MATTEO’s POV
I strode away from the lake, my long legs devouring the distance with purposeful strides. My eyes narrowed as I processed the snippet of conversation I’d overheard – Aria mentioning Mrs. Fletcher’s name is in connection with the letter.
As I emerged from the woods, my gaze scanned the grounds with a calculating intensity. My eyes locked onto a familiar figure, her silver hair gleaming in the sunlight. Mrs. Fletcher. Chatting away with Alonzo, her expression was warm and friendly.
My jaw clenched, a low growl building in my chest. What was she playing at?
I approached them with a deliberate slowness, my boots crunching on the gravel path. Mrs. Fletcher’s eyes flickered towards me, a flash of wariness crossing her face before she masked it with a smile.
“Matteo, son,” she exclaimed, her voice dripping with false sweetness. “Where have you been!”
I didn’t return her smile. Instead, I fixed her with a cold, hard stare. “Oh, cut the crap,” I said, my voice low and even. Alonzo, sensing the tension, excused himself with a nod. I watched him disappear into the mansion, leaving us alone.
Mrs. Fletcher’s eyes darted towards me, a hint of unease creeping into her expression. “What is it, Matteo?” she asked, her voice laced with a nervousness she couldn’t quite conceal.
I took a step closer, my eyes boring into hers. “The letter,” I growled. “The one you dropped in Aria’s room. What game are you playing, Mrs. Fletcher?”
Her eyes widened, a faint flush rising to her cheeks. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she protested, her voice weak.
I laughed. “Don’t lie to me,” I warned, my voice dripping with menace. “I know you dropped the letter in aria’s room.”
My eyes watered for a brief moment, a flash of pain piercing through my chest. But I shook it off, refusing to show weakness. I couldn’t afford to show vulnerability, not even for a moment.
“Elizabeth,” I said, my voice firm. “You were like a mother to me. I took you in, trusted you. And this is how you repay me?”
Her eyes faltered, a glimmer of guilt flickering across her face. “Matteo, please understand -”
But I cut her off, my words dripping with venom.
“No, you understand. You’re playing a dangerous game, Elizabeth. And I won’t hesitate to end it. Permanently.”
I took a step closer, my eyes blazing with intensity. “You were my mother in every way that counted. And I will not be betrayed by my own family.”
Mrs. Fletcher’s face crumpled, her eyes welling up with tears. She tried to speak, her voice trembling. “Matteo, please… I didn’t want to… I was forced to…”
The tears spilled over, streaming down her face as she choked out the words. “I didn’t have a choice.”
Her body shook with sobs, her hands covering her face as if to hide her shame. I watched her, my expression unyielding, but a spark of curiosity ignited within me. Who was behind this?
“Who was it?” I demanded, my voice firm but laced with a hint of curiosity. “Who forced you to betray me?”
Mrs. Fletcher’s eyes locked onto mine, her gaze trembling with fear. She seemed to be searching for a way out, a way to escape the truth. But I wouldn’t let her.
“Speak!” I thundered, my patience snapping. “Who forced you to do it?”
Her mouth opened, but no words came out. She seemed to be frozen in terror. I took a step closer, my eyes blazing with anger.
“Say it!” I growled. “Say the name!”
And then, in a barely audible whisper, she spoke the name that would change everything.
“Evelyn.”
I took a step back, my eyes never leaving Mrs. Fletcher’s terrified face. The beast in me, the one I had kept chained for so long, began to stir. Its eyes gleamed in the darkness, sensing freedom.
As I retreated, my gaze shifted to the figures watching from the trees. Aria and Carter, their faces pale and worried. They sensed it too, the change in me. The unleashing of the monster within.
My eyes locked onto Aria, and for a moment, I forced myself to breathe, to calm the storm raging within. I would not harm Aria. Not anymore
“Evelyn,” I repeated, my voice low and menacing. “Tell me more.”
Mrs. Fletcher’s eyes darted to Aria and Carter, then back to me. She knew she was trapped, that there was no escape. And in that moment, I knew I would get the truth. No matter what it took.
Mrs. Fletcher’s voice trembled as she spoke. “Evelyn forced me to do it, Matteo. She threatened to have you and I killed.”
Her words hung in the air, a desperate plea for mercy. But I was beyond mercy. I was consumed by a rage that threatened to destroy everything in its path.
Just then, Charles emerged from the mansion, his cigar smoke wafting into the tense atmosphere. His eyes narrowed as he took in the scene before him.
“Matteo,” he said, his voice smooth as silk. “What seems to be the problem?”
I turned to him, my eyes blazing with fury. “Charles. Evelyn. She’s behind this.”
Charles’s expression remained calm, but a flicker of unease danced in his eyes. “Evelyn? What are you talking about, Matteo?”
“Elizabeth planted the letter in Aria’s room,” I spat, my eyes never leaving Charles’s face. “She’s been playing us all along.”
But Charles remained unfazed, his expression a mask of calm. “I’m sure there’s a reasonable explanation,” he said, his voice dripping with condescension.
My eyes followed his gaze to Carter and Aria, and that’s when I saw it. Carter’s face was a picture of shock, his eyes wide with disbelief. He looked just as stunned as I felt.
Aria’s eyes were on me, a mixture of fear and confusion written across her face. She didn’t know what was going on, but she knew it wasn’t good.
I turned back to Charles, my anger boiling over. “What’s on your mind, Charlie”.
Charles’s smile was a thin, cold thing. “I knew Elizabeth was capable of many things,” he said. “But I never thought she’d be foolish enough to cross you, Matteo.”
“Charles-”
Charles took a long drag on his cigar, the smoke curling up into the air as he spoke. “Either Carter is a very good actor, or he doesn’t have a hand in this.”
His eyes never left Carter’s face, his gaze piercing and calculating. I followed his gaze, studying Carter’s expression. He still looked shocked, his eyes wide with disbelief.
I turned back to Charles, my mind racing with questions. “What do you mean?” I asked, my voice low and even.
Charles’s smile grew wider, his eyes glinting with amusement. “Oh, come now, Matteo. You’re not naive enough to think you’re the only one playing games here, are you?”
My eyes narrowed, my grip on my temper tenuous at best. “What. Do. You. Mean.” I repeated, each word enunciated with precision.
“I feel Carter is behind all this”. He finally said.