me, his eyes soft and warm.
“Hey, Aria,” he says, his voice low and smooth. “How are you doing?”
I remained silent, my eyes locked on his, my mind racing with thoughts of escape.
Matteo chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “I remember how you always fall off the bed when we sleep together. You take up so little room, and I take up so much.”
He laughed, his eyes glinting with amusement, but I remained alert, my fear simmering just below the surface. I know better than to trust him and to let my guard down.
“I’m fine,” I say curtly, my voice firm but shaking slightly.
Matteo’s smile faltered for a moment, but he quickly recovered. “Good,” he says, his voice dripping with sincerity. “I’m glad to hear that.”
He paused, his eyes roaming my frame, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. I know what he’s capable of, and I won’t let my guard down.
“What do you want, Matteo?” I asked bluntly, my eyes locked on his.
He smiled again, his teeth on full display . “Oh, I just wanted to check on you and to make sure you’re comfortable.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Comfortable?”
Matteo’s smile widens, his eyes gleaming with amusement. “Yes, comfortable.”
“When have you ever cared if I was comfortable. What changed? Is being locked up in your basement chained like an animal?”
Matteo’s smile faltered, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Aria, don’t be like that. I was just trying to keep you safe.”
I laughed bitterly. “Safe? From what? From you?”
Matteo’s face darkened, his eyes flashing with anger. “You don’t understand, Aria. I’m doing this for your own good.”
I shook my head, my heart heavy with fear. “No, Matteo. You’re doing this for your own good.”
“No, Aria”.
I rose from the bed, my hands and burning in pain due to the stress of the heavy chains on them earlier, I stumbled forward, but he held me.
“Aria…”. He said, holding me to stand firm, but I tried to wiggle away from him. I didn’t dare look him the eyes, or I might see how much hurt he’s going through. “Aria, look at me”. Was all he said, and I obeyed. His voice was soft, and it made me do things I didn’t want to. I looked at him for the first time in days. His hair was rough and tattered, and his eyes had dark circles under them. He hasn’t been sleeping, or maybe the tough Matteo Marino had a heart after all. His lips were slightly parted, and I looked at them for more than the normal length of time. They were always beautiful.
“Aria”. I watched them move as my name rolled off his tongue.
“Let me go, Matteo,” I said, my voice firm. “Let me go”
“You’ll never leave me, Aria,” he hissed. “Never”.
As our eyes locked, I felt an inexplicable pull, like a magnet drawing me closer. My hand rose almost of its own accord, and my fingers grazed the rough stubble on his jawline. The familiar sensation sent a jolt of longing through me, and for a moment, all my anger and resentment towards him melted away. Daya, the past, everything it all faded into the background as I looked at my husband. I leaned in, my lips claiming his in a fierce and passionate kiss.
The world around us melted away, leaving only the two of us, lost in the intensity of our desire. I missed him, I missed this connection, and in that moment, nothing else mattered. When I broke the kiss, Matteo’s eyes welled up with tears, his voice cracking as he spoke. “Aria, please… forgive me. I know I’ve hurt you, I know I’ve been cruel. I’m so sorry, Aria. I’m so sorry for everything.”
I watched him, and my heart moved by his tears. I knew he was capable of manipulating me with his emotions and using them to get what he wanted.
“Sorry isn’t enough,” I say, my voice cold. “You’ve broken my trust. You’ve hurt me, lied to me, and hurt me. Why should I forgive you so easily?”
His face contorted into a mixture of pain and desperation. “I don’t know, Aria. I just know that I need you. I need you to forgive me, to give me another chance.”
I rose an eyebrow. “You need me? That’s all this is about? Your needs?”
His eyes dropped, his shoulders slumping in defeat. “No, Aria. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry for everything.”
I shook my head, my voice firm. “No, Matteo. What you did by hiding it from me. You should have said something, at least. ”
“Said something? Told you I killed my wife before you? Tell me, Aria. Would you stay if I had told you then. If I had told you how she hurt me. If I had told you, she wanted me dead. And she wanted to do it herself. Would you have stayed?”
“No”. I was surprisingly blunt. He sighed and chuckled darkly.
“You can’t keep me, Matteo,” I say, my voice steady. “I’m not a prisoner. I’m a person with rights and freedom.”
He looked at me, my blunt answer crushing him on the inside. “We’ll see about that,” he growled, his voice dripping with malice.
The silence between us hung like a challenge, thick with unspoken words and unresolved issues. My heart raced, pounding in my chest like a drum, while my palms grew clammy with anxiety. I knew I had to break the silence, but before I could muster the courage to speak, Matteo turned on his heel and walked away, leaving me feeling both relieved and uneasy. I knew Matteo would return, and next time, I might not be so lucky.