Then the door opens.
Misha walks in with two guards, Matteo between them.
They don’t drag him—but they don’t give him a choice either.
The moment Matteo sees me, he frowns.
“Valeria?”
Something inside me twists.
Sharp. Bitter.
I used to like him.
From the very first day.
He was light in a place that felt too heavy.
Safe.
Now—
All I feel is disappointment.
In him.
In myself.
How did I not see it?
How did I miss what he really was?
Timofey stands across from Matteo, his presence filling the room without effort.
“Sit,” he says.
Matteo hesitates for half a second.
Then sits.
Slowly.
His eyes flick between all of us now.
Calculating.
Uneasy.
“What is this?” he asks, trying to keep his tone light. “Because I have a lot of work to do.”
He tries to hide it, but I hear the tremor in his voice.
“Shut up!” I snap before Timofey can speak.
“Valeria…” Timofey warns, low and controlled.
But I’m already moving.
