Chapter 170 Protecting Her

Chapter 170 Protecting Her
Matteo had led Isabella away from the center of it all, down a narrow corridor where the noise faded.

They stopped near a concrete wall.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke.
Isabella stood with her arms wrapped around herself, shoulders trembling slightly, staring at the floor like it might open up and swallow her.

Matteo watched her from a short distance. “You were right,” he said finally, his voice low.

Isabella flinched, then looked up slowly. Her eyes were red and swollen, but dry now.

“About Valentina,” Matteo continued. “About everything.”

She let out a hollow laugh. “Doesn’t change anything.”

“It changes a lot,” he replied.

She shook her head. “No. It doesn’t.” Her voice cracked despite her effort to keep it steady. “Dante still believes I betrayed him. He still thinks everything I did, loving him, staying with him was a lie.”

Matteo’s jaw tightened. “I never really believed that, I had my doubts.”

Her eyes flickered with surprise. “You didn’t?”

“No,” he said firmly. “I questioned you. I was angry. But I never believed you were that calculating.”

Isabella swallowed hard. “He did.”

Matteo didn’t deny it.

She turned away, pressing her palm against the wall as if she needed something solid to hold her up. “Do you know what hurts the most?” she whispered. “Not that Valentina used me. Not even that Liora lied.”

Matteo stepped closer. “You were trying to protect your family.”

“I was trying to protect everyone,” she said bitterly. “How stupid is that?”

Matteo leaned against the wall opposite her. “You don’t have to justify yourself to me.”

“But I want to,” she said quickly, turning back to him.

He nodded. “I’m listening.”

Her voice softened. “I loved him. I still do.” She pressed her fingers to her chest. “That was never part of a plan. I never planned to make him fall for me. I never planned to fall for him either.”

Matteo felt sorry for her. “Love doesn’t care about plans.”

“It destroyed everything,” she said quietly.

“No,” he corrected. “It revealed everything.”

She closed her eyes. “Do you think… if he knew the truth now, it would matter?”

“I think,” Matteo said slowly, “that Dante is not ready to hear the truth yet.”

Her shoulders slumped. “So I really lost him.”

“You lost his trust,” Matteo said honestly. “And in his world, that feels worse than death.”

She hesitated. “You won’t tell Dante. Not yet.”

“I won’t,” he promised. “Not until I have proof that even he can’t deny.”

Her shoulders relaxed just a little. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For not treating me like a criminal,” she said softly. “For seeing me as… human.”
Matteo exhaled. “You’re not the villain in this story, Isabella.”

She gave a sad smile. “Stories don’t always care who the villain really is.”

___________________

Matteo barely had time to shut the door behind him when Dante’s voice cut through the room.

“Where were you?”

He turned slowly.

Dante was standing near the couch.

“Out,” Matteo replied evenly. “Clearing my head.”

Dante’s lips twitched. “Try again.”

Matteo’s jaw tightened. “What’s this about?”

Dante stepped closer, the space between them shrinking. “I asked you a question.”

Matteo held his ground. “I told you where I was.”

Dante let out a short, humorless laugh. “You’re a terrible liar when you’re protecting someone.”

Matteo’s chest sank.

Dante’s eyes hardened. “You were with Isabella.”

Matteo looked away for a split second, then back at him. “So now you spy on me too?”

Dante ignored the question completely. “What were you doing with her?” The words came out clipped,

Matteo exhaled slowly. “You wouldn’t understand.”

“That’s not your call,” Dante snapped. “Answer me.”

Matteo’s voice dropped. “She’s innocent.”

The air shifted.

Dante froze, his shoulders stiffened a bit.

“You don’t believe me,” Matteo continued quietly. “I know you don’t and honestly, I don’t think you want to.”

Dante said nothing to him.

Then Matteo arched an eyebrow, something dawning on his face. “Unless…” His voice slowed. “Unless you already know.”

Dante folded his fist.

Matteo’s heart skipped. “You knew,” he said incredulously. “Didn’t you? You knew Isabella wasn’t guilty.”

Dante’s gaze turned cold. “Mind your business.”

Matteo let out a sharp breath, disbelief mixing with frustration. “Why?” he demanded. “Why would you let her walk away like that if you knew?”

Dante’s voice turned hard. “Because I’m protecting her.”

Matteo shook his head slowly. “No. You’re punishing yourself.”

The words landed heavier than any accusation.

Before Matteo could say more, Dante’s expression changed. “Speaking of lies,” Dante said calmly, dangerously, “why did you hide the missing footage from my accident last year?”

Matteo stiffened. “What footage?” he asked too quickly.

Dante scoffed. “Don’t insult me.”

Matteo swallowed.

“That video,” Dante continued, voice low, deliberate, “the one that mysteriously disappeared. The one showing Luca talking to two strange men minutes before the incident I had in that party.”

Matteo was unable to alter a word.

“I asked you something,” Dante demanded. “Answer.”

Matteo dropped his gaze. “I—” He stopped, then shook his head. “I was investigating.”

Dante crossed his arms. “Investigating my brother?”

“Yes,” Matteo admitted. “And no. I didn’t want to believe it.”

Dante’s eyes burned. “Go on.”

Matteo ran a hand through his hair, guilt written all over his face now. “The men in the footage… they were dead. Within weeks. No trace or trail. And Luca—” He hesitated. “He’s your brother.”

“So you buried it,” Dante said flatly.

“I pushed it aside,” Matteo corrected quietly. “I didn’t want to bring you half-truths. I didn’t want to accuse Luca without solid proof.”

“And instead,” Dante said coldly, “you chose silence.”

Matteo looked up, remorse heavy in his eyes. “I’m sorry.”

Dante laughed bitterly. “You’re all very good at protecting me by lying to my face.”

Matteo stepped forward. “I was trying to protect the family.”

Dante’s eyes flashed. “So was Isabella.” Dante turned away. “Get out,” he said quietly.

Matteo didn’t move immediately. “You’re standing in the middle of a war,” he said carefully. “You need to work on your anger.”

Dante didn’t look at him. “Leave.”

Matteo hesitated, then nodded and walked toward the door.

As it closed behind him, Dante finally exhaled.