CHAPTER 3 - UNRAVELING SECRETS

BIANCA'S POV

Matteo's regret weighed down his words as they lingered in the air.

A part of me desired to enjoy his uneasiness, to savor the tables finally changing.

However, another piece of me, a part I had ignored for many years, suddenly sensed a glimmer of a different emotion.

Perhaps sympathy? Was it even possible to empathize with the man who had caused me such emotional distress?

"Made a mistake?" I repeated with my voice oozing with sarcasm. "Wouldn't you agree that's a slight understatement?"

Despite the cold tone, he didn't back down and held his position. "I am aware. I was an... idiot. Consumed by work and the pursuit of power, I let go of the best thing that ever came my way."

His words seemed without substance, meaningless pledges spoken softly.

 However, an unfamiliar warmth ignited in my cheeks, a response I couldn't comprehend.

Perhaps it was the genuineness in his tone that caught me off guard, or maybe it was just years of bottled-up feelings spilling over at last.

"What is the best thing?" I sneered. "You handled me like a doll, never appreciated me, and saw no practical value beyond that."

Even I was taken aback by the raw pain in my voice. Matteo's expression became gentler as a hint of sorrow passed over his face. Before he had a chance to reply, the sound of footsteps drawing near disrupted the fragile tranquility of the moment.

Alessandro, with a mischievous smile on his face, was the one.  "Five minutes feel like they have been prolonged into forever.

His casual presence felt like an unwelcome intrusion. However, there was a gleam in his eyes—a hint of something risky—that sent a chill down my back. A 'chill' unrelated to fear.

I coolly greeted Alessandro, a hint of irritation appearing on my face. "This discussion is confidential."

He shrugged, unfazed. "Just wanted to see how my beautiful new pal is doing. We wouldn't want Matteo to take up all of your time, would we?"

His words, containing a playful sense of ownership, were a clear provocation. Irritation battled against a peculiar feeling of... something different. A hidden excitement that frolicked through my sensory nerves.

"Don't fret, Alessandro," Countered Matteo. His tone was tinged with a possessiveness of his own. "I won't be much longer."

The silent competition hung in the atmosphere, two men competing for my attention in a manner that was thrilling yet frightening.

"Well," Alessandro drawled, moving nearer, his husky whisper sending shivers down my arms. "Maybe I'll wander through the gardens to see if there's anything else exciting worth exploring.”

His eyes remained on me for a moment too long, a wordless commitment lingering in the air.

After that, he casually walked away, giving Matteo and I an uncomfortable silence.

Matteo hesitated as he began speaking again, addressing Bianca. "Regarding Luca..."

"Luca is not involved in any of this Matteo," I say sharply. "He is my child, and no one is allowed to interfere with him."

Matteo's face showed a look of pain for a brief moment. "I am aware," he murmured, speaking softly. "I simply want to comprehend. What was the reason for not informing me?"

Guilt, a well-known presence, ate away at me. The memories, full of pain and intense emotions, came rushing back. The doctor's visit, the heartbreaking update, the overwhelming despair in Matteo's gaze. His withdrawal and the subtle change in his actions.

"Because you clearly stated your desires." An ideal spouse leads to an ideal existence. And I wasn't worth it to you because I couldn't bear a child."

Matteo didn't refuse it.

Embarrassment darkened his expression, and briefly, I caught a glimpse of the person I believed I had developed feelings for many years ago.

'A man concealed by his determination and his aloof demeanor.'

However, the harm had already been inflicted.

The period of quiet, the mental wounds, had built a barrier separating us.

A wall that may remain standing forever.

"What is going to occur next?" I inquired, the question hanging heavily in the air.

Matteo paused, looking into my eyes with uncertainty. He confessed, "I'm not sure." However, what I am certain of is that Luca is my child, and I desire to be involved in his life. "If you permit me."

His words weighed heavily with a desperate plea, causing a shiver to run through me.

A piece of myself, a hopeful, innocent piece, desired to trust him, believing in commitments despite being ignored for years.

However, the wounds were profound, and the time spent creating a life in his absence strengthened my determination.

"I will discuss that with you later, Matteo," I stated eventually, my tone firm. "Luca currently requires some rest.”

His face briefly showed disappointment before quickly hiding it behind a fake smile. "I understand."

We felt the unspoken tension as we walked back to the reception hall.

The sparkling sight, previously representing the life I had abandoned, now seemed like a celebration for someone else.

I quickly looked over at Alessandro, who was standing alone at the bar in the middle of the busy crowd.

 I noticed him and he lifted his glass in a gesture of understanding, a sly smile on his face.

As the night progressed, Matteo kept finding reasons to leave, his looks towards me becoming more and more intense.

I remained distant from him, as the ghosts from the past served as a constant reminder of his betrayal.

As the sky was painted with streaks of pink and orange by the first rays of dawn, the reception began to gradually calm down.

Guests started to leave, their voices filled with traces of laughter and champagne.

I apologized and left to get some fresh air, feeling the urge strongly.

Exiting the balcony again, I was taken aback to see Alessandro leaning on the railing with a cigarette in his mouth.

The dim light from the sun rising highlighted the sharp lines of his jawline and the penetrating gaze of his dark eyes, casting long shadows across his face.

"Disturbed?" He asked, his voice a soft growl in the quiet of the early dawn.

I shook my head, feeling a shiver run down my spine from the cool breeze.

He motioned towards the railing, beckoning me closer. Reluctantly, I joined him, our distance closing as we admired the stunning view of the Tuscan countryside.

"He remarked with amusement, describing the evening as 'intense.’

“Former spouses and uncomfortable realities often result in that outcome," he said, keeping his gaze forward without staring at me.

"I guess so," I whispered faintly.