She had always liked him. Not in the childish way of fairy tales and princess dreams but it was something confusing. She was seventeen. He was older. A lot older. He was her father’s most trusted guard. A man who said very little but always looked at her too long.

His name was Matteo.

Matteo wasn’t just any guard, he was one of the most feared guards. His presence was like smoke never in your face, but always around you. Aria had noticed him from the moment she turned sixteen. He wasn’t like the others. He didn’t flirt with the maids or smoke cigars by the garage. He always stood back at his post and sometimes, just sometimes, he looked at her like she was something more than Riccardo Romano’s daughter.

That night, it had rained. The kind of rain that soaked through walls and Aria couldn’t sleep. The house was quiet. Too quiet. The kind of silence that made you feel small.

And then she brought out her phone and texted him: “Come.” just one word.

She didn’t expect him to show. But ten minutes later, he stood in her doorway, soaked, breathing hard.

“You shouldn’t have called me,” he said.

“You came,” she answered.

He hesitated in the doorway like crossing that line would cost him something. It probably did.

She sat on the edge of her bed, hugging her knees. “You were out in the rain?”

“I was on duty,” he replied with a low voice.

“I just… I didn’t want to be alone.”

Matteo closed the door behind him.

He stood by the window, the thunder rumbling in the background. For a while, they didn’t say anything. Aria watched the raindrops race down the glass. Her chest felt tight.

“I hate it here,” she finally said. “I hate this house. These rules. My father. All of it.”

“I know.”

“They watch me all the time. Every second. Like I’m some… thing.”

“You’re not a thing.”

“You act like I am,” she snapped. “You all do.”

He turned to her. “I act like that because I’m supposed to protect you. That’s all I’m here for.”

“Then why do you look at me like you want to kiss me?”

And there the air thickened and the mighty matteo froze.

“Aria…”

“No one calls me Aria,” she whispered. “They all say ‘princess’ or ‘miss.’ You call me Aria.”

“Because you are Aria, the boss’s daughter, I'm a lot older,” he said. “And I’m not supposed to want you. But I do.”

She stood and walked over to him slowly. “Then don’t pretend.”

He didn’t move as she got closer. His hand lifted slowly, brushing the side of her face. Her eyes fluttered shut.

His lips were just inches away and just then…

BANG! The door slammed open.

“Get away from her you pervert!”

Her uncle, Gino, echoed as he drew his gun.

He charged in, grabbing Matteo by the collar and slamming him into the wall.

“Uncle, stop!” He

“You shut up!” Gino roared. “You bastard! You disgusting little coward… she’s seventeen!”

Matteo shoved back. “I didn’t touch her!”

“You were about to!”

“We were just talking.”

“I saw you, Matteo! I saw your damn face!”

Gino shoved him again, the gun still clutched tightly.

“You’re supposed to guard her, not fantasize about her! You’re twenty-freaking-five-years old!”

Matteo’s jaw clenched. “I will never hurt her. I never planned to.”

“You think that makes it better? You think Riccardo will spare you when he finds out?”

“He doesn’t have to know. I swear I'd leave.”

“But I know.” Gino cocked the gun.

“Don’t do this,” Matteo warned.

“She’s my niece! But after I'm done with you I'd cut off her tongue or her eyes and put it on you. That way she'd never turn into a whore ever again.”

Aria stood frozen. “Uncle,” Her heart raced, everything felt surreal.

“You think he loves you? What are you 9? Are you so desperate for love? Ah baby girl? Can't you see that he's going to use and dump you when he's done?”

The gun lifted and matteo lunged.

The gun fired but it was only a wild shot which crashed into the dresser, shattering a glass. The lamp exploded. Aria ducked as furniture toppled.

A knife came out of nowhere. A blur of silver. Matteo’s training kicked in and then one stab and Gino grunted, another stab. Gino screamed, blood sprayed as it hit Aria’s cheek.

“No!” She screamed.

Matteo pushed Gino down, panting hard. Gino crawled, reaching for the gun.

Matteo didn’t hesitate. He straddled him. Raised the blade again.

“Stop! Please… stop!” Aria screamed again but he didn’t, the knife kept going in and out of him until his face was covered in her uncle's blood.

“Matteo…” it came out as a whisper, her breath too unsteady to say a thing.

He plunged the knife into her uncle’s chest one last time. “Oh God” tears pricked in the corner of her eyes.

Gino’s body convulsed. Then stopped.

Matteo froze like he wasn't in control of his body early then he turned.

Aria was on the floor, trembling.

“You… you killed him.”

“He was going to kill me.”

“You stabbed him. Again and again. I begged you to stop… you didn't.”

“I had no choice.”

“You did!” she yelled. “You could’ve stopped!”

He took a step forward and she shrank back. “Don’t touch me.”

“I didn’t want this,” he whispered. “You have to believe me.”

“I don’t.”

“At first I thought no one would have fought like that for me but then you kept going on and on and on… you enjoyed it.”

He looked down at the body. With the blood on his hands and the knife.

“You know what? I hate you…”

“Aria, please let's leave here, come with me.” He said, his voice shaky.

“I'd love you one last time, now go and never come back again.” She said and after a while of looking at her he ran.

She followed his features through the hall, down the corridor, past the fountain just like that he was… gone.

Aria collapsed beside her uncle, sobbing.

“I’ll find you,” she whispered. “One day… I’ll find you and I’ll kill you.”

She meant it.

He had been the first boy she ever liked and the first man she swore she’d destroy.

She never forgot. Not even after the years passed. Not even when his name disappeared from the records. Not even when the nightmares faded.

The scar remained. She felt betrayed. And revenge? It was the only thing that kept her warm at night.