"Victoria, I’ve told you that we don’t need to fight to the death because of this," he said.
After that, he told me, "You decide what to do with the child. I will not ask whether he lives or dies."
"This matter ends here. Don’t mention it again. Understand?" he ordered.
Matteo was as cold as ever, like the part of me that felt nothing. He did not look back, did not sign the papers and slammed the door as he left. For ten years, I had never ever seen his back until now.
In my memory, he used to run to me through blood and chaos, always shielding me with his body. His back had always seemed firm and sure. But now I noticed a small tremor of worry beneath that strength.
I curled my lips into a bitter smile and called my bodyguard.
"Release him. I'm not cruel enough to harm a child."
"But I want the child's mother's information in ten minutes," I told him.
Unfortunately, my people found almost nothing. With Matteo’s power, saving someone would have been easy. That was why I could only find a few clues. Those few clues broke the fragile control I had over my feelings.
Five years ago, Matteo was not with me the night I lost my baby. I had thought he had taken his men out to avenge me. He had not.