"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?
View MoreBryan was mid sentence, explaining something about the new project when I saw her, Sandra Hill. My breath hitched, a sharp, involuntary reaction as my heart slammed against my ribs. I didn’t think, I just grabbed the nearest file from my desk and practically threw it up in front of my face, pretending to be deeply engrossed in its contents. My hands trembled slightly, but I gripped the folder tighter, using it as a flimsy shield against a ghost from my past. Bryan paused, arching a brow. “Uh… are you hiding from someone, or is that file suddenly the most fascinating document in the history of paperwork?” His voice was light, teasing, but I didn’t drop the file. “Shh,” I hissed, cutting him off with a sharp whisper. My eyes darted over the top edge, just enough to catch a glimpse. There she was. Sandra’s sharp heels clicked confidently against the polished marble floor, a rhythmic, arrogant staccato that echoe
When I got home, the familiar scent of lavender-scented candles greeted me. I kicked off my shoes by the door, feeling the exhaustion of the day settling deep in my bones. The bandage on my hand tugged slightly as I adjusted my bag, a sharp reminder of the chaos I’d been trying to forget. Mom’s voice floated from the kitchen, light and cheerful. "Eloise, you’re home! Just in time." I forced a smile as I stepped into the kitchen, where she was stirring something in a pot, her face glowing with excitement. "Hey, Mom." "How was work?" she asked, glancing at my hand with a brief frown before I could tuck it behind my back. "Fine. Just busy," I replied quickly, not in the mood to relive the office drama. She didn’t press, thank God. Instead, she wiped her hands on a dish towel and turned to me, her eyes sparkling with the kind of excitement that instantly put
"Fair enough," he said quietly, his tone measured. "I wasn’t exactly proud of who I was back then." I blinked, caught off guard by his admission. "What?" "You heard me," he said, his gaze steady. "I’ve made mistakes, Eloise. I was arrogant, selfish, and yeah, I hurt people. But I’ve changed or at least, I’m trying to. People like Amelia remind me of who I used to be, and I don’t want that in my company." I stared at him, unsure how to respond. The Dino I remembered wouldn’t have admitted to any of that, let alone shown any remorse. "Why are you telling me this?" I asked cautiously. "Because I don’t want you to think I’m that guy anymore," he said simply. "I know I can’t erase the past, but I can make damn sure it doesn’t define my future." For a moment, the room was silent except for the faint hum of the air conditioning. I didn’t know what to say. Part of me wanted to believe him, but another part of me was still holding onto the anger and hurt from years ago. "I’ll hol
The lady sneered, crossing her arms. “Maybe next time you’ll watch where you’re going.” “What’s going on here?” a deep voice demanded. I looked up to see Dino standing in the doorway, his eyes narrowing as he took in the scene. His gaze shifted to me on the floor, my bleeding hand, and then to the lady standing above me. “She wasn’t paying attention,” the lady said, her tone suddenly defensive. “She ran into me.” Dino’s jaw tightened, his eyes dark with anger. “Is that why she’s bleeding? Because she ran into you?” The lady opened her mouth to argue, but Dino raised a hand to stop her. “Enough. Just leave. Now.” She hesitated, her eyes darting between Dino and me, before huffing and storming off. Dino knelt beside me, his expression softening. “Let me see,” he said gently. I reluctantly held out my hand, wincing as he inspected the cut. “This looks deep,” he said, his voice tight. “We need to get you to the nurse’s office.” “I’m fine,” I said, trying to push myself
Jess sent a heart emoji. “Well, I’m just happy you’re handling it. If you need me to sneak into your office and ‘accidentally’ spill coffee on Bryan, just say the word." I laughed out loud. “I’ll keep that in mind." “Okay, but seriously, if you need to vent or anything, I’m here for you. Don’t let those office dramas get to you, alright?” she added with a supportive emoji. I smiled. “Thanks, Jess. I’ll be okay. It’s just a lot to take in right now.” “Anytime. You got this!” Jess sent with a fist-bump emoji. I smiled as I read Jess's last message. She always knew how to make me laugh, even if it was with her random emojis. I don’t know how she does it, but somehow she manages to pack so much emotion in just a few characters. Meanwhile, me? I stick to the basics straight to the point, like a police report. Emojis confuse me more than anything, but Jess? She’ll toss a hundred in a single message just to add some flair. I shook my head, still grinning. It’s funny how we balance
It was almost lunch, and the office seemed quieter than usual. Bryan had suggested we grab a bite at a restaurant nearby, but I’d refused. I wasn’t in the mood for his brand of company. As I worked through a report Charlotte had handed me, I noticed the sound of footsteps approaching from behind. The rhythm was slower than Bryan's hurried pace, more measured, familiar. I didn’t have to look up to know who it was. “Why are you still working? It’s lunch time,” Dino’s voice broke through, smooth and casual. I glanced at him, not bothering to hide my frustration. “Because I have work to do. Some of us take our jobs seriously.” Dino chuckled softly, leaning against the doorframe. “You know, you’re in the office, and yet you seem so far away. Always running away from me, Eloise.” I bit b
Eloise’s POV Monday morning arrived with a sharp chill in the air, perfectly mirroring the tension coiled in my stomach. Prestige Global’s sleek, glass-enclosed headquarters loomed ahead, its modern architecture both intimidating and impressive. I stepped inside, clutching my bag a little tighter, determined to keep my emotions in check. Today wasn’t about Dino or the chaos of the weekend. It was about securing my future. The receptionist greeted me with a professional smile. “Good morning, Ms. Carter. Mr. Dino is expecting you. Please take the elevator to the 15th floor.” I nodded politely, my heart beating a little faster as I stepped into the elevator. The ride up felt eternal, and by the time the doors slid open, I’d steeled myself for what was to come. Dino was waiting for me in his office, his usual confidence dimmed by something more solemn. He rose from behind his desk as I entered, gesturing for me to take a seat. “Eloise,” he started, his tone polite but careful.
Dino’s POV The night had been a whirlwind, and now I was home, still seething over what had transpired earlier. I walked through the grand hall of our estate, frustration weighing heavily on my chest. I wasn’t sure what exactly had gone wrong until I remembered the conversation with my father at the gala. He had been adamant about the job offer, about pushing Eloise into our lives. But now, it was clear that something I hadn’t understood had shifted between us. I wasn’t blind, I could see how she was distancing herself, and it didn’t sit well with me. I was angry. And I wasn’t sure if it was directed at Eloise for pulling away, or at my father for what I now realized he might have said to her. I stormed into his study without knocking. The room was dark, lit only by the dim glow of a desk lamp. My father sat behind his large oak desk, a glass of whiskey in hand, his expression unreadable. “You’ve got a lot of nerve, you know that?” I spat, barely controlling the anger in m
We drove in silence, the weight of everything still hanging in the air. When we finally arrived home, Jess and I headed upstairs. "Hey, you need rest. It's been a long day," she said softly. I nodded, too tired to argue. I headed straight for the shower, letting the hot water soothe my mind for a brief moment before I wrapped myself in a towel and got into bed. Jess soon joined me after her shower, slipping into the bed beside me. I turned off the lights, trying to unwind, but my mind kept drifting back to everything that had happened. My phone rang, interrupting my thoughts. It was a call from Mom. "I'll take it," Jess said, grabbing the phone from the nightstand. She answered it quickly, her voice muffled as she spoke to Mom. I couldn’t hear their conversation, but from the tone, I could tell she was reassuring Mom that I was already asleep. I closed my eyes, letting the quiet of the room lull me into a sense of calm, grateful for Jess’s presence by my side as I drifted of
Eloise 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...
Welcome to GoodNovel world of fiction. If you like this novel, or you are an idealist hoping to explore a perfect world, and also want to become an original novel author online to increase income, you can join our family to read or create various types of books, such as romance novel, epic reading, werewolf novel, fantasy novel, history novel and so on. If you are a reader, high quality novels can be selected here. If you are an author, you can obtain more inspiration from others to create more brilliant works, what's more, your works on our platform will catch more attention and win more admiration from readers.
Comments