_Matteo's POV_
As the realization settled in, a storm of emotions surged through me, each wave crashing harder than the last. I felt my jaw tighten, my teeth grinding together as I looked at the trembling maid. Betrayal and anger mixed into a toxic brew inside me, threatening to boil over. But underneath it all, a deep, gut-wrenching regret gnawed at my core. How could I have doubted Thalassa? My mate, the one who was supposed to be my other half, my equal. The woman I had promised to protect and cherish above all else.
My thoughts drifted back to the moments I had spent with Thalassa. Her laughter, her strength, the way her eyes sparkled with love. I had let doubt cloud my judgment, allowed the poisonous lies to seep into my mind, tainting my view of her. I had failed her in the worst w
