Page 24 of Chains of Obsession

For a moment, I don’t know what to say. His words carry a weight that’s hard to ignore, and the intensity in his gaze makes my chest tighten.

“Why?” I finally ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Because I owe you more than I can ever repay and because I want you to have something that’s yours, something no one else can take away.”

His honesty catches me off guard, and I feel the walls I’ve built around myself start to crack. This man—this ruthless, complicated, infuriating man—has done more to tear me apart than anyone else. And yet, he’s also the one holding me together.

“Matteo…” I begin, but the words catch in my throat.

He closes the distance between us, his hand reaching out to tuck a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “Amelia, I know I can’t undo what’s been done. I know I’ve hurt you in ways I can never take back. But I swear to you, I’ll do whatever it takes to make this right.”

His promise sends a shiver down my spine, and I find myself searching his face for any sign of deceit. But all I see is determination—a fierce, unrelenting need to protect me, to claim me, to make me his in every way that matters. For a moment, we stand in silence, the ruined garden around us is a barrier to the unspoken connection between us. Then, he steps closer, his hand brushing against mine.

“Luca’s alliances are crumbling,” he says, his voice a mixture of satisfaction and resolve.

“And what about us?” I ask, the question slipping out before I can stop it.

His eyes darken, his hand moving to cradle my face. “Us?” he repeats, his thumb brushing against my cheek. “We’re inevitable, Amelia.”

I hate how much his words resonate with me; how much I want to believe him. But I can’t deny the pull between us, the way he seems to consume every part of me without even trying.

The explosions left behind more than ruined roses and shattered stone—gaping sinkholes mar the earth, their edges jagged and blackened as if the ground itself rebelled against the violence. One stretches dangerously close to the estate, its chasm deep enough to swallow the past and still reach for the present. The air is heavy with the lingering scent of smoke and charred soil, and every step I take feels precarious, like the earth could give way beneath me at any moment.

“The blast was meant to send a message,” He moves beside me, his presence is commanding as ever, though his focus is on the destruction around us.

“They wanted to remind us of their reach, their power. But all they’ve done is remind me why I can’t allow weakness in my empire—or in myself.”

I glance at him, his face a mask of cold fury. There’s no trace of the man who held me close last night, who whispered promises into my hair as I trembled in his arms. This is Matteo at his most dangerous, a king surveying the damage to his kingdom and plotting retribution.

“It’s not just the garden. The explosions hit the estate too. The east wing is gone.” I say, my voice trembling despite my best efforts.

He nods; his jaw tight. “I’ve already ordered the repairs. The structure will be stronger than before—reinforced, impenetrable. No one will ever breach our walls again.”

“And the people?. The staff, the guards…” I ask, my stomach churning.

His gaze flickers to me. “Casualties were minimal. A few injuries, nothing fatal.”

Relief floods through me, but it’s short-lived. The reality of what happened—what could have happened—settles over me like a suffocating weight.

“They could have killed us,” I whisper, my fingers curling into fists.

“They won’t get another chance. Luca’s betrayal set this in motion, but it ends with me.” Matteo says, his voice as dark as the sinkholes surrounding us.

I turn to him, as my emotions are a tangled mess of anger, fear, and something I can’t quite name. “This isn’t just about Luca, is it? This is about power. About showing everyone what happens when they cross you.”

His lips curve into a cold smile. “Power is the only language they understand. Fear is what keeps them in line.”

“And what about us?” I ask, the words spilling out before I can stop them. “What does this power mean for us?”

His hand reaches out to brush a strand of hair from my face. The gesture is tender, but his eyes burn with a darkness that makes my pulse race.

“It means I will destroy anyone who threatens you. Anyone who dares to take you from me. You are mine, Amelia. My wife. My queen and I will burn the world to keep you safe.”

The weight of his words settle over me, and for a moment, I can’t breathe. I should be terrified, repulsed by his obsession. But instead, I feel a spark of something I don’t want to name—something that feels disturbingly like pride.

“And the garden?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

He looks around, his gaze sweeping over the devastation. “It will be rebuilt. Stronger, more beautiful than before. Like us.”

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