Chapter 4

• Matteo loomed over the bed, with a tray in his hand, smiling as he watched Evelyn stir in her sleep.
• "Good Morning, mia cara," he said in a low taunting voice, “Did you sleep well?”
• Evelyn woke up at the sound of his deep voice; the sweet aroma hit her nostrils and her gaze went to the tray in his hand. "What is this?" she asked with a raised brow.
• Matteo's gaze snapped up and he put down the tray. "Breakfast in bed. Never heard of it?"
• Evelyn stared at the plates on the tray—crusty bits, eggs, cloud on coffee cup, sliced fresh fruit. It was simple, yet luxurious.
• Evelyn swallowed hard. "I don't… I don't know what to say." her hands traced the top of the coffee mug.
• Matteo sat beside her and rested on the headboard. "Say you love it and you love me more,” he smiled at her.
• Evelyn blushed at how charming he was. "I love it and I love you more.”
• His smile was still pasted on his lips. "Then eat, amore mio. Let me see you enjoy every bite."
• Evelyn bit into the croissant and broke bits of it into itzy pieces. Melted butter coursed around in her mouth, and she closed her eyes, scouring the buttery taste.
• Matteo watched her with a satisfied glint as if feeding her brought him happiness.
• For a long moment they ate and laughed together between bites, teasing and feeding each other. It felt normal; no scar, no sorrowful past, just the both of them happy together once again.
• She smoothed one hand over her hair, pressing every strand back away from her face. "This feels like a dream. I never imagined I'd get to experience a morning like this.”
• Matteo looked at her with dreamy eyes. “ You deserve better than this, Mia cara. This is just the least of what I can do for you.”
• Evelyn relaxed with a content sigh. "I could get used to this."
• Matteo's smile grew. "That is the plan."
• She raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Oh? You've got a plan?"
• His face turned serious as he placed his coffee mug down. “Actually… yes.”
• He exhaled slowly and reached for her hand, “I want to talk to you about something.”
• Her stomach tightened at the change of his tone "What is it? Is something wrong?”
• Matteo's heart was thumping so hard that he could hear it, his hands tightened around hers. "I want to protect you, Evie. Not by just keeping you here; not by just taking you away from Adrian. I want to protect you, so no one can ever take you away from me or hurt you again.”
• Evelyn's breath was caught in her throat, she could see the sincerity in his eyes. “What are you trying to say, Matteo?”
• Matteo held her eyes as he said the words without hesitation. “Marry me, Evelyn.”
• The words hit her like a bomb and silence filled the room. Evelyn’s mind struggled to process his words. She parted her lips to talk, but nothing came out.
• Matteo took her silence for rejection and quickly continued, "I didn't mean to rush you, I can't just stand the thought of you being vulnerable ever again. If you are my wife, no one will have the power to take you away from me. I will have full rights to protect you.”
• Evelyn's heart thudded against her cheat, she felt overwhelmed as if the world had shifted beneath her.
• Marriage.
• She'd not given a thought to marriage in years. She hadn't even thought about a future beyond survival. The idea of being someone’s wife felt…surreal
• And he was right there, offering her a new future and a new beginning.
• Her throat tightened and she tried to control the tears threatening to escape her eyes.
• Matteo tensed immediately "Evie, I didn't mean to startle you." his voice was filled with regret. “I shouldn't have…"
• Evelyn leaned forward and captured his lips in a kiss.
• It was desperate but filled with unspoken emotions. She clung to him, to drown herself in his warmth and the protection he offered her, to feel the existence that this wasn’t a dream.
• Matteo's hands went to the back of her neck, pulling her closer and deepened the kiss, without knowing what it meant.
• They were breathing heavily after they pulled apart; her lips were swollen and her heart was hammering against her ribs.
• Matteo took a deep breath with his searching hers. "Does that mean…?"
• Evelyn let out a soft laugh with tears still streaming down her face. "Yes."
• Matteo closed his eyes, letting the relief and happiness wash through him. He took her face between his hands, brushing away her tears with his thumb.
• "Say it again," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.
• Evelyn let out a watery laugh. "Yes, Matteo. I’ll marry you."
• And just like that, she sealed her fate.