Page 44 of Twisted Vows

"Let me go!" she spat, her vision blurred with anger and something dangerously close to heartbreak. "You killed him, Matteo! You killed Nico!"

His jaw clenched. "He was a traitor.”

"You don’t know that!" she screamed, shoving at his chest. "You didn’t even hesitate. You didn’t care!"

Matteo exhaled sharply, releasing her wrists, taking a single step back. "I did what had to be done."

She let out a hollow laugh, wrapping her arms around herself as if that could hold her together. "That’s all you ever do, isn’t it? Make decisions for everyone else? Decide who lives, who dies?"

His eyes darkened, but he didn’t respond.

"I trusted you," she whispered, voice cracking. "I thought maybe… maybe I was different. That I wasn’t just another piece in this game. But I was wrong."

Matteo’s gaze flickered, something breaking in the cold mask he wore. "Isla—"

She shook her head. "I can’t do this anymore. I can’t be yours."

The silence between them was deafening.

For the first time since she had met him, Matteo looked uncertain. As if he hadn’t considered the possibility that she might actually leave. That she might choose something—someone—other than him.

He could force her to stay. He could drag her back to the villa, lock her away, keep her where he could control the chaos. But he didn’t.

Instead, he took another step back.

"If you walk away now, there’s no coming back," he said, his voice low, warning. "This world will eat you alive, Isla. Without me—"

"I’ll survive," she cut him off. "I have to."

Matteo stared at her for a long moment. Then, slowly, he nodded.

Matteo’s fingers twitched at his sides, every muscle in his body screaming at him to stop her. To grab her. To make her stay.

But he didn’t.

He had spent his entire life taking what he wanted, bending people to his will, controlling every outcome. And yet, here shewas, running away, and for the first time in his life, he couldn’t force someone to be his.

Not her.

Isla’s eyes burned with something sharp, something that gutted him in a way he hadn’t expected. She hated him right now. And maybe she had every right to.

His jaw tightened. He could chase her. Could track her down within the hour. But if he did, she’d never forgive him. She needed to come back on her own. To choose him.

“You’ll be back,” he finally said, his voice low, rough. “And when you are, you’ll understand.”

He let her go.

And Isla turned, walking away, knowing that this time, he wouldn’t stop her.

****

Matteo watched her disappear into the night, his pulse a slow, steady thrum in his ears. His fingers twitched at his sides, his body screaming at him to go after her, to drag her back, to remind her who she belonged to.

But he didn’t.

He let her go.

Luca stepped up beside him, watching Isla fade into the distance. "You’re just going to let her walk?"

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