Chapter 26

• Ellis entered her house, her heavy footsteps lightly echoing in the peaceful surroundings. The meeting had been more intense than she had imagined. The way Vittorio looked at her, with that mix of resentment and memories, made her heart race in a way she wasn't prepared to handle.
• She let her bag drop to the floor and collapsed onto the couch, sinking into the soft cushions. She closed her eyes and let out a deep sigh, trying to clear her mind. No matter how hard she tried to focus on the issues discussed during the meeting, her thoughts kept drifting back to those shared moments with Vittorio. She had forgotten the power of attraction between them, but now it was all resurfacing with overwhelming force. She couldn't deny the lingering attraction between them, despite all the reasons to keep her distance.
• As she replayed the meeting in her mind, she couldn't help but notice that Vittorio seemed more restrained than before. She thought about the family he had formed with Eleonora and how that might have influenced his demeanor. Part of her felt a mix of relief and sadness at this.