Isabella POV The smile on my face refused to go away after the call with my grandma.
Heading to Matteo’s apartment to invite him to dinner, but not without trying to wipe off the smile when I stepped into the taxi; it only grew wider.
The taxi driver looked at me through his rearview mirror, and I felt so embarrassed.
“Good day, ma’am,” he said, uncertainly.
“Good day,” I responded, giving the address of where I’m heading.
Arriving at the Arado-Scily apartment, known as one of the best in Italy, apart from the Moretti estate.
I paid the taxi driver and got out, not bothering about my change, as I’m too happy to care about it.
I took in the evening air as I looked up at the building in front of me.
I knew for sure that Matteo was at home since his secretary told me he left work an hour ago.
My heart fluttered, as I couldn’t wait to break the good news to him.
I held my handbag with my two hands and walked toward the entrance to break the good news, as tonight is special to us.
Tonight was finally happening.
I’m so happy.
After four years.
Four long years.
My grandmother had invited James to dinner, not just any dinner but a family dinner with my two favorite people.
The kind she had refused every single time I brought up his name.
The first time I mentioned Matteo, she pressured me to bring him home, but everything changed when she finally met him.
I still remember that day; I invited Matteo for tea with my Grandmother.
Since then, she has refused to mention his name around her, as the thought of him disgusted her.
She asked me that one question, “Are you certain about this young man, Isabella?” I laughed then and replied very confidently, “Yes, Grandma.
” Matteo remembered my birthday, anniversary, and every little detail about me, even when I don’t remember it.
He sent me flowers every morning or when I decided to be childish.
He always calls me every night and reminds me how much he loves and admires me.
He is everything I thought I ever wanted.
The consideration, silent motivation, patience even when I lack one, the assurance that he loves me.
Finally, Grandmother had agreed to have dinner with us.
Maybe she was ready to accept him, or she had finally seen what I saw.
The thought made my chest warm.
I went inside the elevator.
The numbers climbed, and my excitement grew, but I was growing impatient, and he always hated that about me, not being patient.
But who cares here, definitely not me.
I should have called him; will he be annoyed ?
Yes.
But I wanted to see his reaction.
Maybe he will pull me into one of his calm hugs, one of my favorites about him.
And then a kiss on my forehead.
The elevator doors finally decided to release me from my dreams and opened.
I practically bounced down the hallway.
Matteo’s apartment is located at the end of the hallway.
Standing at the door, I lifted my hand to knock but paused when I noticed the door wasn’t properly closed.
A tiny gap remained.
My brows pulled together.
That’s strange.
He always seemed annoyed whenever I didn’t close his door properly.
So many thoughts ran through my mind that I rushed to open the door very well.
Is he sick?
Did he faint?
“Matteo!” Silence greeted me immediately; I rushed in.
The apartment looked normal; the lights were on.
A half-empty coffee cup sat on the counter, and a red handbag.
I had seen that handbag somewhere, but I can’t remember.
“Matteo?” No response; maybe he was in his office; he is a workaholic.
I did not bother to remove my heels and walked farther inside.
My feet felt the coolness of the hardwood floor.
Something caught my attention.
A red bra, lying carelessly on the upstairs floor.
I knew that bra; my stepsister owned one.
She had worn it during a shopping trip months ago and spent nearly thirty minutes bragging about how expensive it was.
My fingers curled into fists.
That’s weird, so I walked farther.
A moan.
I froze.
The sound drifted from upstairs.
That sound made the hairs on my arms rise.
I couldn’t explain that feeling.
Another groan.
That’s definitely Matteo’s voice, but I don’t want to believe it.
I forgot why, I came here.
The smile slowly faded from my face, replaced with an uneasiness.
A strange heaviness settled inside my stomach.
I looked toward the staircase, where the sound was coming from.
I wanted to confirm my doubts, but I was scared of what I would find out.
But my thoughts were still fighting to explode.
So I summoned the courage to climb, getting to the floor where I was hearing the sound.
I heard it again, and it was coming from the master’s bedroom, Matteo’s room.
Why?.
I kept on thinking whether to push the door or not.
But I was tempted to see if my thoughts were correct.
A soft moan interrupted my thoughts.
Then a muffled giggle.
The bedroom door stood slightly open.
The sounds were clearer now.
A combined voice, one is breathless and the other one is lower and rougher.
My pulse stumbled.
“No.” I couldn’t hold it again.
Slowly, I pushed the door with my eyes closed, maybe to avoid whatever I was about to see.
Every instinct in me screamed at me to turn around and leave.
To pretend I had never come.
But my feet kept me immobile.
Please, I kept on repeating it.
Then I opened my eyes when I noticed they did not seem to notice that someone was in the room with them.
But my world shattered.
The first thing I saw was Vanessa.
The second thing I saw was Matteo.
And both of them were not wearing any clothes.
For a moment, my mind stopped working.
The room blurred.
I couldn’t breathe or think, and was still immobile.
Matteo was on the bed.
Vanessa was beneath him.
The sheets tangled around their bodies.
The evidence was impossible to ignore.
A sound escaped me, small, yet broken, but enough to get their attention.
Their heads turned.
Vanessa gasped, not in guilt but annoyed and smug, like she had won a battle.
My gaze locked onto Matteo.
Waited for a reaction, maybe to tell me he was sorry, was seduced, or for an explanation.
But all I saw was a man whose secret had finally become public.
No shame, no regret for making me believe he loved me.
“Matteo!” I shouted with tears.
No answer.
Instead, he stared back calmly.
Like a man who wasn’t sorry at all.
“Isabella.” His voice sounded normal.
My stomach twisted.
“How long?” I whispered.
Neither answered me.
My eyes burned.
“How long?” Vanessa rolled her eyes and balanced herself on the bed with the bed duvet wrapped around her naked body.
As if I were an inconvenience here.
Something inside me cracked.
Four years, four wasted years of my love, trust, my disobedience to my grandmother.
And this was what I meant to him.
A joke, a nuisance.
An obstacle to their love.
I took a step backward.
Then another.
I needed to leave.
I needed air.
I needed to run away from here.
”It’s good that you found out.” I stopped.
Every muscle in my body went stiff.
Matteo sat up slowly, picked up his shorts; his eyes never left mine.
Then he actually smiled, not apologetically or guiltily.
And said, “Now, I don’t have to hide it anymore.”