I froze. Mateo stood in the doorway, his eyes dark and desperate. I wasn’t expecting him. I wasn’t expecting to ever see
him again. My stomach twisted in rage. How dare he show up here? After e
I gritted my teeth and immediately reached for my phone. “I’m calling security. How the hell did they even let you in?“}
Mateo held up his hands. “Evelyne, wait–please.” His voice was raw, almost pleading. “Just… let me talk to you.“>
I narrowed my eyes. “Talk? What is there to talk about, Mateo?”
I crossed my arms, my voice sharp as a blade. “Can you give me my kidney back? Can you bring Solenn back to life?“} Silence. He flinched, and I saw the pain flicker across his face.”
I scoffed. “No? Then we have nothing to say.” I stepped forward, motioning toward the door. “Get out.“”
But Mateo didn’t move.
His jaw tightened, his fists clenching at his sides. “I regret everything, Evelyne.”
I let out a sharp, bitter laugh. “Oh? Now you regret it?“}
“I do!” His voice cracked, his eyes burning with something close to agony. “I know I can’t change the past, but I-” He took a deep breath. “I made a mistake. The worst mistake of my life.“”
I let his words hang between us, cold and meaningless.”
Then I tilted my head, amusement curling in my voice. “And what exactly was your mistake, Mateo?“>
His throat bobbed as he swallowed hard. “Letting you go.“>
I barked out a laugh, shaking my head. “You didn’t let me go, Mateo. You betrayed me.“”
His hands clenched into fists. “I was blinded by my anger, by my grief-“”
“By Julienne,” I cut him off.”
His face twisted in frustration. “I thought I didn’t want you anymore, but when I saw you with Cole…” His voice dropped, strained. “I realized I couldn’t stand it. I couldn’t stand seeing you with someone else.“”
I rolled my eyes. “Oh, please. Now that you’ve lost me, you suddenly want me?“}
He took a step closer. I took one back.”
“I love you,” he whispered. “I always have.“}
Something inside me snapped. I laughed–harsh, unkind, cruel.
“You love me?” I repeated mockingly. “You loved me when you chose Julienne over me? You loved me when you let our daughter die?”
Mateo’s face twisted in pain. “I didn’t let her die, Evelyne.”
I glared at him. “You chose to save someone else instead of our daughter. And now you have the audacity to come here and tell me you love me?”
He stepped forward again, his voice thick with desperation. “Evelyne, please-”
“No.” My voice was cold, final. “I don’t love you anymore.“”
His entire body stiffened.”
I met his gaze, unflinching. “Or maybe I never did. Maybe I was just blinded by my feelings. Because ever since the beginning, it was always Cole.“}
Mateo’s face paled.
I exhaled, shaking my head. “Go back to Julienne. Go back to your son. We’re done.“\
But Mateo wasn’t done.
His hands gripped my shoulders, his voice turning urgent. “We’re not done, I can fix this. I can make it right.“”
I shoved him away. His grip tightened.}
“Mateo, let go of me!” I snapped, trying to push him back.”
“No,” he said stubbornly. “I’m not giving up on us.“>
He tried to pull me into his arms, but I shoved him hard. “Get your hands off me!”
He grabbed my wrist again. “Evelyne, just listen-”
And then I screamed.
A— P… £…–..—-
1/2
56.8%
Loud. Angry. Full of years of pent–up rage.”
“Let
me
go,
Mateo!”
The door slammed open. Cole. His eyes blazed with fury the moment he saw Mateo touching me.
Before I could react, he crossed the room in seconds, his fist flying->
And crashing right into Mateo’s jaw.
Mateo stumbled back, gripping his face, his expression turning murderous.
“Don’t touch her,” Cole growled.”
Mateo wiped his bleeding lip, his eyes darkening. “Stay out of this, Cole.“}
Cole let out a cold laugh. “Oh, I will–after I break your damn face.“”
Then he swung again. Mateo dodged and threw a punch of his own, hitting Cole in the ribs. They clashed like two wild animals, fists flying, grunts and curses filling the room.
I stepped back, heart racing as they fought, as their anger spilled into reckless violence./
“Stop it!” I yelled, but neither of them listened.
Mateo landed a punch to Cole’s side. Cole responded by slamming his fist into Mateo’s nose.
Blood.
Shouting.
More punches thrown.
Jour
I had to stop this. I lunged forward, pushing between them, hands on their chests.
“Enough!” screamed. “Both of you-”
Mateo swung.”
And his fist crashed into my face.}
Pain exploded in my skull.”
The world spun-
And then everything faded to black.
Chapter 13
