I Was His Precious Until She Came Back Chapter 04
He raised one hand and leaned closer.
I shut my eyes, jerked as far away from him as the bed allowed, and lifted my arms to protect myself.
Matteo stopped as though struck, while fear held my body perfectly still.
After a long silence, his hoarse voice asked in disbelief:
“Lucia, are you afraid of me?”
Seeing his expression, I apologized instinctively.
“I’m sorry…”
My words only made the hurt in his expression sharper and more visible.
“Lucia, don’t apologize to me.”
I remained silent.
Matteo looked at me and closed his eyes before forcing himself to continue.
“Lucia, I’m sorry; last night, I suddenly learned the truth, lost control, and hurt you.”
“I’ve already punished myself.”
“Please don’t be afraid of me.”
He removed his shirt, exposing overlapping whip marks that crossed almost every inch of his back.
My eyes widened, and I sat upright as tears spilled down my face.
“It hurts… Don’t punish yourself.”
Matteo smiled as if the wounds meant nothing, took my hand, and looked at me with shining eyes.
“I knew Lucia cared about me most. You couldn’t bear to see me hurt.”
“Will you forgive me?”
Unable to think beyond the injuries on his back, I agreed without hesitation so he would seek treatment.
Before I could speak, Matteo’s grip tightened.
His next words were entirely different.
“Amelia and I grew up together.”
“We attended the same elementary school, middle school, and university.”
“We dated for seven years and became engaged at eighteen. We planned to marry after graduation.”
“Then my family collapsed, and Amelia framed me, sent me to prison, and disappeared.”
“I wanted her dead, but when her family lost everything and she came back, I learned the truth.”
“Her family forced her to do those things. Her life overseas was miserable.”
Matteo became so absorbed that the story poured out without a single pause, so I listened in silence.
I blinked and heard stories about a past I had never known.
When he recalled Amelia’s youth, a faint smile curved his lips.
When he described her suffering overseas, concern tightened his face.
By the end, years of hatred had melted away until only the pure love of his youth remained.
Finally, Matteo reached his conclusion.
“Lucia, I can’t betray Amelia. She has suffered too much.”
I nodded and asked cooperatively:
“What do you need me to do?”
Matteo went silent, clearly unprepared for me to cooperate so easily.
