Novels by MattyWrites

CHAPTER 015The hallway outside of Jervis’s apartment smelled like old carpet and cleaning solution, the kind that barely covered up the years of wear and tear. My hand trembled slightly as I raised my fist to knock on the door, and I hesitated. Everything felt heavier tonight—my breath, my heartbeat, even the air seemed to press against my chest.The door swung open before I could make contact, and there he was. Jervis. His blonde hair was a tousled mess, as he’d just been running his fingers through it before turning his fists and anger over something in frustration. His glasses were crooked on his nose, but his eyes softened when they landed on me. His familiar presence loosened the knot in my stomach for a moment.He stepped aside to let me in, saying, "Sarah." "I was wondering when you'd come."I walked past him, but I couldn’t find the words. His apartment was warm compared to the icy knot of tension coiled inside my chest. He went through the door leading into his dorm—all of w

CHAPTER 014The air in my room was suffocating—the kind of weight that clung to your chest and wouldn’t let go. It was dark; the only light from my laptop, and the only sound was he faint hum of the laptop fan. Megan’s email was open, and her message was brief and to the point. She never asked questions, never had. That’s why I trusted her.My finger hesitated momentarily, and I clicked the first link. A news article popped up, its bold headline sending a chill through me: “The Missing Whistleblower and Pharma Giant.”I scanned the text, and my heart sank. Robert Gaines. I didn’t know his name, but I knew his story. At one point, Gaines was a former employee of Flint Pharmaceuticals who had filed complaints about unethical business practices. He vanished just weeks later. No trace. No leads. The article said the case had gone cold, but his family had desperately pleaded for answers. Rowan’s name was barely mentioned, just a shadow at the story's edge, and the company denied involvemen

CHAPTER 013I stepped inside the house, which was muted but not the peaceful calm. It was heavy, as if the walls were closing in on me. I walked towards the living room, my heart pounding. Sprawled like a queen on her throne was Lilith on the couch. She had her legs crossed, a phone in one hand and a glass of red wine in the other. When she heard me, she looked up, and that infuriating smirk spread across her face.She snorted, her voice rasping with mockery and filling up with surprise. “Back so soon?” “I thought you’d finally grown a spine and left for good.”I stopped in the doorway, gripping the frame so hard my knuckles went white. “We need to talk.”Her smirk never wavered as she tilted her head. “Oh? ‘What could we possibly have to talk about?’”Moving into the room, each movement was deliberate, accomplished with a weight and a heaviness, as if I were preparing to fight. The simple words I wanted to hear came tumbling out of me. “I want to know the truth, Lilith.”A sharp, cru

CHAPTER 013I stepped inside the house, which was muted but not the peaceful calm. It was heavy, as if the walls were closing in on me. I walked towards the living room, my heart pounding. Sprawled like a queen on her throne was Lilith on the couch. She had her legs crossed, a phone in one hand and a glass of red wine in the other. When she heard me, she looked up, and that infuriating smirk spread across her face.She snorted, her voice rasping with mockery and filling up with surprise. “Back so soon?” “I thought you’d finally grown a spine and left for good.”I stopped in the doorway, gripping the frame so hard my knuckles went white. “We need to talk.”Her smirk never wavered as she tilted her head. “Oh? ‘What could we possibly have to talk about?’”Moving into the room, each movement was deliberate, accomplished with a weight and a heaviness, as if I were preparing to fight. The simple words I wanted to hear came tumbling out of me. “I want to know the truth, Lilith.”A sharp, cru

CHAPTER 012The elegance of the setting was akin to a battlefield in disguise. The soft glow of the chandelier illuminated the crystal glasses, while the silverware stood off to the side, untouched, and tension simmered between us. Across from me, Lilith sat with a weaponized smirk of cruelty. The light illuminated her blonde hair, casting a shimmering halo around the devilish light in her eyes.He sat at the head of the table, his face distant as Rowan took a sip from his glass. Despite the torment, he remained silent and unfazed. The oppressive atmosphere had destroyed my appetite so that every bite of food felt like swallowing stones.Lilith’s voice rang out syrupy sweet.”Sarah.” That sent a shiver down my spine. Tonight you’ve been so quiet. You’re not even here, almost.”I tightened my grip on the fork until the metal dug into my palm. “I have nothing to say.”Her gentle laughter resonated like a hammer on a chalkboard. “Well, you should. It must be exhausting to act like the per

CHAPTER 011The light was dim, and the dim light cast long shadows on the walls. I gripped the edge of the desk with my trembling hands. Rowan’s footsteps echoed down the hall, every one of them slowly tightening the knot in my stomach. I didn’t have much time. The polished surface held the photo I had found, its torn edges taunting me with answers I'd never get. Who was she, and why did Rowan keep her from me?His voice, near silence, sliced through. “Sarah.”I froze. I turned to face him; the air grew heavier, suffocating. In the doorway he stood, his tall figure blocking the faint light falling from the hallway. His eyes were glacial, sharp enough to cut. They homed in on the desk where the photo and papers were. “What are you doing in here?” His voice was calm—too calm. That made it worse. It was a moment of tranquility before the impending chaos.I forced the words out, my throat tight, ‘I was looking for answers.’ "These are the answers I found, and they don't align with what y

CHAPTER 010Matteo had a sleep problem.First they were flashes, broken images. They were vivid, real now. In every dream he could see her face, the woman who filled his thoughts every waking moment. Lucia.The first dream appeared suddenly, like a whisper in the night. Now, they were memories—memories of things he couldn’t remember fully. It was as if his old life were clawing, piece by piece, back to him. Every time he awoke, he’d be sweating and panting, his heart racing.In the dim light of his room, he sat staring at the ceiling, trying to put it all together."Why can't I remember?" he muttered under his breath. Frustration built inside of him; his fingers gripped the edge of the desk.He had seen her before, in these dreams. He could feel it—the betrayal, the pain, the heartbreak. He couldn’t recall the details, but it was like his heart knew her before his mind did. The more he got into the dreams, the more he started to understand.She wasn’t just some woman from his past. Sh

CHAPTER 009Lucia thought very sharply and focused as she moved quietly through the shadows of the mansion. The Roselli family never failed to brag themselves up; they had built their power on lies and manipulation. But that was about to change. She calculated every move, every step to bring them down. She had spent months learning their weaknesses, learning their lives. But now that her plan came together, she nearly tasted victory.Outside it was still, silent, the air heavy from the tension that held the world in a constant void. Her mind was racing in the hallway, and she paused for a moment. Mr. Her next target was Roselli, the leading figure in this cancer case. He had harmed someone while she was protecting him, and he had crossed a boundary he would never regret.The pulse of power in her chest she could feel. This was all the pain... the betrayals... the broken pieces of her past leading her to. This was her opportunity to make them all pay.The plan was simple: It would targ

CHAPTER 008Sophia paced back and forth in the dim room, her heels creating an unhappy snick on the polished floor. Her fingers clenched and unclenched at her sides, and every now and then she glanced toward the door as if she could allow Lucia to appear. It was hard having so much jealousy burning inside of her. It was all becoming too much.Lucia was everywhere. She had wormed her way into the Roselli family, into Matteo’s life, and now she was beginning to worm her way past all of Sophia’s defenses. The closeness between Lucia and Matteo wasn't just what bothered her. No, it was more profound than that; it gnawed at her whenever she saw them together. Lucia was too perfect, too calm, too composed. She hated Sophia being jealous; it made her feel small, smaller, and insignificant.She had to do something. She was going to have to stop Lucia before it was too late.The plan was simple. Expose her as a fraud. She will expose herself as merely exploiting Matteo to ascend the family hie

CHAPTER 007The room pulsed with quiet efficiency; men and women in tailored suits, each with a reason to be there and clearly on purpose, circulated in and out of Nero’s expansive office. Near the window, Lucia stared at the streets below them. Her thoughts, like the city itself, never slumbered. She never made a decision or a move that didn't bring her closer to her revenge.“Lost in thought, Lucia?” Nero's voice broke through her reverie. Seated behind his desk, his sharp gray eyes studied her like a puzzle he hadn't yet solved.She forced a faint smile and turned. “Always. It keeps me focused.”Nero smiled and waved her in closer. ‘You’ve done good; you’ve earned trust and respect perhaps faster than I had thought.’ What’s on your mind today?”Her fingers brushed the hem of her jacket, and she hesitated. This was her chance. She couldn’t falter now. Her voice was steady but firm, but she began, ‘I’m going to need a favor.’Nero arched a brow. “A favor? That’s a bold request. Go on

CHAPTER 006Lucia shut up her coat tighter around her shoulders as the wind bit at her cheeks. There she was, staring at the busting square edge, a building that seemed imposing as if it got erected here. This was not what she had anticipated from Nero Orsini. It was not exactly a city of neon signs. There were no obvious signs of mafia doings. It was instead a simple, well-guarded warehouse, its tall gates shading the men who stood by, hands on their weapons.Lucia took a deep breath. This was it. There was no turning back now. Her hands trembled a little, but she jammed them deep into her pockets, wrapping large fingers half about the small dagger kept hidden. This precaution was taken just in case.Her boots crunching with the gravel, she went up to the gate. The guards noticed her, and one nudged the other. Men turned to her, their expressions unreadable.The random man grumbled, 'Who are you?'She hadn’t said it, had it? Her heart pounded in her chest, afraid she might have made

“Come on, Lucia. You ’re moving like a damn snail.”Lucia quickly ducked as a pinch nearly severed her head off. It did reach her shoulder though, and she winced in pain, pushed back a couple steps."Don't get cocky. I'm just warming up" She gasped as she ducked under another punch.Rhea stood in front of her, attacking without a single pause. But she still and the time to brush her dark hair to the side with a smirk."You’ve been warning up for two years, sweetie. Time to get a punch in."Lucia moved back, circling around as she thought about the best way to land a hit on Rhea. Then she saw a loophole, Boom!— she landed a punch on her jaw.Rhea groaned and then kicked her lips with an excited smile. "You hit me!""Of course I did. You've been hitting me!" Lucia protested.Before she finished her words, Rhea attacked again, this time with more force than before. Lucia found herself ducking and dodging her blows. In the entire pack, Rhea was the best at close combat. She could even ri