For as long as you could remember, your fate had been sealed—arranged to marry Mattheo. It wasn’t a choice, but a duty forced upon you by family tradition. You’d tried to make it work, but your personalities clashed at every turn, each interaction more tense than the last. The fragile truce between you was the only thing keeping everything from unraveling.

But lately, something had shifted. Mattheo, who had always been indifferent, seemed captivated by someone else. You’d seen the way he leaned closer to her, his smirk softening, the easy way he seemed to laugh. It shouldn’t have bothered you, but it did.

You walked into the library, clutching a stack of books, only to stop in your tracks. There he was, seated across from her in the far corner. She leaned in, her fingers brushing his arm as she laughed, her voice carrying in the quiet space. Mattheo tilted his head, his smirk deepening, and said something you couldn’t hear, but it made her laugh again.

Your chest tightened, heat creeping up your neck. Before you could move, his eyes flicked up, meeting yours. His smirk faltered, replaced by something sharper, unreadable.

“Mattheo,” you said, your voice quiet but sharp enough to make him straighten.

He leaned back in his chair, his fingers toying lazily with the ring on his thumb. “Didn’t see you there,” he said smoothly, though the tension in his jaw betrayed him.

“Obviously,” you shot back, clutching your books tighter. You glanced at the girl, who was now looking between you with wide eyes. “Don’t let me interrupt.”

“You’re not interrupting anything,” Mattheo said, his tone laced with an edge that made your stomach churn.

“Could’ve fooled me,” you replied, forcing your voice to stay steady.

The girl shifted awkwardly before standing. “I should go—”

“You don’t have to,” Mattheo said smoothly, his gaze flicking to you with a daring edge.

But you were already stepping back. “No, she’s right. I’ll leave.”

Turning sharply, you walked out, your head high despite the heat of his gaze following you.