shuhaige
Chapter 221
3
Finished
Chapter 221 Desperate Moment
Matteo couldn't bear to listen as she belittled herself in this way. His hand shot out, grabbing her elbow with a firm yet gentle touch, and he swiftly turned her to face him. The intensity in his eyes made her breath catch, and for a moment, it felt like the world had fallen silent.
"Emily, you are not incomplete," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "You are perfect. And I swear, there isn't a man alive who deserves you. To me, you are more than just a woman-you're like a goddess. If I could, I'd put you on a pedestal and worship you." Emily tried to push the overwhelming feelings away, shaking her head with a weak smile, her eyes glassy with unshed tears. "Matteo, you don't have to say that. You're just trying to make me feel better."
"No." His voice was low but commanding as if daring her to doubt his words. He gripped her shoulders gently, holding her gaze with a fierce intensity. "This is the truth, Emily. I've never met someone like you -brave, selfless, so kindhearted, yet fearless. You carry the weight of the world on your shoulders, and you've never broken, not once. Do you think being a mother is just about having a child?" His eyes darkened, recalling how his own mother had left him with nannies while he longed for her love as a child. "It's not. It's about loving, nurturing, and protecting, even if those children aren't yours by blood. You've done that for Gia and Maximo, and they love you just as much as they love their own mother. You and Aria are both their mothers, Emily. They know it, just as I do."Têxt © NôvelDrama.Org.
Her lip quivered as she fought to hold back the tears, but the dam broke. The tears came anyway, spilling
over as she choked back a sob.
Six years ago, when she lost her baby, she lost everything-and she didn't even get the chance to grieve. She had to keep going, had to keep fighting for her parents, who were murdered by the same monster who caused her miscarriage: her husband. There was no time to cry, no time to feel. The pain of losing her baby still lingered in her heart, and she hadn't had a moment to mourn it, as she had far too many things to manage than to dwell on her own suffering.
Matteo's chest tightened as he watched her finally break, her vulnerability laid bare in a way he had rarely seen. Without hesitation, he pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly against his chest, as if trying to shield her from all the pain she had been carrying for so long. "Everything's going to be fine," he murmured softly, his voice filled with gentle reassurance. "And if it's what you want, I'll help you with the will, just as you asked."
Emily's grip on his shirt tightened as she pressed her face into his firm chest, her voice barely a whisper. "Thank you... for everything."
Matteo sighed, a mixture of tenderness and protectiveness filling him as he kissed the top of her head, the gesture feeling both instinctive and intimate. "You're welcome, mon amour," he breathed, the words carrying more weight than he had intended, but they felt right like they belonged.
They didn't remember how long they stood there in the comforting silence, wrapped in each other's arms, when his phone pinged. Matteo reluctantly used one hand to pull it from his pants pocket and read the message. It was from his bodyguard.
"Ma douce, the police are waiting for us to vacate this place so they can seal it," he murmured, still holding her close and breathing in her sweet fragrance.
But when Emily heard this, she pulled away, the gravity of the situation crashing down on her. How had she let herself be so vulnerable before a man she barely knew? She lowered her head, avoiding his gaze as she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear trying to mask her embarrassment. Matteo longed to
Chapter 221 Desperate Moment
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keep her in his arms, but he knew he had to let go. With a shared understanding, they both stepped out of the house together so that the police could do their work.
He was Matteo Vinci, which was why the police had given them some time instead of ordering them to come out of the house. Instead, they instructed his bodyguard to inform him that they were waiting outside.
"Thank you, Mr. Vinci, for everything," Emily said, her voice tinged with gratitude. Matteo smiled, nodding in acknowledgment.
An awkward silence enveloped them before Emily broke it. "So... bye!" she said abruptly. "See she murmured, turning to leave.
you
around,"
Matteo couldn't find his voice, watching her retreating figure with a heavy heart, caught in a conflicting silence.
As she walked away, Matteo felt a tug at his heart, a sudden realization hitting him. Was this really goodbye? Would they never meet again? He didn't want her to go; he wanted her to stay, but he was at a loss for how to make that happen. Though he was a successful attorney, adept at winning arguments and navigating complex conversations, Matteo felt completely adrift in this moment.
His mind raced as he searched for a reason to stop her, each passing second amplifying his sense of urgency. As Emily walked further away, his breaths became increasingly shallow. In that desperate moment, he didn't have time to think rationally.
"Emily Yang, I need my office redesigned. Will you take it on?" he called out, the words tumbling from his lips before he could second-guess himself.