The quiet night at the manor is shattered by a heated argument between Tom and Mattheo, their voices echoing through the stone corridors. The source of the fight: you. Tom’s face twists with disdain as he spits insults laced with bitterness, his words sharpened by the alcohol he’s consumed.

"Honestly, Mattheo, you’re wasting your time with her," Tom sneers. "She’s attracted to power. She craves ambition."

Mattheo’s jaw clenches, knowing Tom is intentionally targeting his insecurities. "Shut up, Tom," he mutters, his voice tense.

But Tom only chuckles darkly, his gaze fixed on his brother. "Struck a nerve, have I? Maybe it’s because you know you can never satisfy her the way I did," he says, each word calculated to wound.

The anger in Mattheo’s eyes intensifies, his fists clenching at his sides, but Tom continues to provoke. "You’re too weak for her. She loves to know who’s in control—it’s what she wants. To be broken."

"No, it’s not what she wants," Mattheo growls, his voice raw with emotion.

Tom laughs mockingly. "She likes it rough."

Images of all the times you confided in Mattheo, nights spent piecing together your broken heart, flash through his mind. "No, she doesn’t. And she never has," he says firmly.

Tom’s face contorts in frustration. "And how the fuck would you know?"

Mattheo steps forward, his voice a low, dangerous growl as he gets in Tom’s face. "Because I’m her fucking husband."

The words hang heavy in the air, and without another thought, Mattheo’s fist connects with Tom’s jaw. "Don’t you ever come near her again, Tom," he warns, his voice deadly calm. "Blood or not, I will end you."

With those final words, Mattheo leaves Tom reeling, making it clear that no threat—brother or otherwise—will come between him and the woman he loves.