Chapter 3

• Evelyn woke up to a body ache from exhaustion. But for the first time in years she woke without fear about what the day held for her. Her lashes fluttered as her eyes opened to the golden morning light streaming from the window of the unfamiliar yet comforting massive bedroom. She had cried herself to sleep last night in Matteo’s car and didn’t realize how she ended up in the bedroom.
• She took a deep breath of the expensive linen, the faint scent of cedar wood that lingered in the air. She took in the plush bedding, the elegant yet masculine decor in the room.
• This wasn't Adrian’s suffocating prison. It was freedom.
• She looked around the room and spotted Matteo standing near the window, his broad shoulders were tense as he stared out the window and his jaw clenched in deep thought.
• He had changed and looked different from the Jayden she knew. His features were sharper and his presence was more intimidating and commanding, but his eyes held the warmth she once knew.
• Tears streamed down her face as memories spilled over her. She had waited so long, waiting for the day she would be free from Adrian's clutches. And it finally happened. But the memories remained.
• "Jayden…" Her voice cracked, as she whispered his name.
• He looked at her direction to see that she was awake. He moved closer to her and sat on the bed next to her. He noticed the tears and enveloped her in a hug.
• "Evie," he mumbled, soothing her hair as she sobbed in his chest, "It's over. You're safe. You are out of there and never going back.”
• She wept as she hugged tighter around his hand and shuddered. "I thought… I thought I was never going to see you again. I thought I had no one left and I was going to continue living like that for the rest of my life.”
• Matteo exhaled and used his fingers to wipe her tears. "I'm sorry, Evie, I never forgot you nor planned to leave you here. But I had to be strong so I could protect you."
• Evelyn allowed herself to feel comforted by Matteo’s words, but the full weight of her grief still lingered in her chest. She pulled her hand back and wrapped them around herself. "You have no idea what I've endured, Jayden."
• Matteo's expression was blank. "Then tell me. What did he do to you?”
• Her chest pounding as hard as if a monster in its wake made demands. The thought of it shattered her. How Adrian treated her like an object for his satisfaction.
• Tears streamed down her cheek and her eyelids furrowed shut. "When my daddy died. I was left with nothing. He owed a lot of money to Adrian, and when I couldn't pay him back, he took me instead.”
• Matteo's stomach twisted, his body stiffening in rage, but did not make any comment, so she continued.
• "He treated me like an object for his pleasure and satisfaction," she panted, her breathing uneven, "I was his slave, his toy, an object to vent his anger on, his entertainment. And I had no choice than to endure it all.”
• As the words left her lips, Matteo could barely contain the rage brewing inside him
• "Evie," he snarled, his tone icy and deadly, "I'm so sorry you had to endure all that. I should have come back sooner,”
• "You didn't know," she cut in, shaking her head from side to side, "No one did, apart from the workers in Adrians mansion, no one knew I still existed.”
• Matteo's fist clenched as if he needed to smash something. "I promise you, Evie. He will pay for this."
• Evelyn blew her nose and wiped her tears with the tissue on the next stand. "I don't want to talk about him anymore. I just… I need to know where you have been. What happened to you after your parents' accident? How did you end up like this?”
• "I was alone and devastated after I lost both parents at the same time to that unfortunate accident. At that point, I wished I hadn't survived it and just died along with them,” Matteo's voice cracked.
• “Jayden…” Evelyn placed a hand on his shoulder and tried to comfort him. She could see the pain in his eyes, he still hasn't gotten over his parents' death after ten years.
• Matteo continued. “An old acquaintance of my father found me and took me in. He claimed to owe my father his life and he decided to pay it back by adopting and protecting me. He wasn't just anyone, he was the head of the Deluca mafia—Italy's strongest of them all."
• Evelyn's eyes widened in shock.
• "He gave me a new home, a new name, taught me, molded me into a fighter. A fighter who never saw losing as an option," He smiled at her, "A fighter strong enough to protect you."
• She was happy for him that he found a new life And yet, he was still her Jayden forever.
• "Did you ever forget me?" She let her curiosity get the best of her.
• Matteo leaned closer, still smiling with happiness. "Not for a second."
• She blushed and felt sudden heat radiate through her as their faces were very close to each other. She swallowed hard as Matteo's hands caressed her cheek and moved his face closer till his lips captured her in a soft and heartwarming kiss that spoke volumes of unspoken emotions, her slowly wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer and kissing him back with the same energy.
• Matteo groaned in her throat, his hand went down to her waist pulling her body closer to his and deepened the kiss.
• And then, memories of her intimacy with Adrian flashed through her mind. She tensed up and broke the kiss abruptly.
• Matteo let her go at once, his gaze searing hers. "Evelyn. Are you okay? Did I do something wrong?"
• She shook her head with tears falling on her cheeks. “I can't… I can't do this. I feel used and dirty.”
• Matteo's face was soft. He cupped her face with his hands and caught one of the tears in its path on the tip of his thumb. "Listen to me," he said to her. "You're not used, dirty nor worthless. You're mine, Evelyn, and I love you. The same way I loved you years ago and nothing is going to change that.”
• Evelyn's throat closed. "You love me?"
• "Always have," he answered in a rush, "Always will."
• The tears continued to stream down and Matteo kissed them away with a gentle kiss, his lips against her skin. "Let me love you how you ought to be," he whispered in her ear.
• She didn't take long to decide before she obeyed him, and trusted him.
• She gave him access and he worshiped her body like a goddess. He pleasured her in ways she hadn't imagined. He was gentle, soft and handled her with care. And she felt loved and wanted for the first time in years.
• After an intense moment full of passion and making love, Evelyn rested her head on Matteo's bare chest. "No one will ever hurt you again. I swear it," He whispered above her head.
• Evelyn's eyes closed tightly, holding to his vow like debris to a life raft.
• “I love you too, Jayden,” She muttered.
• “It's Matteo,” He corrected her with a smile, “Matteo Deluca.”