Chapter 22 Questions and Tensions
“den’t understand!” belle exclaimed, her er big as she stood up from the bed where she was seated, frustration bubbling to the surface. “What’s going on with you?one moment, you’re sharing your post, and the nest, you want me to love?
Matteo stood rigid, his eyes darkening as they locked onto hers. “I’m not ready to share everything, Isabelle. You need to understand that, he replied, histone clipped.
“Understand? You’re pushing me wad Alter everything I just waned, you think I can just walk away without knowing what’s wrong?” belle felt her heart race, a whirlwind of anger andconfusion striding inside her. “You’re the one who needs help, not mel”
He ran a hand through his disheered hair, the tension radiating from him pulpable. “And what do you know about it? You have no idea what I’ve been through can’t let you
but because of me.”
“Let me hurt?!” she shot back, incredulous. “malady hurt! Do you think I can just stand by and watch yra destroy yourself? You need to stop acting like you’re some kind of martyr. This isn’t just about you, Matteo!”
The silence that fell between them was suffocating, led with an unyielding tension. Matteo’s jaw clenched as he turned away, struggling to rein in his emotions. “You don’t get it. I can’t be vulnerable with you Not now. Not when there’s so much at stake.”
“Then when? When will you let me in?” Isabelle’s voice troubled, the hurt becoming unbeatable. “I thought we were building something real hoe, but you keep pushing me
“I’m trying to protect you” Matteo shouted, his frustration boiling cerut maybe you’re right. Maybe it’s best if you just leave.”
Isabelle’s heart sank at his words, each syllable piercing depth the expected. “End If that’s how you feel, then maybe I will!“She span on her heel, storming out of the villa, her pulse racing in her ears. Each step telt heater as it she were carrying the weight of their unsolved issues on her shoulders. As she walked away, tears shing her eyes, anger mbing with but in a volatile concoction
The walk back to her house e ke abhin, her mind racing with thoughts that refused to settle.
Before long, she was in the house, snaking her way up the stairs, her heart still pounding. She arched at her room without uttering a wood to anyone she met, the silence amplifying her bormod
Once side her room, she slammed the door behind her, frustration boiling over as the sound echoed in the stillness. The will felt the they were closing in on her as she sank other bed, her thoughts swirling chatically. Why was Mateo acting this way? Why couldn’t he see how much she wanted to help him?
Picking up her phone, she hesitated for a moment before dialing Viv’s number, a dicker of hope igniting in her chest. She needed her trend now more than eve
As the phone rang, her frustrationbubbled up again, anure of desperation and anger surging through her veins. “Come on, pick up!” she muttered, biting her ip as she Ustened to the ringing
“Hella?“Vivi’s volefindycapet rough, but it sounded distant, distracted.
*VM,1=“Bobelle’s voice cracked, the emotional strain rident. “I need to talk I’m-
“What’s wrong? You sound upset, “Vinterrupted, bersoneshifting to need concem, but it felt as if she were miles away.
*I just_ everything is a mess,”
“nabelle died, her voice trembling “Matteo and 1 —‘
That before she could explain, a muted sound reached her “Isabelle, I’m really sorry, but we got to go, can we talk later?”
belle felt awe of frustration wash over her. “Yeah, sure” she replied, trying to mask her disappointment. “Just taker”
“Yeah, bye!“Vhi sald before hanging up.
Isabelle threw her phone onto the bed in frustration, the device bouncing slightly before taling still. “Great just great, she muttered thesett, feeling more alone than ever. Her heartfelt heavy, weighed down by the unresolved issues with Matteo and the inability to talk things through with her band friend.
As she stared at her phone, something caught her–nication alert. She picked up again, scrolling through her messages, her heart quickening. There was a new one
Where are you!
just as she read it, another message appeared, making her heart skip a beat. She opened it quickly.
Ithink you and I need to talk Can you come outside?
“Okay, I’m coming,” she typed back, eager for a distraction, anything to pull her away from the mail of her thoughts.
Great How about that food store we met before?
Isabelle nodded to herself, asserellet washing over her. “That works,” she whispered, her heart racing with anticipation. She got up and quickly changed, tossing on something comfortable et cute, hoping it would distract her from the emotional storm within.
Arriving at the food store, she stepped inside the cool air, a welcome reprieve from the heat outside. She wandered through the aisles, her mind stil preoccupied with thoughts of Matteo Was it really over? Would he even want to see her again after their argument? The uncertainty owed ther
After a short wait, she spotted Don approaching, his bold presence impossible to miss. He had confident stride, the tattoos on one side of his face catching the light in a way that drew her attention. He looked around the store, alitat amusement playing on his lips when he caught sight other.
“Hey there! So, why did you ghost me?” he asked, teasingly arching an eyebrow, his smile way and chaming.
Isabelle felt the weight of the past few hours pressing down on her, the warmth of his smile almost disanning. “Oh, you know, something came up,” she replied, trying to keep hertone light despite the herriness in her heart.
“Something came up, huh?” be repeated a smirk on his face that both imated and intrigued her. “Let me guess, you’re babysitting some big, brooding puy?”
Isabelle winced at the thought of Matteo, the mention of him stirring the unresolved tension inside her. “Not exactly,” she said, her mind racing with memories of their spumant Djst… things are complicated right now.”
“Complicated how? Dan probed, genuinely curious. “Is this a mutier efe and death?”
“More like a matter of trust,” she muttered, her gaze dropping to the floor as she washed over her. How could she explain it without revealing tos mich?
“What do you mean? Don stepped closer, his expression shiling to one concern. “You can tell me.”
Chapter 22. Questions and Tentides
22
“I want to ask you something,” she said, summoning the courage to look him in the eye. “And I need you to be straight with me. No lies.”
“okay, hit me with your question,” he said, leaning against a nearby shelt, arms crossed casually. The moment felt charged with unspoken tension, and she could feel her heart pounding in herchest
“Matteo What do I need to know about Matted?” The words tumbled out before she could stop herself, her heart racing as she awaited his response.
Don’s expression shifted, the lightheartedness fading as he studied her, his brow furrowing slightly. “That’s a loaded question, Isabelle,” he said slowly, his tone serious.
“What do you mean?” she pressed, sensing the shirt in the atmosphere. The weight of the moment felt heavy, like a storm brewing just out of sight.
“I mean, Matteo’s a complicated guy. There’s a lot beneath the surface,” Don replied, his gaze unwavering, a hint of concern etched into his features.
“Like what?” she pressed, desperate for answers, for something to cling to amidst the chaos of her emotions. She felt a flicker of hope and dread intertwining, unsure of what she might learn.
Don opened his mouth to speak, but the words hung in the air, suspended in a moment of tension, like a fragile thread that could snap at any y moment. Isabelle held her breath, the anticipation thickening the air between them.
“Isabelle, you have to understand “Don started, his tone cau
cautious, but then hesitated as if weighing his words careful
She felt her heart race, a mix of fear and determination propelling her forward. “Please, I need to know,” she urged her voice steady despite the storm brewing inside her.
At that moment, everything felt suspended, the weight of their pasts and the uncertainty of their futures colliding in a single breath.
What Don would say next could change everything, and the question hung there, ripe with possibility and peril, ready to unravel or bind them closer together.
