Chapter 3

I managed a tight smile, trying to ignore the way my pulse was racing. “Yeah… nice.”

“Nice to meet you too,” I replied coolly, keeping my tone steady.

Not nice to meet you, I thought to myself, brushing aside the fact that we knew each other.

Mom smiled, glancing between Dino and his father. “You look so much like your father, Dino.”

She was right; there was a striking resemblance. Both shared the same intense dark eyes and a jawline that seemed carved from stone. Alessandro’s features had softened with age, but Dino… he had an edge that made him almost intimidating.

Dino’s mouth curved into a small smile, as if used to hearing this comparison. “I get that a lot.”

I managed a tight smile of my own, keeping my expression neutral. It was strange, sitting across from someone who had been such a painful part of my past, and watching him play the role of a polished, polite son. It was as if he had wiped out everything he’d done back then.

The conversation carried on lightly between Mom, Alessandro, and Dino, with me nodding occasionally but staying mostly silent. I couldn’t focus; the sound of his voice, smooth and confident, grated against my memories. Every laugh, every word felt like a reminder of the boy who used to taunt me mercilessly.

Then it happened.

Dino reached for his drink, casually tapping his fingers on the table in a rhythmic pattern as he spoke to Alessandro. Tap. Tap-tap. Tap.

My blood ran cold.

It was the same pattern. The exact same tapping he’d use on his desk before mocking me in front of the class. It was his signal, his way of building suspense before delivering whatever cruel insult he had prepared. Back then, it always sent a shiver down my spine, knowing I was moments away from humiliation.

The sound yanked me back in time, like a slap to the face. Suddenly, I was sixteen again, sitting in the back of the classroom, bracing myself for whatever cruel joke he’d make about my clothes or my hair.

I couldn’t breathe.

“Excuse me,” I mumbled, standing up abruptly. My chair scraped loudly against the floor, earning a few curious looks.

“Eloise?” Mom’s voice was filled with concern.

“I… I need some air,” I stammered, avoiding everyone’s eyes. Without waiting for a response, I turned and hurried out of the room, my heart pounding in my chest.

The moment I was outside, I leaned against the nearest wall, gasping for air. My hands were trembling, and I pressed them to my temples, trying to steady myself.

Why now? Why was he here, forcing his way back into my life when I’d spent years trying to forget? And why, after all this time, did one simple tap on the table still have the power to unnerve me?

I closed my eyes tightly, willing myself to calm down. But the memory was too vivid, his voice from the past echoing in my head.

“Run, little mouse. Let’s see how far you get.”

I shook my head violently, as if that could banish the memory. But it didn’t matter. Dino Alessandro wasn’t just my mother’s fiancé’s son. He was my nightmare, come to life again.

“Eloise?” Mom’s voice called softly as she stepped outside. Her heels clicked against the stone path, growing louder as she approached. “Are you okay?”

I straightened up quickly, forcing a smile that I knew didn’t quite reach my eyes. “I’m fine, Mom. It’s just…” I trailed off, unsure of how to explain the storm raging inside me.

Her brows knitted in concern, and she tilted her head. “Is it… is it starting again?” she asked carefully, her tone laced with worry.

“Of course not, Mom,” I said quickly, a little too quickly. “Go back inside. I’ll join you in a minute.”

She hesitated, studying me as though she could see through my words. I could feel her mom-radar working overtime, but eventually, she nodded. “Alright. Just don’t take too long, okay?”

I watched her retreat into the house, her figure disappearing behind the heavy door. My shoulders sagged as I let out a shaky breath.

Is it starting again? Her words echoed in my mind, a reminder of the battle I thought I had won. Years of therapy sessions, long talks with counselors, and countless nights crying into my pillow after the last torment, had finally given me the tools to move on or so I’d thought.

And of course, Mom didn’t know. She didn’t know Dino. If she did… I shook my head at the thought. She would lose it if she knew the polished man she had just praised was the same boy who had caused me so much pain.

The therapy sessions weren’t for nothing. They’d helped me put the pieces back together, to make sense of who I was without the weight of Dino’s torment hanging over me. But now? Seeing him again, hearing that voice, those subtle mannerisms, it felt like the scar I had buried so deep was being ripped open.

I pressed a hand to my chest, steadying myself. 'No, Eloise. You’re not that girl anymore. You’ve grown stronger, smarter. You won’t let him take that from you again.'

I glanced at the door. I wasn’t sure how I’d face him again tonight

I stood outside for a few more moments, the cool breeze brushing against my face. It was calming, but it couldn’t erase the unease feeling. I took a deep breath and squared my shoulders. You can do this, Eloise. You’ve faced worse.

When I walked back into the house, I could hear the low hum of conversation from the dining room. Mom was laughing at something Alessandro said, and the sound only deepened the surreal nature of the evening. How could she be so happy, so unaware, while I was unraveling inside?

“Eloise!” Mom’s voice brightened the second she saw me reenter. “Everything okay now, sweetheart?”

“Yeah,” I replied with a forced smile, avoiding Dino’s gaze as I returned to my seat. “Just needed a moment.”

Alessandro raised his glass in a subtle toast. “You’re right on time. Dino was just telling us about some of his plans for his business.”

I glanced at Dino, who had leaned back in his chair with the confidence of someone who owned the world or at least wanted to. His smirk was faint but there, like a shadow, as though he knew something no one else did.

“Oh, really?” I said flatly, hoping my lack of enthusiasm wasn’t too obvious.

“Yes,” Dino said smoothly, his voice calm and measured. “We’ve been working on expanding into international markets. It’s an exciting challenge.”

I nodded, trying not to roll my eyes. “Sounds… ambitious.”

“Ambition is necessary,” he said, his gaze flickering to me for just a moment before returning to Alessandro. “Wouldn’t you agree?”

I bit back the sharp retort on the tip of my tongue. felt like he wasn’t talking about business anymore. The way he spoke, the subtle challenge in his tone, it was like he was daring me to crack. To show the others what was bubbling beneath the surface.

Mom cut in before I could respond. “Well, I think it’s wonderful! Dino, you must be such a hard worker.”

He inclined his head slightly, that faint smirk still in place. “I do what I can.”

"Sorry I'm late everyone" Luca came in rushing into a chair like a hungry Lion.

Everyone exchanged greetings with Luca, then the table fell into a comfortable rhythm again, or at least comfortable for everyone else. I sat quietly, picking at my food and letting the conversation flow around me. Every now and then, I felt Dino’s eyes on me, sharp and calculating. Each glance was a reminder of the past I wanted to forget but couldn’t.

Then it happened again.

Mom was in the middle of telling Alessandro a story about a recent client when Dino’s hand, resting casually on the table, began to tap.

Tap. Tap-tap. Tap.

The same pattern, the same sound that had rattled me outside. My fork slipped from my fingers and clattered onto my plate, drawing everyone’s attention.

“Eloise?” Mom asked, her voice filled with concern.

“I—” I started, but my voice faltered. Dino’s expression didn’t change, but I swore there was a glint in his eyes. He knew exactly what he was doing.

“I’m fine, I'm sorry,” I lied quickly, forcing a smile as I picked up the fork. “Just clumsy tonight.”

Dino’s gaze lingered on me for a beat too long before he finally looked away, resuming his conversation with Alessandro as though nothing had happened.

But something had happened. It wasn’t just the tapping or the memories it stirred, it was the realization that Dino hadn’t forgotten anything. He remembered me, remembered everything, and now he was playing a game I hadn’t agreed to.

And the worst part? He might be winning.