In the heart of a modern city, two rival families hold the power. Valentina, a fiercely loyal daughter, and Matteo, a cunning and determined son, find themselves on opposite sides of a dangerous feud. But when their paths unexpectedly intertwine, th...
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I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to stay calm, though my chest felt like it was caving in. "Val, you had to know I didn't mean it like that. I never would've wanted you to... to do this. You know that, right?"
She blinked slowly, her eyes locking onto mine, hollow. "How would I have known, Matteo? Do you even remember how angry you were? You looked at me like I was the problem. You pushed me away and made it clear I wasn't what you needed. And when you said all that stuff... it didn't feel like you didn't mean it."
I opened my mouth to argue but stopped. I remembered the anger, how it had burned through me like a fire I couldn't control, how I'd said things just to hurt her, because it felt like the only way to push her away before I did something worse. But I'd never imagined it'd lead to this.
"I was angry, but I didn't want you to... God, Val, I didn't think—"
"Exactly." She cut me off, her voice sharper now. "You didn't think. You didn't care. You were just pissed off, so you said whatever would hurt me the most, and it worked. I believed you didn't need me. That I was just... weak, like you said. A princess, waiting for someone to fix my life."
My chest tightened. "I was wrong. I was just... I was stupid, okay? But I never wanted you to believe that." I shook my head. "You have no idea how much I care about you, Val. I know I'm messed up, but this?" My voice faltered. "I wouldn't want this for you. Ever."
She closed her eyes, like hearing my words was more painful than not. "You didn't have to want it, Matteo. It just happened. And I didn't see a way out."
I stayed silent.
Valentina's words cut through the silence like a knife. "Leave, Matteo. Please."
I froze. Her voice was quiet, but there was no mistaking it—she didn't want me here.
I didn't know what to do. Everything inside me screamed to stay, to fix this somehow, but... how?
How could I fix it? I had no idea what to say, what to do.
The look on her face... it was like she had already decided I couldn't help her, like I was the last person she needed.
"Val," I started, but I could barely get her name out.
She didn't look at me. Her hands gripped the bed sheets like they were the only thing holding her together. "Just go."
The knot in my throat tightened. I took a step back, my legs feeling heavy, my mind spinning. I glanced at her one last time before heading to the door, hoping—praying—she'd stop me.
That she'd say something, tell me she didn't really mean it.
But she didn't.
She didn't even look at me.
I turned and walked out, the door closing behind me with a soft click that felt like the final nail in the coffin.
Everyone was there in the hallway—her parents, Sabrina, Julian, my parents. I couldn't look at any of them.
