SWNOVELS Chapter 39
“Open the door Em. Talk to me.”
Matteo yelled; his voice laced with concern as he banged the door of the bathroom repetitively where Emmaline had locked herself up.
Emmaline was in a distraught state so Matteo preferred bringing her to his house rather than attending the party. Her mental state wasn’t right and on top of that she needed him, his friend the most. Mr. Stefanini also permitted Matteo and took care of everything. They didn’t let this matter out as it would have harmed Emma’s image.
The reason for being so cooperative was that Matteo’s parents also loved Emmaline and it wasn’t hidden from them that the crazy mogul was after her. Though by taking legal action, Mr. Stefanini had straightaway called for a war with Damien, his son’s orders were his commands.
Emmaline after reaching his house without saying anything ran to a random room and locked herself in the washroom. Not because she didn’t want to talk to him, it was because she was ashamed. She didn’t dare to face him, to look into his eyes anymore. Matteo did arrive late at the scene but she didn’t miss the dubious look in his eyes while he was silently assaying the situation. Her smudged lipstick, swollen lips, and disheveled hair were enough for one to understand what was really going on behind the four walls.
Covering her mouth with her palms, Emmaline leaned her back on the cold tiles. She didn’t want anyone to see her or hear her. She turned on the shower to muffle her cries and wash her sins. Her mind was in chaos while her heart was filled with regret. The girl who was full of principles today fell from grace. She was totally ashamed and was dying of self-loathe.
‘How could I? What’s wrong with me?’ Sobbing, Emmaline sagged onto the floor like a broken doll. Her eyes were shedding tears nonstop but the pain in her heart was endless. Bringing her knees closer to her chest, she gripped her hair before letting out an agonizing scream.
“I made out with the man whom I hated the most. I am definitely a curse. Today I proved it.”
She cried, wept, and continued hitting her chest with her fist, something which could reduce the burden of guilt.
“His clan snatched my parents away from me. I was forced to live as an orphan. The Shadow Banes really came as a curse in my life and snatched the roof from my head. How could I forget the mornings when I used to wake up with tear patches smeared all over my face? How can I forget the days I used to envy kids playing with their parents? Whenever Blake and Ela abandoned me to save their heir, their only son? How much I cried that day? How much I missed my parents that day? All thanks to Xander Knight. Because of him, I lost the right to call someone my family. He took away my peace, my happiness. Xander Knight is my rival, my tormentor, and his son-”
Rage entered her eyes as soon as Damien’s face flashed in her mind. Slamming her fists on the floor as hard as she could, Emmaline screamed before grating out loud.
“His son turned out to be my mate. Why? WHY??? Why out of so many people in the world, he has to be my mate? And I made out with him? I fucking let him kiss me?” Growling, she fisted her dampened locks and pulled them hard as she felt herself going crazier with every passing second.
“How will I be able to stand in my life now? The girl of elegant mien was fucking the man who had humiliated her? What would Matteo think of me now? A slut, a fucking gold-digger who doesn’t have any pride. He must be laughing at me,” she said and chuckled sadly.
“Damien was right. I am just a sham, wearing my pride on my sleeves, putting up a show of modesty when I am nothing but a whore. I gave myself to the man whom I was supposed to hate. His one touch washed away all my principles. His lust overpowered my dignity. People would mock me, and spit on me from now on. After all, I made out with the man who wiped away my bloodline. Pathetic BITCH, THAT’S WHAT I AM!! THAT’S WHAT I HAVE TURNED INTO!!”
Emmaline kept disparaging her. Her confidence turned null, she was thinking of herself as a loser, a disgrace. But the terrifying thing was that there was a smile on her face and tears in her eyes.
She was on the brink of insanity.
Emmaline would abruptly flinch and jerk back as she could still feel his hands on her. She would occasionally start rubbing her skin turning it red or would crawl backward while hallucinating him. She knew it was consensual, Damien didn’t force her. She was angrier at her subjugation, the way she gave her consent to the man who had always trampled on her pride.
While on the other hand, Matteo was dying of anxiety. He was worried that Emmaline would take some wrong step. He had the strength to break the door but kept quiet as he didn’t want to invade her privacy.
Matteo tracked her down with her cell phone but the scene he had espied before entering that dungeon was troubling him. Though his conscience was signaling him, he refused to believe his eyes. Emmaline’s crying face and the way she hugged him left him to conclude that Damien had forced her. He was exasperated and wanted nothing to break his bones but handling Emmaline was more important. That’s why after bringing her home, he decided to give her some space. But now he was regretting his decision.
Matteo couldn’t hear what she was saying though his ears were plastered on the door, trying to decipher her inaudible cries. Just to respect her privacy, he didn’t barge in but his heart sank when he heard her excruciating screams which kept turning louder and louder with every passing second.
“EMMA!! OPEN THE DOOR!! DON’T DO SOMETHING PLEASE!!” He implored and started fiddling with the lock.
“Damn, what should I do? What should I do?” He chanted while mentally praying for her well-being. His patience soon ran off.
“I am sorry God. Forgive me Emma but I have to do this.” Defeated, Matteo exhaled a heavy breath and started pushing the door through his right shoulder.
With a loud thud, the door burst open ripping off the hinges. Matteo barged inside and rushed to the shower room after hearing the sound of running water.
“Emmali-”
Screaming he entered but words died in his mouth as soon as the scene unfolded in front of his eyes.
Emmaline was lying on the floor. Her flawless porcelain skin was stained with numerous cuts that were bleeding. Her dress was torn revealing her legs, her cleavage, and her arms. Her eyes were bloodred as she stared at naught emotionlessly.
Matteo staggered back. His eyes turned moist watching his savage girl lying lifelessly on the floor. She paid no heed to her bare body; her elegance was no longer a concern for her. The spark in her ocean-deep eyes was missing. It was as if she had no will, to live anymore.
“B-Babe”
A croaked whisper escaped his mouth as he approached her on shaky legs. Turning off the shower, Matteo crouched on the floor and quickly unbuttoned his suit. Picking her from the ground, he covered her properly before brushing off the wet strands of hair gently that were covering her sad visage.
“Emmaline. It’s me Matt, your friend, sweetheart.”
He called her hopefully, trying to bring her back but Emmaline was lost in the abyss. Neither she resisted him when he scooped her into his arms nor uttered a word when he said comforting words in her ear.
Placing her on the bed, Matteo rushed to grab the towel from his closet. His eyes were shedding tears but ignoring them, he focussed his attention on Emmaline who was sitting idly in the middle of the huge bed.
“Stop pressurizing your tiny brain, Babe. You need it for the exams or else I will surpass you. But if you have any wish for making me the GS of the university, then I don’t have a problem.” He snickered and tried to cheer her up. Emmaline gave no response to his frivolous remarks. She didn’t even care when he was drying her hair with the towel.
Matteo was now starting to get scared by her silence. His hands started to shiver. Taking a seat in front of her, he wiped her face softly. Emmaline let him do as he pleased. Her blue eyes were on him and not on him. Cause her mind was hollow. She was blank from the outside and inside both.
Matteo sealed his lips into a thin line, trying to control his tears. Leaning forward, he grabbed her icy-cold hands in his warm ones and gave them a gentle squeeze.
“Emmaline,” he spoke and cupped her left cheek, “if you want to cry, do it. Empty your heart. If you want to scream, do that too. Otherwise, this pain will kill you from inside.” He encouraged her and pulled her into a tight hug. Grabbing the back of her head, Matteo pressed her more towards his chest and threaded his long fingers in her hair.
“Cry, I won’t judge you but come back, Emmaline. I need you. Your friends, your well-wishers, you also need yourself. Why are you wasting your precious time over that narcissistic pedophile? I assure you; no one would say anything to you.” He spoke and kissed her crown.
His heart swelled when Emmaline’s body shook a little. He just wanted to draw some reaction from her and was gladdened as he was slowly succeeding.
Massaging her scalp, Matteo again kissed her hair and tightened his hold on her, “Don’t care about anyone Emmaline. Just remember that no matter what happens, I will always trust you. I believe in you, Babe. You don’t have to worry about anything. Your friend will always stay by your side. I swear on my life, Em. You don’t have to fear anyone until and unless you have my back. And I promise you that you might forget me but I will always be there for you.” He spoke earnestly and placed his chin on her head.
Emmaline was overwhelmed. She could hear the sincerity in his words. Not even Jasper had ever comforted her this way.
Her dam finally broke. Gripping his shirt, she started crying loudly like a child. Matteo didn’t say anything and let her cry while rocking her back and forth.
She needed comfort, she really needed someone to help her ease her pain. Emmaline didn’t think about anything and cried for all her pains, her sufferings, her family, her dull life, and her sorrowful and sordid fate. She wept for the cruelty she was always subjected to. She sobbed for the torture she was always put through. The loneliness of all these years, the emptiness she had felt, the misfortune and troubles of her life, she extricated them all from her life in the form of tears,
“I-I am all alone, Matt. I really want to die n-now. I am t-tired of everything.” She hiccupped and shoved her head in his chest, too scared to even breathe in his presence.
Her broken words triggered a strong nerve in Matteo as his jaw tightened, “Who said you have no one? You have me. You’re my best friend.” He berated her as if she was a child.
Emmaline sniffed and nodded hesitatingly. His supporting words were slowly reviving her hopes, “Don’t l-leave me, Matt. I want to kill him. After ruining my life, he has now started playing with my mind.” She spoke in a panicked tone and quickly broke the hug making him startle.
“He will again come for me. I-I know him. This time he’ll ruin me. N-No, I won’t let him. I w-won’t let him touch me. NO!!” Shrieking, she pushed him back and hugged herself.
Matteo clenched his fists, digging his nails into his palm. Her traumatized state made his blood boil.
Very slowly, he scooted towards her and placed his palm over her crown. Emmaline stilled. Lifting her bloodshot eyes, she looked innocently at Matteo who was caressing her head while his gaze was soft.
“Nothing will happen to you. You trust me, right? I won’t let his shadow lurk near you. Don’t worry.” He cooed and continued consoling her.
Matteo was having trouble battling his emotions. The more he stared at her panicked form, the more his bloodthirst increased. He wanted to murder Damien as he had literally petrified the poor thing.
His words did something to Emmaline. Something clicked in her mind as a thoughtful look appeared on her face.
Matteo clammed up when he noticed the change. His brows furrowed when Emmaline shifted closer to him and removed his right hand from her head before engulfing them in her soft ones. A smile settled on his lips as he was delighted to see that she finally calmed down.
Bringing his hand closer to her chest, she hugged it tightly and peered at him through dampened eyelashes, “You will save me from him? Will you do what I will say, Matt? Tell me.” She questioned him like a child.
Matteo smiled and nodded, “Of course Babe.”
He spoke and caressed her cheek but his heart lurched in his throat after hearing her next words.
“Become my man then. Marry me.”
*****