Chapter 2

Not long after, a tall, handsome guy with an easy smile walked toward us. His dark hair was styled perfectly, and he had the kind of effortless confidence that only comes from being comfortable in places like this.

“Ahh, here he is," Alessandro said, standing up with a grin. "This is Luca." He turned to us. "Anne, Eloise, meet my younger son, Luca."

Luca gave my mom a warm smile before turning to me, his handshake firm but friendly. “Nice to finally meet you, Eloise. My dad’s been going on and on about this dinner.”

I managed a polite smile, still processing everything. There was a warmth in Luca’s eyes, a friendliness that made him instantly likable.

Then Luca leaned toward his father, murmuring something. Alessandro nodded, and with a slight frown, he turned to us. "Well, it seems Dino won’t be joining us today. He’s still tied up on a business trip and won’t make it back in time.”

“Oh, what a shame," my mom said, sounding genuinely disappointed. "I was hoping we’d meet the whole family tonight."

Alessandro shrugged, trying to brush it off. "He’ll be around soon enough. For now, let's enjoy our evening."

We all settled into our seats, the soft clinking of silverware and low hum of conversation filling the air. Alessandro and Mom were chatting like they’d known each other forever, exchanging little laughs and glances that made it clear how close they’d become in such a short time. Meanwhile, Luca was sitting across from me, studying the menu, but he shot me a friendly smile when he noticed me looking.

“So, Eloise,” he began, setting down the menu, “how do you feel about your mom and my dad getting together?”

I hesitated, not wanting to come off as skeptical, though I couldn’t deny the mix of emotions I felt.

“Well, I just want her to be happy. She deserves it.” I glanced at her, and she was laughing at something Alessandro had whispered to her.

“That she does,” Luca agreed, a soft smile on his face. “My dad’s been through a lot too. It’s good to see him… you know, really smiling again.”

I nodded, surprised to feel a little wave of comfort from his words. It wasn’t often I met people who seemed to actually get it. And Luca, despite his polished, billionaire background, had a warmth about him that put me at ease.

“Anyway,” he said, turning back to me, “I’d better warn you about Dino before you meet him.”

“Warn me?” I raised an eyebrow, feeling a mix of curiosity and caution.

Luca chuckled. “He’s… well, let’s just say he’s got a bit of a reputation. He’s all business, no nonsense. Maybe a little… intense?”

I forced a laugh, feeling a knot form in my stomach. It sounded all too familiar. Memories I’d tried to leave in the past started resurfacing, and I pushed them back, trying to keep my composure.

“But he’s my brother,” Luca continued, oblivious to my inner turmoil. “Once you get past the hard shell, he’s a good guy.”

I nodded, swallowing down my unease. “Good to know. I’ll… keep that in mind.”

The food arrived shortly after, and as we dug in, the conversation flowed effortlessly. Alessandro shared stories from his travels, and Luca chimed in with tales from their family vacations and business events, making even Mom laugh. For a while, it felt… easy, almost like we were a real family already.

But every so often, I’d catch Alessandro or Mom looking at each other with that spark in their eyes.

***

The day after dinner, Alessandro invited us again to his house for lunch. I could tell Mom was thrilled. She spent the entire morning picking out an outfit, fussing over every detail, and asking me a dozen times if her hair looked okay. I couldn't help but smile at her excitement, even if I felt a little nervous myself.

When we arrived at Alessandro's estate, I was momentarily speechless. The house was enormous, a sprawling mansion surrounded by manicured gardens, with large windows and elegant stonework that made it look like something straight out of a magazine. I hadn’t fully understood just how wealthy Alessandro was until now.

We were greeted by a butler who led us through the grand entryway. My eyes roamed over the high ceilings, intricate chandeliers, and the artwork on the walls. It was a world so different from ours, and as much as I wanted to stay composed, it was hard not to feel a little out of place.

Alessandro met us in the living room with a warm smile, giving Mom a quick kiss on the cheek before turning to me. “Welcome to my home, Eloise. I hope you’ll feel comfortable here.”

“Thank you. It’s… beautiful,” I said, still a little in awe.

We settled into the living room, sipping on drinks as Alessandro and Mom chatted. Everything seemed perfect, almost too perfect until I heard footsteps approaching from the hallway. I turned, and there he was.

The guy walking toward us was tall, with dark, disheveled hair and a look of mild disinterest. It took me a second to realize who he was, but the realization hit me like a punch to the gut. Dino. My high school bully, the one who made my life miserable, now staring at me with a look of mild surprise, as if he couldn’t believe his eyes either.

“Dino,” Alessandro said with a broad smile, gesturing to me and my mom. “This is Anne and her daughter, Eloise. Anne and I have been… getting to know each other quite well.”

Dino’s gaze fixed on me, his expression unreadable. For a split second, I thought I saw a flicker of recognition and maybe even regret but it was gone as quickly as it appeared.

“Eloise,” he said slowly, as if testing the name. “It's nice to meet you.”