Amelie’s POVI didn’t move from the floor.Because they hadn't asked me to move, I wasn't given permission to push up from where I was.Not even when the door shut behind them.I stayed in the same position, waiting for some reason.Not even when the silence stretched on, pressing against my ribs, suffocating.I should have felt relief.I didn’t.Because I knew.This wasn’t over.I couldn't feel relief when Luca could walk into this room and any moment and punish me. Luca’s patience was a promise, a threat wrapped in silk, but Matteo? Matteo was different. Hot-blooded. Impulsive. He wouldn’t wait for his revenge—he’d take it the moment he wanted to.And he did.I don't know for how long I stayed awake because before I knew it the sun had gone up once again, seeping into my room. And when the door swung open again, Matteo was there.A wicked smirk played on his lips, but his eyes burned with something darker. Something dangerous.I don't know if he remembered our conversation from la
Amelie’s POVI don't know how long I was expected to do this. How long I was meant to sit right next to them ehiketgey did whatever they wanted.I wanted to move out from the bed but Matteo’s fibgetsclampeddosm on my thighs, keeping me in place.I held my breath as he took another slow sip from the glass, his lips barely grazing the rim. He had no reason to be sipping wine while he had another woman with him, but I could guess he only wanted to torture me.His eyes never left mine, and the smirk on his face only deepened when I quickly lowered my gaze, my fingers tightening around the glass to hide their tremble.He was enjoying this.The woman shifted against him, the silk hanging down her shoulder, Clinging to her curves as she pressed herself closer. Her fingers trailed down his chest, stopping at the open buttons of his shirt before she dipped her head to kiss along the scars peeking out.I swallowed hard.I couldn't explain how this affected me. Matteo let out a satisfied hum,
_Amelie’s POV_I stormed into my room, my breath coming out in uneven gasps. My hands clenched into fists at my sides as I paced, my mind a mess of frustration and something far worse—something I didn’t want to name.I didn't understand why I was affected this way.Heat coiled low in my stomach, an unbearable ache that refused to be ignored. I was furious. Furious at Matteo. Furious at myself. Furious at the way my body betrayed me.I hated this man so much and yet I got turned on by him? I was affected by the sight of him touching another woman.I couldn't believe it. Why had I stayed? Why had I watched it?I should have looked away. Should have left the room the moment his hands had disappeared under that woman’s dress. But I hadn’t. And now I was suffering the consequences.I hated the way the image replayed itself in my head. Hated how each time I closed my eyes, the image was burned into the back of my mind. The look on her face, her moans, how flushed her skin was. I swallow
_Amelie’s POV_I didn't hear him coming, I thought I would have been done by the time someone decided to come look for me. But I was wrong. So fucking wrong.Matteo's eyes raked over my body, his lips pulling to a smirk.“Well well… what do we have here?” he taunted, brow coming up. “Such a slut, touching yourself so early in the morning.” His taunts went on and on. Making me feel ashamed and embarrassed.I scrambled to pull the sheets over myself, my face burning with humiliation. But before I could, Matteo moved.I hadn't seen him coming.In the blink of an eye, he was on me, gripping my wrist and yanking my hand away. My breath hitched as his fingers curled around mine—still slick, still trembling. “Oh no… there is no need for you to stop just because of me.”He could feel just how wet I was and the thought made my face burn.A shiver ran down my spine at the way he held my wrist effortlessly, his grip firm, unyielding.“Go on Amelie… touch yourself.” he urged, eyes burning thr
_Amelie’s POV_Matteo’s fingers curled inside me, slow and deliberate, dragging pleasure from me at his own pace. My breath hitched as he added another finger, stretching me, teasing me.I was frustrated, he was going too slow. Slower than I wanted him to go. And I hated that. I needed it do badly.“You take me so well,” he murmured, his voice thick with satisfaction. “Just like I knew you would.”Like he had thought about his fingers in me, thought about this scene over and over.Just like me.I clenched around him, my body betraying me once again. He chuckled darkly, the sound vibrating against my skin as his lips trailed lower.I couldn’t believe I was in this position with Matteo of all people, it seemed like a dream.“You wanted this, didn’t you?” His tongue flicked over my clit, making me jolt. “Wanted me to catch you touching yourself.”Yes. Some part of me had the hope that Matteo was going to walk through the door while I had my legs parted open.And the thought had gotten
Amelie’s POVAt this point, I was so certain about one thing.And that was the fact that I hated Matteo.I hated him so fucking bad.I hated the way he made me feel. The way he touched me, whispered in my ear, and then left me gasping for air—aching, needing, desperate. I hated the fact that my body had betrayed me and I had given into his touch, even after what he had done to me.I didn't know if there was a shift between us after what had happened that day.I was talking about the night he came into my room drunk.The night he had shown me all the scars that had been caused by my actions. But whatever this was, I wasn't certain if I wanted it to happen again or not. What I was certain about was the fact he wouldn't hesitate to use his hands to make me do whatever Luca wanted, and I still hated him for that.And the worst part out of all of this? He knew exactly what he was doing.Matteo knew what he was doing when he pushed into my room, using his fingers to make me cry. He also
_Amelie’s POV_I was so lost in my feelings, letting my body control me that I didn’t even realize that I had made the worst mistake of my life. Nico started at me with the same look in his eyes, completely playing me and deceiving me. I hadn’t even noticed Matteo standing at the door until it was too late. My focus had been on Nico—the warmth of his body, the way his hands had wandered, how easily I had let him.And damn easy I was.Then suddenly a voice cut through the air like a blade, startling me.“Are you going to fuck my younger brother because I didn’t give you what you wanted?”I froze.It couldn’t be. There was no way. My breath caught in my throat, words refusing to form in my head.Slowly, I turned my head, and my stomach twisted at the sight of Matteo leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, a wicked smirk on his face.He had known.Known about Nico and what he had done to me.The amusement in his eyes made my skin crawl, but worse was the look on Nico’s face—his
:Amelie’s POVLuca’s words echoed in my ears long after the door closed behind them.“It’s Lorenzo.”He didn't need to say anything else before the three of them walked out. If they were going to bring up someone that causes so much tension, they might as well as had the entire conversation with me.Who the hell was Lorenzo? The name meant nothing to me, but the reaction it sparked in all three of them—that meant something.It meant that whoever this person was, he was dangerous.Matteo had gone silent, the amusement gone from his face. Nico, for once, didn’t have a smug remark to throw. And Luca… Luca remained a wall of ice, unreadable as ever.And that told me everything I needed to know.Something was wrong. Very wrong.They left me in the room without another word, like I was nothing but a discarded toy after the game ended. No explanation. No apology. Not that I expected any. The world would come to an end before those three apologized to me.Still, I waited.At first, I told
Amelie’s POVLuca’s lips brushed my ear. “No, cara mia. We’re here to make you remember who you are when you’re with us.”My lips parted as I stared up at him. I should’ve moved. Should’ve shoved him away, demanded they leave, kept clinging to the cold, distant version of myself I’d spent months perfecting. The one who could survive this estate. The one Victor believed he owned.The one Santiago thought returned to him. But I didn’t.Because deep down I knew exactly what I wanted. Even though it was rhe thing I should be wanting.Luca’s hands slid to my waist, grounding me in the worst way. “Don’t pretend with us,” he whispered, voice low and dark. “Not tonight.”I swallowed a limb, feeling the heat pf his palm on my skin. Behind him, Nico leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching me like he already knew every thought running through my head. And maybe he did.And Matteo —Matteo was already behind me, his fingers brushing the small of my back, claiming space without permis
_Amelie’s POV_To make my work more efficient, Santiago made sure I moved to Victor’s house in preparation for the wedding. I still wasn’t sure if Santiago thought I would be getting married to him for real or not, but that wasn’t my problem.All I had to do was get information before the wedding and call it off.Easy right?Except I had no idea where to find this information from.But the best place to always get information was a library.Or black market.The heels of my shoes barely made a sound against the marble floor as I stepped into Victor’s library. The door creaked slightly behind me, but I didn’t flinch. I’d memorized the guard rotations, the blind spots in the security cameras, and even which doors had looser hinges. I had twenty, maybe thirty minutes max.But I wouldn’t be using all that time. All I had to do was search and get out before anyone caught me. They were already suspicious of me and I couldn’t risk it.The library had floor-to-ceiling shelves, thick with th
Amelie’s POVI stood in front of the full-length mirror, running my fingers down the length of the red dress. It clung to my curves like a second skin, the fabric whispering against my fingertips as I adjusted it. The deep neckline barely covered the curve of my chest, and the slit that ran up my thigh made every step feel deliberate—designed to catch the eye and keep it there.Every dress I had worn showed the curves of my body, and this one wasn't any different.Victor had asked for red, but he didn’t know what kind of red he was going to get.Santiago’s voice echoed in my mind: Play the part. Be the perfect bride. Show them what they want to see.All this just to get the information that he wanted. But that wasn’t the part I was playing tonight. Tonight, I was going to show Victor something entirely different.I adjusted the jade earrings, letting the weight of the stones rest comfortably on my earlobes.it wasn’t enough to simply look perfect. I needed him to feel it. To know it
_Amelie’s POV_I stood in the mirrored hallway outside Victor Delgado’s office, the hem of my slate-blue dress brushing against my heels like a whisper. I don't remember the last time I had dressed up like this, since I was constantly being moved like a chess piece.The neckline dipped slightly—elegant, not suggestive. Santiago had insisted I dress the part. I was to pose as someone’s fiancee and spy on him, wouldn't be the first time I would be used as a bride.Except I wasn't sure if I was supposed to get married to this one this time. Santiago had repeatedly said the words to me.You’re not a soldier today. You’re the bride.Bride.The word left a sour taste in my mouth, though my face remained impassive. I adjusted my diamond earring, more out of habit than need. I was already flawless. That was the point. Victor Delgado, Santiago’s most valuable ally in the northern territories, was about to meet his future wife—and she would not falter.How fun, I thought as I rolled my eye
_Amelie’s POV_The door closed behind me with a soft click and I let out a breath J didn't know I was holding. I didn't know what to say about that conversation but I tried to not think about it too much. I didn’t dare linger in the hallway after that. If Santiago wanted something from me, it wouldn’t be for long and that had to be the only reason he had called me into his officeso early in the morning. I kept my pace steady as I walked back to my room, my footsteps echoing in the silence of the mansion.Most people hadn't even awakened by now but this was me having a conversation with my father.The note under my pillow, the one that had taunted me with its ominous “We’re not alone,” gnawed at the back of my mind. I stopped in front of my door, my fingers ghosting over the door knob.What if someone had been in my room? I wondered as I hesitated to step in. Taking in a deep breath, I turned the knob as I pushed the door open, my eyes roaming through the room.It seemed as if n
Amelie’s POVThe sun hadn’t risen yet. Santiago never called for anyone this early unless something was bleeding—or about to be.A maid knocked on my door shortly after five, voice trembling as she whispered, “He wants to see you. Now.”So here I was, walking through cold hallways that felt more like a museum than a home, the chill of marble beneath my bare feet biting through my skin.It was too early for me to be awake. Too early to go seeing that man’s face. But I couldn't exactly say no to him, could I?When I stepped into his study, Santiago didn’t look up. He didn't even to acknowledge my presence.He sat behind his desk, perfectly still, swirling a dark drink in a crystal glass like it was the blood of someone who’d disappointed him.I wouldn't be surprised if that was what it actually was.So I stood in the doorway, silent as I waited for him to decide he wanted to speak to me.He shouldn't have called for me if he wasn't going to. I tried my best to hide the annoyanve I felt
_Amelie’s POV_The note sat on my nightstand like a loaded gun.Plain paper. No signature. Three words.We’re not alone.I couldn't tell who it was from or how long it had been here.It clearly wasn't from the triplets. Not from Dante. Not even from Santiago.Which meant only one thing—someone else was here. Someone watching me. Someone watching them.It wasn’t the message itself that unsettled me, I could have easily ignored it.But what I couldn’t ignore was the quiet way it arrived. It was slipped under my pillow without waking me. No creaking doors. No shadows shifting. Just silence. Intentional. Controlled.A ghost, not a guest.Well if I could call whoever it was that.My room hadn’t been breached. It had been entered.And I hadn’t even noticed.I didn’t know what to feel about that.I sat still for a long time.The note curled slightly at the edges of my hand, as if it were alive, breathing with me. I couldn’t think of anyone who could have possibly sent itI turned it over—
_Amelie’s POV_There was no such thing as rest anymore.Even with the file gone. Even with the guards fooled. Even with the triplets’ message telling me “We have it. You’re welcome.”—I didn’t feel safe.If anything, I felt worse.Way worse than I should be feeling. They’d been in my room. Quiet, unseen, undetected. Took the file right out from under me and didn’t say a word until it was already done.It was probably taken the moment I had gone for breakfast, I couldn't think of any other time.Which meant I’d been watched.Closely. Intimately. Like a puppet with strings, I didn’t know I had.The triplets had asked whoever it was to retrieve the file when I wasn't aware. What if I had opened my mouth to confess and then it wouldn't have been found..They had a backup. A shadow inside these walls. And I was just a decoy.Whoever it was knew of everything I was doing.I’d barely slept after that morning. Every noise made me flinch.The guards pacing. The creak of pipes in the walls. Ev
Amelie’s POVTime didn’t just slow down at that moment.It stopped. Completely.I stood in the center of my room, arms folded tight over my chest, robe clutched like a lifeline. Every breath I took hurt. My mouth was dry. My heartbeat throbbed in my throat.I couldn't let them find the file but there was nothing I could do to stop them from doing so.Basically, I was as good as dead.The guard crouched near the open floorboard, crowbar discarded beside him. The loose plank had come up with a sickening crack, exposing the hollow space beneath.The space where I had hidden the file.My foot started to tap against the floor impatiently but I stopped when he turned to look at me.“Mice. Scared of it jumping out.” I lied effortlessly, forcinf a smile to my face.I hope I’m able to lie this easily when they see it.His gloved hands hovered over the hole. He pulled out a flashlight and angled it down into the darkness, searching.I couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe. My nails bit crescents into