223

223
Matteo’s POV
I paced in the kitchen, the remnants of dinner still sitting in the sink. My jaw tightened as I replayed Emilia’s words over and over in my head. Dinner had been civil-on the surface. But I’d caught the looks and the subtle jabs disguised as polite conversation.
She didn’t outright say she disapproved of Gianna, but she didn’t have to. Emilia has always been good at making her opinions known without being direct. And tonight, she’d practically screamed it.
Gianna was still in the living room, probably trying to brush off the tension and awkwardness from the day, but I couldn’t let this go. Not anymore.
I stormed into the dining room, where Emilia was casually clearing plates, like she hadn’t just undermined my relationship all day.
“We need to talk,” I said flatly, narrowing my eyes at her.
“Can’t this wait? I’m busy,” she murmured in reply, not even turning around to look at me. But I knew what she was trying to do. She was trying to get out of the conversation and that wasn’t going to work.
“Come on, Emilia. Let’s not pretend that you have to do anything at all in this house. Leave the damn dishes and let’s talk,” I snapped.
Still, Emilia didn’t look up right away. She was methodical right now, stacking plates, wiping the table, pretending she didn’t hear the frustration in my voice. Finally, she glanced at me, her face neutral. “About what?”
“You know about what,” I snapped. “About how you treated Gianna tonight.”
She straightened, crossing her arms. “I treated her just fine.”
I let out a sharp laugh. “Come on, Emilia. You didn’t even try to hide it. The looks, the comments. You made it clear you don’t think she’s good enough for me.”
“I didn’t say that,” she shot back defensively, eyeing me like I’ve grown two heads. “You’re putting words in my mouth.”
“You didn’t have to say it!” I said, my voice rising. “It was in every damn thing you did tonight. You don’t approve of her, and you made it obvious.”
Emilia set the plates down with more force than necessary. “I’m just looking out for you, Matteo. Isn’t that what I’m supposed to do? You’re my little brother.”
“I’m not a kid anymore!” I yelled. “I’m twenty-four, Emilia. I don’t need you to look out for me like I’m some clueless teenager who doesn’t know what he’s doing.”
She scoffed. “You’re acting like one. You barely know her, Matteo.”
“I know her enough to know that she’s good for me,” I shot back. “She makes me happy. Isn’t that what should matter to you?”
“What should matter,” she said, her tone icy, “is whether she’s the right person for you in the long run. And I’m not convinced she is.”
My hands clenched into fists at my sides. “You don’t get to decide that, Emilia. You don’t get to sit there and judge her like she has to pass some test to be with me.”
“I’m just trying to make sure you don’t make a mistake,” she said, her voice softer now, almost pleading.
“It’s not your mistake to worry about!” I said, exasperated. “Gianna is the woman I love. I don’t need your approval, Emilia. And I sure as hell won’t let you make her feel like she’s not good enough.”
The silence that followed was deafening, and in that silence, I heard a sound that made my stomach drop, a chair scraping against the floor in the living room.
I turned, and she was standing right there. My heart literally dropped to my stomach. Gianna was standing in the doorway, her face pale and her eyes wide.
Oh God. She must have heard everything.
“Gianna,” I started, stepping toward her, but she held up a hand, stopping me.
“I should go,” she said quietly, her voice trembling.
“No, wait,” I said, feeling very desperate. I stepped towards her. “Please, just-”
“I don’t want to cause any more problems,” she said, her eyes darting to Emilia, then back to me. “This is clearly… a lot for your family. I think it’s best if I just leave.”
“No, Gianna,” I said, moving closer to her. “You’re not the problem. This is between me and Emilia. Please don’t leave because of this.”
She shook her head, already grabbing her coat from the back of the chair. “I need some time, Matteo.”
“Gianna, please,” I pleaded, my voice breaking slightly and tears welling into my eyes. It had been hard for me to get her in the first place, and I wasn’t ready to let Emilia’s opinion be the reason Gianna and I break up.
But she didn’t stop. She walked out of the house, and the sound of the door closing behind her felt like a punch to the gut.
I stood there for a moment, staring at the door, hoping she might come back. When it didn’t open, I turned back to Emilia, my chest heaving with frustration.
“This is on you,” I said, my voice low and shaking with anger.
Emilia’s eyes widened. “Me? She left because of you, Matteo. Because you couldn’t handle a simple conversation without blowing up.”
“She left because you made her feel like she didn’t belong!” I shouted. “You couldn’t put your pride or your judgment aside for one night, Emilia. One night!”
“I wasn’t trying to push her away,” she said, her voice defensive but less certain now.
“Well, congratulations,” I snapped. “You did.”
Emilia’s face softened, guilt flickering in her eyes, but I didn’t care. I was too angry, too hurt.
“I love her,” I said, my voice quieter now but no less firm. “And if you can’t accept that, then that’s your problem. Not mine. Not hers.”
I turned around to leave, but then I paused, eyeing her. “And you don’t see me meddling in you and Alaric’s business. Don’t meddle in mine.”
With that, I grabbed my coat and stormed out, leaving Emilia standing there alone.