"Meet my older son, Dino." I can hardly believe my eyes. My mother’s new fiancé is a billionaire Mr. Alessandro. But it’s his son, Dino, who makes my stomach twist. Dino Alessandro, my worst high school nightmare. The boy who made every day a living hell, who left me with a scar that serves as a constant reminder of everything I endured. Now, he’s going to be my stepbrother. But Dino is different now. Gone is the reckless teenager, replaced by a charming, arrogant man who acts as if our past never happened. He seems intent on winning me over, pushing boundaries and testing limits, as if he can erase the hurt with a single smile. But I haven’t forgotten the scar he left on me. I swore to hate him forever. So why can’t I ignore the way my heart races whenever he’s near? When love and hate collide, will my past wounds finally heal, or will he scar me all over again?
Lihat lebih banyakEloise POV
"Eloise, how do I look?" Mom asked, twirling slightly, her eyes wide with anticipation. "Mom, this is the third time you’re asking me that," I replied, trying not to roll my eyes. "You look perfect." "Come on, can’t you see the difference?" She leaned in, pointing at her lips with a grin. "I’m wearing red lipstick instead." I laughed, shaking my head. "Oh, I see now. Looking hot." She beamed, fluffing her hair one last time as if this mysterious man she’d been going on about would notice every detail. Ever since she met him, I’d barely been able to have a single conversation with her that didn’t somehow circle back to him Alessandro, the "incredible," "successful," and, of course, "oh-so-charming" billionaire. Mom was head over heels. She’d light up every time she talked about him, and at first, it was sweet to see her so happy. But as the months rolled by, something didn’t sit right with me. Six months of whirlwind romance, secretive weekends away, and nonstop gushing… and now she wanted me to meet him, as if he was already part of the family. "Mom," I said, a bit more serious this time, "don’t you think you’re moving too fast? You guys only met six months ago." She gave me a playful look, waving off my concern. "Oh, Eloise, when you know, you just… know. I’ve never felt like this before. Alessandro is everything I’ve been looking for. He’s kind, caring, and he actually listens to me. Not to mention, he’s got the business acumen of a genius," she added, her eyes gleaming with admiration. I wanted to believe her, I really did. But part of me wondered if she was just so enchanted by his wealth and charm that she was seeing what she wanted to see, but I don't think so, we're also rich but not as wealthy as the Alessandro's. I didn’t say it out loud, though. I knew she’d just brush it off. "And besides," she added, adjusting her necklace, "he’s bringing his sons along today. I want you all to get along. I think you’ll find he’s… well, let’s just say he’s an interesting one." Her voice had a strange edge to it, and I could tell she was holding back some detail, her eyes shining with a mix of excitement and a hint of nerves. I sighed, feeling that twist of anxiety again. "Well, I guess we’ll see soon enough, won’t we?" "Of course, now get dressed! We don’t have much time," Mom said, glancing at her watch. "Mom, I’m already dressed." I looked down at my outfit a simple sundress and flats, perfectly fine for a Sunday Dinner. She raised an eyebrow, giving me that look. "What do you mean you’re dressed? You can’t follow me in… that." I sighed. My mom had a flair for fashion, always dressed like she’d just stepped out of a magazine. She loved bold colors, daring cuts, and, sometimes, outfits that made her look more like a twenty something influencer than a mom. But that was her: bold, unapologetic, and unafraid to stand out. And honestly, I admired her for it. She was young, after all. My mom had me when she was only 18, then married my dad three years later. When I was five, he passed away, leaving us to fend for ourselves. Since then, it’s been just me and Mom against the world. She’d put her life on hold to raise me, working tirelessly to make sure I had everything I needed, even if that meant making sacrifices most people couldn’t imagine. She’d always stayed strong, kept her chin up, and never let me see how hard things were. And now, after all those years, she finally found someone who made her feel young and free again Alessandro, the billionaire who seemed to sweep her off her feet like some modern-day Prince Charming. But I couldn’t shake that feeling, even as I admired her for taking this leap. This man had arrived out of nowhere, promising the world. Part of me wanted it to be real, but the other part worried she’d be hurt. "Fine," I muttered, heading back to my room to pick out something "acceptable" by her standards. I grabbed a blouse and swapped the flats for low heels, giving myself a final glance over in the mirror. I took a deep breath, preparing myself for what was about to be an interesting evening. Mom beamed as she saw me come out, satisfied at last. "That’s more like it. Now, let’s go meet the man who’s going to make us both feel like royalty." The restaurant was the kind you only saw in magazines, grand chandeliers casting a warm glow, soft music playing in the background, and tables draped in fine linen. Every detail screamed luxury, and I felt a little out of place, shifting nervously in my heels. As we entered, I spotted a tall man standing by one of the tables, smiling warmly as his eyes landed on my mom. She smiled back, her face lighting up in a way I hadn’t seen in years. That had to be him Mr. Alessandro. Charming, handsome, and clearly as wealthy as Mom had described. She walked straight over, wrapping her arms around him as they exchanged a kiss on each cheek, completely absorbed in each other. After a moment, she turned to me, her eyes bright. "Eloise, meet Alessandro…" “Alessandro, this is my daughter, Eloise,” she finished, practically beaming with pride. I extended my hand politely, and he took it with a firm grip, his smile warm and genuine. "Mr Alessandro, I’ve heard so much about you. Mom talks about you nonstop," I said with a soft chuckle. “Well, I’m the lucky one to have her,” Alessandro replied, glancing affectionately at Mom, who blushed like a teenager. I couldn’t help but smile too, though a small part of me was still cautious. “You sure are,” I said, casting a playful look at Mom. We settled into our seats, Alessandro guiding us to a table near the large bay window with an incredible view of the city lights. But as I glanced around, I noticed there were two chairs still empty. “So, Mr. Alessandro,” I started, trying to fill the silence as we looked over the menus, “it seems we’re missing someone?” He nodded, glancing at his watch with a small smile. “Yes, my sons should be here any minute now. I’m sure you three will get along great.” Mom gave me a little nudge, looking almost giddy. “I think you’ll like them, Eloise. They're… well, definitely unforgettable.”They met in a tight embrace, the kind of hug that made the world quiet again for a few seconds. “You didn’t tell me you were coming today,” Eloise said, her voice soft against her mother’s shoulder. “I wanted it to be a surprise,” Anne chuckled as she pulled back, cupping her daughter’s face briefly before brushing a few strands of hair behind her ear. “Well, your mother insisted,” came another voice from the corner, smoother, deeper. Eloise turned to see Alessandro, standing just a few steps inside, a glass in his hand and a small smile playing on his face. Before Eloise could say anything, Dino stepped into the house, his pace slower now, his features carefully arranged in something close to neutral. “Dad?” Dino greeted, eyes briefly meeting Alessandro’s. Then, “Anne.” “Dino,” Anne said warmly, pulling him into a hug just as she had Eloise, as if all the tension between them didn’t exist or perhaps, she chose to ignore it tonight. Dino hugged her back, but his eyes f
After he left, Eloise exhaled slowly and looked out the window. She had survived the first awkward encounter. She hadn’t flinched. She hadn’t cracked. And she wouldn’t. Even if Dino hadn’t come home last night. Even if he hadn’t called. Even if the silence between them was louder than ever. She would play it cool. Be professional. Focus on her goals. She had too much going for her to let emotions complicate things. But as the day stretched on, and she scrolled past another post dissecting the Alessandro family dynamic, her jaw clenched. She wasn’t just playing it cool. She had to be cool. Because the minute she let her guard down, she wasn’t sure what she’d do the next time she saw Dino. Or worse, what she’d let herself feel. Just before Eloise could slip into the rhythm of her work, the sharp sound of heels clicking against the polished floor interrupted the quiet hum of the office. Each step was too deliberate, too loud, and it was already clear who it was..
She closed the door gently behind her and leaned against it, letting out a slow, tired breath. Her phone buzzed softly from where she’d left it on the bed. She moved toward it without thinking, the screen lighting up with a new message. Her heart knew before her eyes confirmed it. Dino: "I won’t be coming home today." That was it. No explanation. No follow up. Just a quiet, distant line that made her stomach twist. She sat on the edge of the bed, phone still in her hand. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, unsure whether to type something sarcastic, neutral, or just nothing at all. A million thoughts raced through her head, most of them useless. What was she expecting him to say? That he missed her? That he’d come back tonight and act like nothing was changing? She dropped the phone beside her and rubbed her forehead, closing her eyes. This, whatever this was... was starting to blur. The line between what was real and what was just late night glances and lingering to
Her chest tightened a little at his words. “I’m okay,” she said, even though that wasn’t the full truth. “I’ve had worse.” “I know,” he replied quietly. “But I still wanted to hear it from you.” For a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence between them wasn’t awkward, it was thick with unspoken things. “Where are you right now?” she asked, needing something to ground the moment. “My father’s company,” he answered. “Going over some logistics for the expansion in Paris. It’s a mess here.” “Sounds fun.” “You’d hate it,” he said with a soft chuckle. “Noisy, chaotic, and too many people trying to suck up to my father.” Eloise smirked. “Yeah, definitely not my scene.” Another pause. “Eloise,” he said, his voice a little more serious now. “Yeah?” “We’ll I can deal with all that. Let them say whatever they want, gossip fades after all. But what’s between us...” He trailed off. Her heart skipped. “What’s between us?” He didn’t answer right away. Then, quietly, he
The next morning at the office felt unusually quiet. Eloise stepped into the building with a calm demeanor, but inside, her thoughts were a swirl of noise. She hadn’t had much sleep after last night’s conversation with Dino. It had stayed with her long after he left. The way he opened up, the weight behind his words... it all echoed in her mind, making her heart ache a little. She had always known Dino carried a lot, but hearing it from him directly changed everything. She walked through the familiar halls of the office with practiced ease, offering small smiles to a few colleagues on the way, but her mind was clearly elsewhere. Her desk was just as she left it organized, clean, and oddly comforting. She placed her bag down, booted up her computer, and took a deep sip from her warm coffee. Dino was away today, handling business matters at his father’s company, so the atmosphere was notably different without him around. A part of her missed him already, and it was ridiculous, cons
The silence stretched between them like an invisible thread, tying them together in a strange, heavy comfort. Dino could feel the weight of the unspoken words hanging in the air, his mind running over everything that had been said—and everything that hadn’t been said. His father’s voice still echoed in his ears, the words sharp and demanding. And yet, here he was, sitting next to Eloise, as if everything was fine.As if he could just forget about the suffocating pressure from his father and the constant expectations that seemed to define his every move.Dino glanced at Eloise again. Her eyes were focused on the TV screen, but there was something in her posture—a subtle tension in the way her body was angled, her lips pressed together—that told him she wasn’t as absorbed in the show as she appeared to be.He couldn’t help but wonder what she was thinking. Was she still bothered by the way he had been distant lately? Or was she starting to understand why he had been pulling away?He did
Dino’s phone rang again, and he groaned, already knowing who it was. He glanced at the screen Father and sighed. With a heavy pause, he answered, his voice taking on that familiar cool, distant tone.“Yeah?”His father’s voice came through the line, clear and commanding. “Dino, I need you at the office tomorrow.”Dino rubbed the back of his neck, already feeling the tension in his shoulders rise. “What for? I thought Luca was handling things.”“He is, but I need your input on something specific. These contracts with the foreign investors... this is big. I can’t leave this to anyone else.” His father’s tone was terse, and it didn’t leave much room for argument.Dino’s eyes briefly flickered to Eloise, who had turned her attention to the television, though her posture was rigid, as though she was trying to seem casual but clearly wasn’t. He rubbed his face, fighting the wave of frustration bubbling up inside. “I’m still dealing with things here. I’ve got enough on my plate.”“Enough? It
But as much as she enjoyed this distraction, she knew she couldn’t avoid Dino forever. And she had a feeling that when she got back home, he’d be waiting. Eloise stood at the entrance of the estate, gripping the strap of her bag as she stared at the sight before her. Sandra was draped over Dino like she belonged there, her manicured fingers tracing slow, lazy circles on his chest as she laughed at something he said. Eloise swallowed hard, forcing herself to take a deep breath. You knew this would happen, she told herself. You knew she’d be here. But knowing didn’t make it any easier. Dino hadn’t noticed her yet, too caught up in whatever Sandra was saying. Or maybe... maybe he had noticed and just didn’t care. That thought stung more than she wanted to admit. She stepped further inside, her heels clicking against the floor, finally drawing their attention. Dino’s gaze snapped to her instantly, his body tensing for just a fraction of a second before his expression smoothed into
Eloise groaned, sinking deeper into the couch. “You’re impossible.”Jess grinned, completely unfazed. “And yet, you love me.” She tossed a piece of popcorn into her mouth. “So, tell me how did this even happen? One minute you and Dino are bickering like enemies, and the next, you’re tangled in the sheets?”Eloise exhaled, staring at the ceiling as the memories flooded back. The way he had looked at her. Touched her. Claimed her. She felt the heat creeping up her neck and covered her face with her hands.“Eloise,” Jess nudged her. “Details. I need details.”Eloise peeked at her through her fingers. “Jess, I’m not going to sit here and narrate my sex life to you.”Jess pouted. “But I live for this kind of gossip.” She crossed her arms. “Fine. I’ll respect your privacy—”Eloise sighed in relief.“—but at least tell me who made the first move?”Eloise hesitated before muttering, “Him.”Jess gasped dramatically. “No way! Dino is all broody and possessive, but I never took him for the act f
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