The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the courtyard as the soft rustle of leaves filled the air. The weight of everything pressing on you was unbearable. You knew you couldn’t keep avoiding him forever, but it felt safer this way.

Footsteps approached. Mattheo. His voice broke the silence, sending a chill through you. “You’re avoiding me, princess.”

You finally looked up, catching his intense gaze. His eyes were filled with something between frustration and desperation, but you swallowed the lump in your throat and steadied your voice. “I haven’t been avoiding you…”

Mattheo raised an eyebrow. “Don’t lie to me. What’d Theo say to you?”

You could feel the tightness in your chest. “Theo didn’t say anything that isn’t true.”

His jaw tightened, and he took a step closer. “So that’s it? One conversation with Theo, and suddenly I’m the villain now?”

You shook your head slightly. The anger in his tone made your pulse race, but you weren’t about to back down.

Mattheo’s hand reached out, his fingers brushing against your cheek with a gentleness that contrasted his words. "Do you even know what the f/ck you’re doing to me?”

You met his gaze, and the p4in in his eyes made you feel like you might break. “What am I… doing to you, Mattheo? What about what you’re doing to me? To us?”

He let out a bitter laugh, his eyes searching yours for some sign of understanding. “You think I don’t care about you? You think I’m just gonna f/ck off and leave the two of you behind, don’t you? You are all I think about, every second of every day… but you…” He stepped back, his frustration growing, “You don’t trust me, do you?”

You opened your mouth to say something, but the words caught in your throat. What could you say? You couldn’t deny the fear, the uncertainty, that had been growing inside you.

Mattheo’s eyes hardened as he turned away. “Maybe Theo’s right… Maybe I’m not what you need. But you, princess… You’re the only thing I’ll ever f/cking want.”

And with that, he was gone.