8. Love and Betrayal
Chapter eight
Love and Betrayal
Amelia
T he truth, when it comes, is a knife to the gut. Luca. My brother. My blood. The person who held my hand through every storm in our childhood is the same person who orchestrated the chaos tearing my life apart now.
The documents I’ve found, smuggled into my possession by a sympathetic outsider, lay it all bare. Luca didn’t just betray me, he betrayed my father, our family. He aligned himself with enemies, feeding them information, maneuvering to claim power that wasn’t his. My father’s death wasn’t just a tragedy; it was a carefully constructed move in Luca’s game of chess.
The paper trembles in my hands as I sit alone in the sprawling bedroom Matteo has confined me to. Anger, grief, and an overwhelming sense of loss incase me. How could Luca do this? How could the brother I once adored, who promised to always protect me, become the architect of my pain?
A sound at the door jolts me from my thoughts. Matteo strides in, his dark eyes scanning me with their usual intensity. He doesn’t speak at first, his gaze lingering on the papers in my lap before meeting my tear-streaked face.
“What is it?” he asks, his voice low but edged with tension.
I hesitate. A month ago, I would’ve hidden this from him. Matteo would’ve been the last person I’d trust with something so deeply personal. But now... everything is different.
“You read it,” he says, his voice low and cautious.
I don’t respond at first. My fingers tighten around the edges of the papers, crumpling them slightly. Finally, I look up, and the anger bubbling inside me spills over.
“You knew. You knew what Luca did, and you said nothing.”
Matteo doesn’t flinch. Instead, he closes the door behind him and leans against it, his dark eyes steady on mine. “Yes.”
The simplicity of his answer stuns me. No denial, no excuses, just cold, hard truth that makes my blood boil.
“How could you?” My voice breaks, and I hate the vulnerability it reveals. “You let me think—”
“I didn’t let you think anything,” he interrupts, his voice sharp. “I protected you from a truth that would have destroyed you.”
“Destroyed me?” I stand, the papers slipping from my hands as I close the distance between us. “Do you have any idea what it feels like to find out your own brother betrayed you? That the man I trusted—loved—had a hand in my father’s death? And you knew, Matteo. You knew!”
He steps forward, towering over me, his expression unreadable. “I knew, and I waited. Because I needed proof, Amelia. Proof that would stand against him. Do you think I wanted to hurt you?”
I shake my head, backing away. “You didn’t care about sparing me. You cared about your power, your empire.”
His jaw tightens, and for a moment, I see a flicker of something in his eyes—guilt, maybe even regret. But it’s gone as quickly as it came.
“This isn’t just about power,” he says, his voice softer now. “It’s about you.”
“Me?!. Don’t pretend this is about anything other than controlling me.” I laugh bitterly.
He closes the distance between us in two strides, his hands gripping my arms, forcing me to look at him. “You think I don’t care about you? That I don’t feel it every time you look at me with those accusing eyes, every time you push me away?”
I try to pull away, but his grip tightens, not painfully, but enough to make me stop. “Let go of me,” I whisper.
“No,” he says, his voice rough. “Not until you understand something. You are the only thing in this godforsaken world that I can’t control and it terrifies me.”
His words hit me like a physical blow. For a moment, I see the cracks in his armor, the man beneath the ruthless exterior. It’s that glimpse of vulnerability that undoes me.
“Matteo…” My voice wavers, and I hate myself for the way my body responds to him, even now.
“Let me help you. Let me fix this. For you. For us.” he says, his forehead resting against mine.
The intensity of his gaze, the raw emotion in his voice, it’s too much. I close my eyes, trying to shut him out, but he’s everywhere. His scent, his touch, his words, they consume me.
“I don’t know if I can trust you,” I admit, my voice barely audible.
His lips brush against my temple, his hands sliding down to my waist. “Then hate me. Fight me. But don’t shut me out.”
The next few days blur together. Matteo moves swiftly, using his power and connections to dismantle Luca’s alliances and expose his betrayal. It’s calculated and ruthless, a side of Matteo I’ve seen before but never fully understood until now and yet, amidst the chaos, there are moments that catch me off guard.
The way he pulls me close when I wake up from nightmares. The way his touch lingers, not out of control but out of something deeper. I make my way to the destroyed garden; the one Luca’s men had trampled in their last desperate attempt to send a message. The roses that once stood tall and proud are now nothing but broken stems and scattered petals. It’s a mirror of how I feel—fractured, but not entirely destroyed.
My fingers brush against a wilted bloom, its soft petals still holding a faint trace of their former vibrance. I crouch down, my heart aching for what’s been lost. This garden had been my sanctuary, a place where I could escape the storm of my life. Now, it’s a battleground, a reminder that nothing in this world is safe.
“I’ll have it rebuilt,” Matteo’s voice cuts through the quiet, low and steady.
I glance over my shoulder to see him standing at the edge of the garden, his hands in his pockets and his dark eyes locked on me. He looks every bit the king of his empire—imposing, confident, and untouchable. But there’s something softer in his expression now, something almost hesitant.
“You don’t have to do that,” I say, standing and brushing dirt from my hands.
“I do,” he replies, stepping closer. “For you.”
For a moment, I don’t know what to say. His words carry a weight that’s hard to ignore, and the intensity in his gaze makes my chest tighten.
“Why?” I finally ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
“Because I owe you more than I can ever repay and because I want you to have something that’s yours, something no one else can take away.”
His honesty catches me off guard, and I feel the walls I’ve built around myself start to crack. This man—this ruthless, complicated, infuriating man—has done more to tear me apart than anyone else. And yet, he’s also the one holding me together.
“Matteo…” I begin, but the words catch in my throat.
He closes the distance between us, his hand reaching out to tuck a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “Amelia, I know I can’t undo what’s been done. I know I’ve hurt you in ways I can never take back. But I swear to you, I’ll do whatever it takes to make this right.”
His promise sends a shiver down my spine, and I find myself searching his face for any sign of deceit. But all I see is determination—a fierce, unrelenting need to protect me, to claim me, to make me his in every way that matters. For a moment, we stand in silence, the ruined garden around us is a barrier to the unspoken connection between us. Then, he steps closer, his hand brushing against mine.
“Luca’s alliances are crumbling,” he says, his voice a mixture of satisfaction and resolve.
“And what about us?” I ask, the question slipping out before I can stop it.
His eyes darken, his hand moving to cradle my face. “Us?” he repeats, his thumb brushing against my cheek. “We’re inevitable, Amelia.”
I hate how much his words resonate with me; how much I want to believe him. But I can’t deny the pull between us, the way he seems to consume every part of me without even trying.
The explosions left behind more than ruined roses and shattered stone—gaping sinkholes mar the earth, their edges jagged and blackened as if the ground itself rebelled against the violence. One stretches dangerously close to the estate, its chasm deep enough to swallow the past and still reach for the present. The air is heavy with the lingering scent of smoke and charred soil, and every step I take feels precarious, like the earth could give way beneath me at any moment.
“The blast was meant to send a message,” He moves beside me, his presence is commanding as ever, though his focus is on the destruction around us.
“They wanted to remind us of their reach, their power. But all they’ve done is remind me why I can’t allow weakness in my empire—or in myself.”
I glance at him, his face a mask of cold fury. There’s no trace of the man who held me close last night, who whispered promises into my hair as I trembled in his arms. This is Matteo at his most dangerous, a king surveying the damage to his kingdom and plotting retribution.
“It’s not just the garden. The explosions hit the estate too. The east wing is gone.” I say, my voice trembling despite my best efforts.
He nods; his jaw tight. “I’ve already ordered the repairs. The structure will be stronger than before—reinforced, impenetrable. No one will ever breach our walls again.”
“And the people?. The staff, the guards…” I ask, my stomach churning.
His gaze flickers to me. “Casualties were minimal. A few injuries, nothing fatal.”
Relief floods through me, but it’s short-lived. The reality of what happened—what could have happened—settles over me like a suffocating weight.
“They could have killed us,” I whisper, my fingers curling into fists.
“They won’t get another chance. Luca’s betrayal set this in motion, but it ends with me.” Matteo says, his voice as dark as the sinkholes surrounding us.
I turn to him, as my emotions are a tangled mess of anger, fear, and something I can’t quite name. “This isn’t just about Luca, is it? This is about power. About showing everyone what happens when they cross you.”
His lips curve into a cold smile. “Power is the only language they understand. Fear is what keeps them in line.”
“And what about us?” I ask, the words spilling out before I can stop them. “What does this power mean for us?”
His hand reaches out to brush a strand of hair from my face. The gesture is tender, but his eyes burn with a darkness that makes my pulse race.
“It means I will destroy anyone who threatens you. Anyone who dares to take you from me. You are mine, Amelia. My wife. My queen and I will burn the world to keep you safe.”
The weight of his words settle over me, and for a moment, I can’t breathe. I should be terrified, repulsed by his obsession. But instead, I feel a spark of something I don’t want to name—something that feels disturbingly like pride.
“And the garden?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
He looks around, his gaze sweeping over the devastation. “It will be rebuilt. Stronger, more beautiful than before. Like us.”
His words send a shiver down my spine, and I realize with a sinking feeling that he’s right. We’ve been broken, scarred, and shattered—but we’re still standing. Still fighting and as I look at the ruins around me, I can’t help but wonder if that’s what it takes to survive in Matteo’s world: destruction and rebirth, over and over again, until there’s nothing left but fire and ash.
One night, as we sit in his office, pouring over the latest reports on Luca’s movements, I glance at him. The sharp angles of his face are softened by the dim light, and for a moment, he doesn’t look like the man who has made my life a living hell. He looks… human.
“Why are you doing this?” I ask, breaking the silence.
He looks up, his dark eyes meeting mine. “Because I can’t lose you.”
The simplicity of his words make my heart skip a beat. Matteo Moretti, the man who thrives on control, power, and fear, just admitted that he’s afraid—of losing me.
“You don’t mean that,” I say, my voice trembling. “You care about control, not me. This is just another way to keep me under your thumb.”
He leans back in his chair, his gaze never wavering. “If that’s what you believe, then you don’t understand me at all.”
I cross my arms, forcing myself to meet his intensity head-on. “Then explain it to me. Help me understand why I should believe a single word that comes out of your mouth.”
He exhales slowly, pushing his chair back and standing. The tension in the room thickens as he closes the distance between us, his movements deliberate, almost predatory.
“You think I planned this?” he asks, his voice low and measured. “You think I wanted to feel this… this madness every time I look at you?”
I take a step back, but he follows, his presence overwhelming. “Matteo…”
“No,” he says, his voice sharpening. “You need to hear this, Amelia. I didn’t want this. I didn’t want to care about you, to crave you in ways that make no damn sense. But I do.”
His words hang in the air, and for a moment, I don’t know how to respond. The possessiveness in his tone should anger me, but instead, it sends a shiver down my spine. I hate that he has this effect on me, that no matter how much I resist, I can’t seem to escape the pull between us.
“Matteo…” I whisper, my voice faltering as his gaze softens, the anger giving way to something deeper.
“Let me in,” he says, his forehead resting against mine. “Stop fighting me, just this once.”
The vulnerability in his voice undoes me. Against every instinct, I nod, the walls I’ve so carefully built around myself crumbling in the face of his relentless determination. He kisses me but not with the usual fire and dominance, but with a tenderness that leaves me breathless.
His hands slide down to my waist, pulling me closer, and I find myself clinging to him as if he’s the only thing keeping me grounded. This isn’t just passion, it’s something more. Something I don’t know how to name, and it terrifies me. When we finally pull apart, his eyes search mine, as if looking for answers I can’t give him.
“You don’t have to trust me completely,” he says. “But trust that I’ll never let anyone hurt you again.”
For better or worse, I’m tied to Matteo. Despite everything, I can’t bring myself to let go. But in the back of my mind, a small voice whispers a warning: love and betrayal often walk hand in hand, and in Matteo’s world, nothing is ever as it seems.
The air between us remains heavy after Matteo's confession, his dark eyes still locked onto mine as if he’s searching for something, maybe my forgiveness, maybe my trust. But I’m not sure I can give him either, just yet.
“I’ll prove it to you,” he says, breaking the silence. His voice is steady, but there’s an edge of desperation I’ve never heard from him before. “I’ll show you that you matter more than all of this.”
“All of what?” I ask, my tone laced with disbelief. “Your power? Your empire? Matteo, those things are your life.”
“They were my life,” he corrects, stepping closer. “But you… you’ve changed everything.”
I shake my head, the weight of his words pressing down on me. “You can’t just say things like that and expect me to believe you. You’ve built an entire world on secrets and lies.”
“And I’m willing to tear it all down for you,” he replies, his voice fierce.
The gravity of his statement sends a chill through me. The man who thrives on control and power, is willing to risk it all—for me.
“How?” I whisper, my voice trembling.
“By helping you get justice,” he says. “Luca’s betrayal ends now. I’ll gather the proof we need, and I’ll deliver him to you myself. But it’ll come at a cost.”
“What cost?”
“My standing,” he admits, his jaw tightening. “My alliances, my family’s reputation. If I do this, I’ll be making enemies—powerful ones.”
His words should terrify me, but instead, they ignite something deep within me. For the first time, I see the man beneath the ruthless exterior—a man willing to sacrifice everything to make things right.
“Why would you do that for me?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
His gaze softens, and he cups my face with both hands, his thumbs brushing against my cheeks. “Because I need you,” he says, his voice thick with emotion. Before I can respond, he leans down and captures my lips in a kiss that’s both desperate and tender. It’s a kiss that says everything he can’t put into words, a kiss that leaves me breathless and aching for more.
I don’t know when we move, but suddenly, I’m pressed against the desk, his body warm and solid against mine. His hands slide to my waist, lifting me onto the edge of the desk as his lips trail down my neck, leaving a trail of fire in their wake.
“Matteo,” I murmur, my fingers tangling in his hair.
He pulls back just enough to meet my gaze, his dark eyes filled with an intensity that makes my heart race. “Tell me to stop,” he says, his voice low and rough. “If this isn’t what you want, tell me now.”
I don’t say anything. Instead, I pull him back to me, capturing his lips in a kiss that leaves no room for doubt. Our connection has always been volatile, a storm of passion and anger, but this is different. There’s something deeper, something raw and unspoken that binds us together in this moment.
Something just comes over me and I pull his shirt off so I can feel his skin under my hands. My lips brushing his ever so gentle as we deepen the connection. Without hesitation I rip the buttons on his pants and push them down. My heart starting to race as I see his hard cock only inches away from my hands.
The need to feel it against my skin and inside me grows every second. Quickly he throws my dress off and grabs my breasts with his strong hands. Groping them and growling with need and desire. He lays me on my back and pulls my legs apart in one swift motion. Before I can say a word, he is sliding his cock inside my wet pussy.
“Oh, fuck Matteo.”
“Want me to stop?”
“NO, please don’t. Don’t stop!!!!”
I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him closer to me. The length of his cock pushing all the way in makes my spine shiver, even more with the thought of fucking hard. I never thought we would be in his office fucking but the idea makes it more thrilling.
With every thrust my moans get louder and fill his ears with the sweet sound escaping my lips. I lift my back slightly as I arch it, pushing my round, plump breast into his face. He wraps his lips around my nipple and sucks gently on it. His hunger making me melt against him. I can feel him getting full as his balls are pressing against my hot pussy. I scream as I release an orgasm, pushing against his cock and covering him with my juices.
“FUCK AMELIA”
When he says my name, it causes my body to shake and cower. He cums inside my womb faster than I can blink, my lip's part so I can try and speak but for some reason nothing is coming out. Only air is escaping my lips.
For the first time, I feel a flicker of hope, a fragile belief that maybe, just maybe, we can find a way to move forward together. But the world outside Matteo’s office is still dangerous, still full of enemies waiting to strike. And as much as I want to hold onto this moment, I know it won’t last.
“Promise me,” I say, my voice muffled against his chest. “Promise me you’ll keep me safe.”
He presses a kiss to the top of my head, his hold on me tightening. “I promise,” he whispers.
“And you promise to be safe so you can return to me?”
I look into his eyes as they are filled with emotion and longing. “ I promise.”
But in Matteo’s world, promises are as fragile as glass, and I can only pray that this one doesn’t shatter.