Delicate - Mattheo Riddle

prologue

feel free to skip this chapter if you aren't interested in the backstory.

Elizabeth Livenhood
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Love is a curious thing. It's hard to find, hard to keep, and hard to forget.

"Charles... Charles, listen to me, please!" I could feel the tears growing in my eyes.

"FOR FUCK SAKES ELIZABETH, WHAT!" He screamed so loudly that I could feel it echo in my head.

"Charles." I said, stepping closer to him. "Please don't get mad. It's just. She hurt you."

"She's got a baby, Beth. My baby. What kind of man would I be if I left her alone like that?"

He said it through his teeth, like he was refraining from strangling me.

"Charles. She doesn't deserve you; she doesn't deserve your love after what she did to you." I grabbed both of his hands. "I just don't want you to get your heart broken again."

"Don't treat me like a child, Beth." He let go of my hands and pushed me away.

"We'll, maybe I wouldn't have to if you didn't act like one!" My voice rose with every word. "She is devious. She is a manipulator. She's selfish. She's cruel. SHES A CON ARTIST AND YOUR FALLING RIGHT INTO HER TRAP. I screamed

"HOW DARE YOU SPEAK SO ILLY OF HER!" he shouted at me. Inches from my face.

"SHE IS THE DEVIL. SHE CHEATED ON YOU!! SHE MURDERED YOU'RE MOTHER" I screamed. "YOU KNOW THAT. WHY ARE YOU GOING BACK TO HER?" I could feel my blood boiling.

"She said it was a mistake. She said she was sorr-"

"I don't even know who you are anymore!" I choked out, holding back tears. "Just tell me, Charles, because I'm curious." I took a step closer to him. "Why do you think she was interested in you? huh? Do you think for one minute that she would ever be with you? If you weren't the "rich and famous dragon slayer"? Are you that blind?"

"At least she treats me like I'm somebody!" He yelled

"YEAH, BUT WOULD SHE LOVE YOU IF YOU WERE NOBODY?"

"NOBODY LOVED ME WHEN I WAS NOBODY!"

"I DID!" I screamed, choking back tears. "Before the money." Tears streaming down my face. "And before the fame, before the lies."

He stopped yelling and stood there for a moment.

"I have been there for you every second of every day!" I said, hitting my finger on his chest with every syllable. "You know how hard it is to love someone knowing they are just waiting for someone else to walk through the door." My eyes were all red from crying now.

A single tear ran down his face.

"I am warning you. She is using you." I said it slowly. "And when you get your heartbroken again." I backed up towards the door. "I won't be there to pick up the broken pieces." I slammed it.

Charles Berkshire
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No.