A man offering revenge instead of comfort.
Something inside me shifted—quietly, dangerously.
So when he finally said, “Marry me, Aria,” I didn’t think twice.
Because if I was already in hell,
I’d rather walk through it burning beside him—
than ever forgive Matteo Grant.
I stayed in the hospital for another day after that. My body was still drained, every movement feeling heavier than it should’ve been, but it wasn’t the physical pain that bothered me most—it was the quiet. The kind that makes you think too much.
I kept telling myself Matteo would come. Maybe not to apologize, but at least to check if I was still breathing properly after everything.
But when the door finally opened, hope died immediately.
The first words out of his mouth were sharp and careless.
“So you really bailed on the client?” he said, like he was annoyed about a missed appointment. “Seriously, Aria? I sold you for that deal. All you had to do was play along so I could close it.”
I went still.
My throat tightened. “You… sold me?” I repeated slowly, as if saying it differently would make it less real. “Have you lost your mind?”
He didn’t even look ashamed. Not even a little.
“I needed the money,” he answered flatly. “And I’m your husband. That means I can use whatever I have to. You just messed it up.”
My hands curled into fists under the blanket.
“So instead of asking me,” I shot back, voice rising, “you decided to hand me over like I’m nothing? They hurt me, Matteo. They—”
He cut me off without even blinking.
“I need more than what you’re giving me, Aria. And don’t act innocent. You’ve been hiding things from me. You think I don’t know you’ve been pulling clients away?”
I let out a sharp, humorless laugh.
“I didn’t steal anything from you,” I said firmly. “If they choose to work with me, that’s not my fault. Maybe your company just isn’t good enough.”
His jaw tightened, and then he scoffed.
“Or maybe,” he said slowly, “you’ve been using other methods to get them on your side.”
I stared at him, disgust rising in my chest.
“What did you just say?”
“You heard me.” His eyes darkened. “And don’t think I’ve forgotten about the man who pulled you out of that mess. Who is he to you? Huh? Some lover hiding in the shadows?”
My voice spiked.
“There is no one!” I snapped. “I don’t have anyone! Or maybe you’re the one cheating and now you’re trying to pin this on me!”
That was when it happened.
A sudden crack filled the room.