COLD TRAP

Chapter 48 

MATTEO 

78% 

“One question, Mirabella, who really are you?” 

Fuck! 

Why does it always have to be me? 

Why do I have to go through this level of pain and heartbreak again? 

I spent the whole of last night baring my heart out to my wile, I opened myself up to her without knowing that she is twice as vile. 

I regret it all. 

The nights I laughed with her, the nights I made love to her, the nights I fucked her, letting her into my heart, confessing my feelings; I regret it 

all. 

But why me? 

Why did I have to go into her room when she wasn’t around? 

Why did she choose today of all days to leave her confidential documents out in the open? 

Why did I have to find out about my wife in this manner? 

God help me! 

My eyes well up with tears as I watch her frozen figure with nothing but a heavy heart. I want to be angry at her but I’m not, I want to hate her 

but I can’t.. 

She’s my undoing 

Why did I fall in love with her? What was I thinking forming a relationship with a Marcelo? 

“Ma–Matteo…Matteo, please let me explain.” Her lips quiver uncontrollably as she stutters through her words. 

Fuck! 

Why Mirabella? Why? 

Why have you ruined everything? 

“I have no 

She 

ouse for your explanation Mirabella, all I need from you is a sincere answer, Who are you?“. 

e gasps aloud at the hoarseness of my voice. it’s me, amore mio. It’s just me, Mirabella.” 

I push myself up on my feet with a strained growl. “Call me that again and I’ll snap your neck in half!” 

Heavy breaths. 

Chills run down my spine at the grim feeling of the living room. The boys are mounting on one corner with their heads lowered to the ground, my mother and Julia on another, both of them staring at Mirabella in disbelief. 

1.3 

78% 

Everyone in this room is still trying to process all this intense information. Everyone is still trying to understand how our bright, naïve and cheerful Mirabella could be… 

I can’t even get into the details. 

I shake my head ‘no‘ at her as a lone tear stains her cheek. “If you’ll not tell me who you really are Mirabella, then I have a few questions for you,” I almost whisper and she shakes her head in disagreement, mouthing ‘not here‘ as another tear wets her cheek. 

“Please Matteo… I’m sorry but we can’t talk about it like this. I promise to explain it all to you but you need to be calm. Please, I need you to stay calm.” 

My nose flares. “Am I not calm enough?” I scream. “What is it that you do that has made you the kind of money you have in your possession?” My first question slips out of my tongue and Mirabella stays silent, continuous whimpering escaping her throat. 

me to b 

“Listen to me, Mirabella, don’t you ever forget who you knew me to be earlier on in this union. The fact that I fucked you a few times and cried in your arms changes absolutely nothing. It’s either you open your mouth and start talking or I’ll come over there and force every answer out of you.” I warn in a monotone and for a moment, fear flashes through her eyes, her throat bobbing when she swallows hard on nothing 

“I’m a lab scientist, Matteo. I have my own research laboratory where other scientists pay to work on their projects,” 

I scoff “Is that all you do in there? Is that what you do that has generated over a billion dollars in cash for you? Tell me Mirabella.” 

Silence. 

She continuously shakes her head at me, sob after sob wracking through her. 

“Second question. Do you head an organized crime group called S.E.E.D?” 

She throws her head back, her body vibrating from the long shuddered breath she lets out. “Yes.” It’s a whisper that passes through the air like a hushed murmur. Unable to hold my intense stare, she looks away. 

Humorless laughter bubbles out of me, my tongue darting out, swiping across my dry bottom lip with one question playing at the back of my mind; whom did I marry? 

“Third question. Did your organization raid Russia?” 

*Please stop.” She sobs, her fingers digging into her scalp viscously. “Don’t do this Matteo, please” Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

“Answer mel” 

She covers her mouth in an attempt to hold in the loud sob threatening to break through her. “Yes. But it was for-“I cut her off. 

“Didn’t ask for details. If you wanted me to know, then you should have talked to me about it before now.” 

Deafening silence 

“Fourth question. Are you in possession of The Seed? Are you the scientist who processes it into torture drugs and supplies to the Yakuza?” This time, she nods her response without uttering a word. 

I scoff. Who the hell did I marry? How has she maintained such level of deceit for this long? 

“Fifth question,” I murmur, knowing that this question is coming from a place of jealousy. I should be angry at my wife but here I am seeking reassurance from her. “Did you bring your lover into this house to pose as a therapist?” 

12:22 Sat, 22 Jun 

Her eyes widen in disbelief, her head relentlessly shaking in disagreement. “What? No…I’d never. Ares…he’s my best friend, my brother even. He heard what had happened and he wanted to see me, I didn’t even know he was here until I met him. I swear.” 

Good. 

If that wasn’t the case, I sure would’ve done very vile things to whatever his name is. 

“Last question. Did you come into this family with the intention of getting rid of us just so your father can become the Don?” 

Her mouth completely drops open but no words come out of it. She shakes her head with widened eyes. 

It’s not true. 

My legs move in long, angry strides until I’m toe to toe with her. I’m looking down at her but she wouldn’t look up at me. “Answer me.“1 whisper as my breath picks up its pace. 

Her head shakes, her hands clutching her shirt tightly. 

“Answer me Mirabella.” My voice drops a few octaves lower, coming out thick, hoarse and husky. 

“Matteo…I–H……. 

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