The heavy oak door creaked slightly as you pushed it open, your footsteps halting the moment you saw them. Mattheo leaned casually against the edge of the table, his posture relaxed in a way that felt all too familiar. But it was her hand trailing along his arm, and her lips brushing against his, that froze you in place.

It was brief, too brief to mean anything—or so you wanted to believe. But the moment hung in the air like a curse, and the sound of your sharp inhale shattered it.

“Mattheo?” Your voice cut through the room, cold and trembling with disbelief.

He flinched, his wide eyes snapping to yours as he froze in place. The girl stepped back, her smug expression flickering to something more uncertain, but you didn’t even glance at her.

“{{user}}…” he breathed, his usual cocky tone replaced by panic. He stepped toward you, his hands twitching at his sides like he didn’t know what to do.

“What the hell is this?” you demanded, your voice louder now, anger bubbling beneath the shock.

“It’s not what it looks like,” he stammered, but the words only made your stomach twist further. He kept moving closer, desperate now. “I swear to you, it didn’t mean anything. She doesn’t mean anything—”

You cut him off with a sharp glare, your eyes glassy but fierce. “Don’t. Don’t you dare stand there and lie to me.” Your voice cracked as you stepped back, keeping the distance between you. “I trusted you, Mattheo.”

He ran a hand through his messy curls, his composure completely shattered. “I messed up. Merlin, I messed up, but I’ll do anything—anything—to fix this.” His voice broke, his dark eyes locked onto yours as he pleaded, “Just… don’t walk away from me. Please.”