41. Torn Between Two Men

ARIA’s POV

The weight of the phone seemed to multiply in my hands, the cool metal of the receiver suddenly becoming a painful, heated brand that I could no longer bear. I let it clatter to the floor, the dull thud a mere echo of the anguish that tore through me like a ravenous beast. Turning to face Matteo, I was met with a cold, impenetrable mask of indifference, his unshaven face, and sunken eyes betraying a darkness that chilled me to my very core.

“Why did you do it?”. I asked, and he furrowed his eyebrows.

“Yeah, I do not have an idea what you’re saying”. He said to me “You invited Denis over?”

“Yes, I wanted to talk to him”.

“He doesn’t need to know! It’ll break him!”. I cried.

“Well I can’t wait to meet our guest. He’ll be here soon”. Matteo said as tears kept rolling down my cheek.

“Please make it stop”.

“Make what stop, my darling wife? He’s not here yet”. Matteo said with a proud smirk on his face.