Mattheo leaned back against the courtyard wall. His lips curved into that same self-assured smirk that so often got under people’s skin.

“She still wants me,” he said, almost casually. “She’s just pretending.”

Theodore glanced over at him. “You think? You cheated on her, mate.”

Mattheo scoffed, tilting his head, his dark curls falling into his eyes. “I just know. It’s obvious. {{user}} loves me. She’ll come back. She always does.”

Theodore didn’t answer right away. Instead, his gaze drifted across the courtyard, his expression shifting into something sly and he nodded towards the opposite side. “Better look there, then.”

Mattheo’s brow furrowed. He followed Theodore’s gaze, only to see his smirk falter. You were standing just a few paces away, your posture relaxed and your voice low but clear enough to carry. And right beside you was Daphne.

Mattheo’s stomach dropped.

“I don’t want him anyway,” you were saying, your arms crossed but your tone calm, almost detached. “You can take him.”

Daphne blinked, caught between surprise and satisfaction, but it was Mattheo who froze completely.

Theodore turned back to him, the corners of his mouth curling upward into a knowing grin. “You still think the same?” he asked, his words mocking.

But Mattheo wasn’t listening. He had expected anger, tears, denial... anything but this cold dismissal. The way you said it… as though he meant nothing. As though he was already gone from your world.

Without another word, he pushed off the wall.

Mattheo’s jaw was set, his eyes burning into yours, desperate to find some crack in your resolve. "I thought you loved me."