Damien Cortelli paced the small hotel room, the din light casting long shadows on the wall. The weight of his father's words from night before hung heavy in the air, pushing him to seek refuge away from the looming responsibilities of his family. Now, it was time to return home, but the thought filled him with a mix of dread and reluctance.
After a quick shower, he dressed and headed to the elevator. Pressing the button for the ground floor, he leaned against the cool metal wall, trying to clear his mind. Suddenly, the elevator jerked to a half. Damien frowned, glancing at the control panel, but it showed no signs of malfunction.Just as he contemplated hitting the emergency button, the doors slid open, revealing a stunning woman standing there.
"Damien!" she exclaimed, a sultry smile spreading across her lips. She was tall, her long, wavy chestnut hair cascading down her shoulders, and her figure was highlighted by a tight blue dress that left little to the imagination.
"What a pleasant surprise," she purred, stepping inside the elevator with an air of confidence.
"When did you get back from the States?" he asked, keeping his tone neutral.
"A month ago," she replied, her eyes sparking with mischief. "I was hoping to see you. Sicily is beautiful, but it's been full without you around."
"Are you enjoying it?" he inquired but the question felt hollow. Their relationship has never been anything serious–just two friends who shared a physical connection whenever their paths crossed.
"Umm, yeah...but I've missed the fun we used to have," she said, her index finger tracing a playful line down his chest, her gaze lingering as if trying to rekindle a spark that had long since fizzled out.
Before her finger could drift lower and could touch his belt, Damien caught her wrist, halting her advances. "Not anymore, Bella," he said, his voice firm but devoid of malice.
She looked at him, confused and disappointed. "Why? We've had our share of fun—remember all those times in the States? We were practically fuck buddies," she said, a hint of frustration creeping into her tone. "We've known each other forever!"
He took a breath, feeling the weight of the truth he had to deliver.
"Things have changed. I'm getting engaged today," he replied, letting the finality of his words settle between them
Her expression shifted, surprise washing over her features. "Wait...what?" she asked, momentarily taken aback.
"Yeah," he said, stepping back as the elevator doors opened on the ground floor. "I have to go."
As he walked out of the elevator and towards the hotel exit, he felt a mix of relief and heaviness in his chest. He was heading back to a life filled with expectations and responsibilities, leaving behind the casual encounters that had once been a welcome distraction. But with each step, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was leaving a part of himself behind, one that had reveled in freedom but now faced the certainty of the future.
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Around 3 PM, the Cortelli family reached Naples, and after another hour, they arrived at the Moretti mansion. Inside, Elena was still in her plain ivory-white dress with delicate floral prints, her long hair loose as she gazed at her reflection in the mirror. Suddenly, her younger sister, Mia, burst into the room, ice cream in hand.
"Ele, I got you ice cream!" Mia chirped.
Meanwhile, the Cortelli family had just been welcomed by Giovanni and Clara Moretti and made their way toward the living area. Damien, however, received a call and excused himself, stepping into the corridor to answer it.
Back upstairs, Mia continued to tease Elena with her favorite ice cream, playfully darting away with it. Without thinking, Elena chased after her, not realizing the Cortellis had already arrived. As they ran through the mansion, laughing, Damien finished his call and turned to head back. Suddenly, a small girl with two ice creams came sprinting toward him at full speed, stopping abruptly. One of the ice creams smacked right into his suit pants. It was none other than Mia.
Mia stood frozen, her eyes wide with fear as she looked up at Damien. His cold, green eyes were devoid of emotion. He took a step forward, his imposing presence looming over her. Just then, Elena rushed onto the scene, horrified to find Mia near Damien, especially after the mess she had caused.
"Mia!" Elena shouted, catching both Damien's and Mia's attention. Damien's eyes shifted from the ice cream to Elena, locking onto her. Mia quickly ran behind her older sister, seeking protection.
At that moment, Julian, their brother, came into view, freezing in place when he saw Damien standing with them. Enzo, their brother, immediately moved to shield Elena. "You can't come near our Ele!" Enzo declared protectively.
It was then that Damien realized this was his future fiancée, Elena Moretti. He scanned her from head to toe, taking in her appearance. Nervous but composed, Elena gently moved past Enzo and bowed in front of Damien, apologizing on Mia's behalf for ruining his suit. Without waiting for a response, she quickly gathered her siblings and hurried away, leaving Damien standing alone in the corridor.
Damien walked back into the living area, his expression as composed as ever, though his mind lingered on the brief encounter with Elena. He exchanged pleasantries with Giovanni and Clara Moretti, discussing family matters, business, and the future. The conversation was polite, but Damien's thoughts kept drifting. Soon enough, Giovanni turned toward one of the maids and requested, "Call for Elena."
Moments later, Elena entered the room with her siblings trailing behind her. Her movements were hesitant, as though she was reluctant to step into the room. She was no longer in her casual morning dress but now wore a long, soft pink gown that flowed elegantly to the floor. Her maid had tied her wavy hair into a messy ponytail, which only added to her delicate beauty.
Damien couldn't help but look at her again, noting how the dress complemented her slender frame, and the way her hesitant steps added a touch of innocence to her presence. She was beautiful—there was no denying it. His younger brother, Lorenzo, nudged him playfully, a teasing grin on his face.
"Bro, she's absolutely gorgeous. Breathtaking," Lorenzo whispered under his breath.
Damien's green eyes flicked to his brother in warning. "She's just a kid," he muttered, though something about the way he said it didn't quite convince him.
Their father, Giovanni, stood, a commanding presence in the room. "This is our eldest daughter, Elena Moretti," he announced with pride, gesturing toward Elena.
Elena bowed gracefully, offering a formal greeting, though her smile was forced, and her discomfort showed in her posture. Damien's sharp eyes caught the tension in her expression—the stiffness in her shoulders, the way her eyes didn't meet anyone's for too long. He could read her emotions easily, and right now, she seemed to want nothing more than to disappear.
A small voice suddenly interrupted the quiet atmosphere. "I'm Mia Moretti!" the youngest of the Moretti siblings piped up, standing beside Elena with a bright, innocent grin.
Sofia, Damien's younger sister, lit up at the sight of Mia. "Aww, you're so cute!" she exclaimed, leaning forward with an affectionate smile. "How old are you?"
Mia beamed, delighted by the attention. "I'm 5!" she answered, her voice cheerful and sweet, drawing soft chuckles from around the room.
Next, the older Moretti twins introduced themselves. "I'm Julian, and this is my twin brother, Enzo," Julian said, gesturing to his sibling.
As everyone took their seats, the atmosphere settled into a more relaxed state, but there was still a tension hanging between Damien and Elena. His eyes never left her, studying her every movement with a piercing intensity. Elena, on the other hand, seemed determined not to look at him, her gaze shifting around the room but never landing on him. She could feel the weight of his stare, and it made her heart race with nervousness.
Then, Lorenzo, ever the instigator, decided to stir the pot. "Why don't Elena and Damien get to know each other a bit?" he suggested with a mischievous smile. "They should talk in private, you know, so they can feel more comfortable with each other."
Elena's eyes widened in alarm, her gaze snapping to Lorenzo in disbelief. The mere thought of being alone with Damien filled her with dread. Her breath caught in her throat as she instinctively looked toward Damien. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes had darkened slightly, and that only made her more nervous. She quickly dropped her gaze, panic welling up inside her. The idea of being alone with him—this cold, intimidating man who barely showed any emotion—was terrifying. She wanted to escape, to run out of the room and hide, but she was trapped in the moment.
Not even in her worst nightmares had she imagined this scenario.
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