The Sweetest Temptation
Chapter 276: Brother’s Quarrel

Chapter 276: Brother’s Quarrel

"Alright, fine. I’ll make myself at home," Remo responded dismissively, pushing himself up and sauntering towards the bar table, where the decanter of rum and the vacant glass awaited. "I never thought you’d be so angry that you wouldn’t even pour your own baby brother a drink," he continued, bringing the glass to his lips and taking a deliberate sip. Throughout his actions, his gaze remained fixed on Matteo, who appeared engrossed in his work at the desk.

"I know you’re not really working. It’s hard for you to concentrate with your arch enemy in such close proximity," Remo teased, taking purposeful steps towards Matteo. "I never thought I’d witness the day you’d be so riled up," he added, drawing nearer. With each deliberate stride, he sensed the growing intensity of Matteo’s anger. He chuckled lightly, closing the final distance between himself and Matteo’s table, carefully setting down the glass.

"How deeply has she gotten under your skin?" He inquired, leaning forward with a smirk etched upon his face. In the next instant, Matteo sprang to his feet, his fist landing forcefully beside Remo’s face, causing him to stagger a few steps away from the table. Remo turned to face Matteo, a wicked grin adorning his features, as he shifted his jaw sideways, testing its range of motion with his fingers.

"You’ve improved your punches. I never realized love could transform a man like this," Remo remarked with a mischievous gleam in his eyes.

Matteo lifted his glass to his lips, consuming the remaining contents in one swift gulp. He closed his eyes tightly, feeling the fiery burn as it coursed through his throat, igniting a warmth that settled soothingly in the pit of his stomach.

"What brings you here?" he asked, sinking back into his seat. Meanwhile, Remo checked himself for any signs of injury, only to feel the familiar sensation of dense liquid trickling down his nose, gradually reaching his lip. He brought his thumb to his nose, wiping it once, a smile forming as he observed the crimson smudge in his hand. "You’ve certainly toughened up," Remo commented with a chuckle, once again taking hold of his glass and downing its remaining contents in one swift motion.

"You really care for her, don’t you?" He pressed further, pulling out the chair opposite Matteo and sinking into its cushion. "So, what’s holding you back?"

Matteo looked up from his desk, his gaze locking with Remo’s serious expression, before returning to his pseudo task. A deep sigh escaped him as he contemplated his reply. "I don’t know," he admitted wearily.

"How can you not know? It’s painfully obvious that you love her," Remo emphasized. The mention of the word ’love’ triggered an expression of exasperation on Matteo’s face.

"What do you know about love?" Matteo questioned wearily, his hand reaching up to run through his hair as he wrestled with the torrent of thoughts flooding his mind. Thoughts about how Stella had seemingly fallen into Remo’s trap.

"I know what you’re thinking," Remo responded knowingly, capturing Matteo’s attention once more as their eyes locked. "But if you waste your time dwelling on how she got entangled with me, you might end up losing her for real. I, too, appreciate a good thing."

A surge of fury transformed Matteo’s eyes into a bloodshot blaze. He surged to his feet, swiftly closing the distance between himself and Remo. With a grip fuelled by rage, he seized Remo’s shirt, hoisting him up to meet his furious gaze.

"If you dare refer to her as a thing, I’ll ensure you never use your tongue again," Matteo warned coolly, his voice seething with anger.

"Poor girl has you wrapped around her finger, yet she remains oblivious," Remo added, his playful gaze mirroring Matteo’s steely stare with the same intensity. Matteo trembled violently, his yells echoing through the room as he launched Remo backward with a forceful push. Remo staggered, swiftly regaining his balance as he moved away.

"I can’t," Matteo declared in a matter-of-fact tone, each word tinged with pain. He returned to his seat, leaning back and taking several deep breaths in a desperate attempt to calm the storm of conflicting emotions within him. His palm pressed against his chest, seeking to ease the persistent ache that gnawed at him.

"All you’re doing is subjecting her to the pain of your own past. Whether you like it or not, she knows nothing about the experiences that made you hesitant to give your love," Remo explained calmly, his voice cutting through the heated atmosphere.

"What makes you so sure she won’t turn against me like the others?" Matteo shouted, his words dripping with raw sentiment. He placed his palms against his temples, swiveling in his chair in a soothing motion.

"Because she made it clear the night we were together," Reno replied, his gaze meeting Matteo’s glacial ones as he delivered his response.

"What do you mean, the night you were together?" Matteo questioned, his voice laced with uncertainty.

"Don’t panic, nothing happened between us," Remo replied nonchalantly, waving his hand in exasperation. Matteo’s fists clenched tightly in response, his skepticism evident. Remo could see the tension in his arms, causing him to raise both hands in surrender.

"I have no reason to lie to you, brother. There’s no need to overreact. Sheesh! If you truly love her, why don’t you use this strength to confront your emotions and accept whatever may come?" Remo posed the question, dropping his hands to his sides once again.

Matteo lowered his gaze, shutting his eyes as his shoulders slumped with resignation. "It’s not as easy as it sounds."

"If it were easy, you wouldn’t have pursued her in the first place," Remo countered. The room fell silent, save for the gentle rhythm of their hearts pounding in their ears.

"I’ll leave you to your thoughts. But the reason I came here was to warn you," Remo spoke sternly, breaking the silence. Matteo raised his gaze, meeting Remo’s expectant stare as he awaited the rest of his statement. "If you take too long, I’ll go ahead and do whatever it takes to win her for myself. Do we have an agreement?"

Fury glinted in Matteo’s eyes, but he knew there was little he could do. If anything, it was a fair deal when considering Stella’s well-being. If Remo’s words held truth and Stella was caught in the grip of unrequited love, then he was undoubtedly at fault, subjecting her to a love experience tainted by regret.

"I’ll take that as a yes. See you soon, brother," Remo added, springing to his feet and making his way toward the door.

"Remo," Matteo called out, drawing his attention back. Remo turned to face him, awaiting his words.

"Yes, brother?"

"Thank you," Matteo mumbled under his breath, his gaze shifting away. He heard Remo chuckle softly before the door opened and closed, signalling his departure from the room. He sighed and sunk back in his seat, taking in the peace that came with being left with his thoughts alone.

****

Remo made his way to his car, sinking purposefully into his seat. "Drive." He commanded, and immediately, the driver started the car. As they embarked on the trip, Remo took out a folded piece of paper from his pant pocket, unfolding it with careful hands, and peering at it. The moment his gaze settled on the image, a tender longing softened his features. It was the picture of a woman, her smiling expression capture in a frozen moment of time.