CH-3

VIN’S POV

By the time I reached the hotel, the night had already settled heavily over the city. The streets outside were glowing under rows of streetlights, and the glass walls of the tall buildings reflected the quiet elegance of the late evening.

My driver stopped at the entrance, and the moment I stepped out, the doorman greeted me politely and opened the large glass doors.

The lobby was extravagant—far more than I had expected.

Marble floors reflected the golden chandelier light above, and the air smelled faintly of expensive perfume mixed with fresh flowers placed carefully on every table. Soft piano music floated through the air, creating an atmosphere of calm luxury.

I sighed internally.

Valerio.

Only he would think it necessary to book a place like this.

I checked in at the reception and took the key card from the receptionist before heading toward the elevator. Within minutes I reached my floor and walked down the long hallway until I found my room.

The executive suite.

Sliding the card into the lock, I pushed the door open and stepped inside.

The moment I entered, I paused and slowly looked around.

The room was huge.

A spacious living area opened in front of me, decorated with modern furniture, a large glass window overlooking the city, and a bedroom further inside separated by elegant sliding doors. Everything in the room screamed luxury—from the plush carpet beneath my shoes to the soft ambient lighting along the walls.

I shook my head in disbelief.

“Seriously, Valerio?” I muttered under my breath.

Why spend this much money on a hotel room when a normal one would have been perfectly fine?

I was never someone who cared about luxury.

A bed was a bed.

A room was a room.

But Valerio always insisted on maintaining “standards.”

Huffing quietly, I placed my phone on the side table and loosened the collar of my shirt.

Just then, the doorbell rang.

When I opened the door, the bellboy stood outside with my luggage. I stepped aside to let him in, and he placed the bags neatly near the wardrobe before giving me a polite smile.

“Anything else you need, sir?”

“No,” I replied, handing him a generous tip.

He thanked me and left.

Once the door closed again, silence filled the room.

For a moment, I simply stood there, staring at nothing.

The exhaustion from the flight slowly began creeping into my body.

Since it was already late, I decided not to waste time. I walked straight to the bathroom, turned on the shower, and let the warm water wash away the fatigue of the journey.

The hot water relaxed my stiff muscles, and for a few minutes, I simply stood under the stream, letting my thoughts drift aimlessly.

When I stepped out of the shower, I changed into comfortable clothes and grabbed my laptop from my bag.

Even though I was tired, work always came first.

Sitting on the couch, I opened my emails and began checking them one by one. Several messages from different branches had arrived during the flight, along with updates from the Frankfurt office.

My meeting was scheduled for seven in the morning.

Which meant I needed proper rest.

After replying to the important emails and reviewing a few documents, I finally shut the laptop.

My eyes drifted toward the large bed in the bedroom.

Soft.

Comfortable.

Inviting.

It felt like the bed was practically calling my name.

Since I had already eaten dinner during the flight, I did not need to order anything. So without wasting another moment, I turned off the lights and slid beneath the covers.

Within minutes, sleep claimed me.

The next morning arrived far too quickly.

I woke up to the faint sunlight slipping through the curtains.

After getting ready and dressing for the meeting, I stood in front of the mirror, buttoning my vest coat while adjusting the collar.

Just then, my phone rang.

A small smile formed on my lips the moment I saw the caller ID.

Mama.

I picked up immediately.

“Hey, Mama.”

“Hello to you too, Vincenzo. How are you, my son?” she said warmly.

Hearing her voice after three days felt… comforting.

“I called you yesterday,” I complained lightly. “You didn’t pick up.”

“I know,” she replied with a cheerful laugh. “I was busy with my friends. You know we came to Via Brabançonne, and Vincenzo, it’s so beautiful here. I wish you were here with me.”

I could practically imagine the small pout on her lips.

My mother was forty-five years old.

But sometimes she sounded like an excited teenager discovering the world for the first time.

She had conceived me when she was only eighteen.

And somehow…

I have always pitied her.

Her youth had been stolen from her because of a single night—one incident that changed the lives of several people forever.

And I was the result of that night.

She always says I am the best thing that ever happened to her.

But deep down…

I know that isn’t true.

Because of that pregnancy and the sudden marriage that followed—a marriage that existed only in name—she never completed her studies.

My maternal grandfather knew the truth.

He knew my father never accepted the relationship.

So before he passed away, he ensured my mother would never depend on anyone. He gifted her a beautiful house where I grew up and left her his school to manage.

That school became her entire life.

She buried herself in work there.

And raised me alone.

But even after all these years…

She still blames herself.

I have seen her cry when she thought no one was watching.

She believes she destroyed her sister’s life.

That night, my uncle had given juice to both my parents—juice laced with drugs.

Under the influence, they committed a mistake that none of them could undo.

My mother still believes she is the home-wrecker of her own sister.

And in a twisted way… she isn’t entirely wrong.

Because when I was born, my father was forced to divorce my aunt—my mother’s elder sister—and marry my mother.

But the marriage meant nothing.

My father left the country soon after.

Like a coward.

Leaving behind a pregnant wife and a broken family.

My mother fought every battle alone.

And I grew up watching her struggle.

She shaped me into the man I am today.

But she could never teach me how to remove the darkness that kept growing inside my heart.

Outwardly, I learned how to smile.

How to act normal.

But inside…

My wounds never healed.

They simply spread.

Slowly.

Quietly.

Like poison.

That is why I stay away from people.

Relationships only bring pain.

The only people I allow close to me are my mother, Valerio, and Waldo.

And… Lorenzo.

My elder brother.

Technically, he isn’t my real brother.

But in every way that matters, he is.

We were never very close while growing up, but we never hated each other either.

Everything changed when the truth came out about my uncle.

When Lorenzo discovered who had truly ruined our family.

After that day, he began treating me differently.

Warmer.

Kinder.

He openly declared his love for me and never missed a chance to show his affection.

Sometimes it feels strange.

But also… comforting.

He is one of the few people who has ever made me feel that my existence is not a mistake.

Even though I rarely return his calls, he still checks on me from time to time.

I know he is trying to fix the broken bond between us.

But I don’t know if I am capable of that.

“Vincenzo, you should get married,” my mother suddenly said.

There it was.

The same topic again.

“I will always need you, Mom,” I murmured softly.

It hurt whenever she said I didn’t need her anymore.

Because the truth was the opposite.

She was the only person I wanted around me.

But she sighed.

“You need a woman in your life now, my son.”

Guilt twisted inside me.

Once, during an argument, I told her I had rejected my mate.

It broke her heart.

But it also stopped her from asking questions.

Because the truth is simple.

If I ever find my mate…

I will reject her.

Without hesitation.

“Mom, I have a meeting in fifteen minutes,” I said gently. “I’ll call you later. Love you.”

Before she could continue the conversation, I ended the call.

Taking one last look at myself in the mirror, I left the room.

The meeting went surprisingly well.

The client seemed pleased with the proposal, and by the end of the discussion, he invited me for drinks that evening.

Which I absolutely hated.

Social gatherings.

Crowds.

Pointless conversations.

But he was an important client.

So I agreed.

Back in my room later, I packed my bags since I planned to leave right after the drinks.

When I reached the hotel bar, however, they informed me that the group had moved to the club owned by the hotel.

Great.

Clubs.

Exactly what I needed.

The moment I stepped inside, loud music slammed into my ears, and flashing lights illuminated the crowded dance floor.

And then—

A scent hit my nostrils.

Sharp.

Sweet.

Overpowering.

Nate instantly stirred inside me.

Restless.

Uneasy.

I frowned slightly and looked around, trying to locate the source.

But the club was too crowded.

People were everywhere.

Dancing.

Laughing.

Drinking.

The atmosphere was suffocating.

Crowds have always irritated me.

My calm control can easily snap under too many people.

And Nate wasn’t helping either.

Still, I somehow managed to keep my composure while entertaining the client.

Honestly, I almost wanted to reward myself for that level of patience.

While sipping my drink, my eyes scanned the room.

Couples danced together under the neon lights.

They looked happy.

Too happy.

I often wondered what they talked about.

What made them smile like that.

Because most of it was probably fake.

Yet… something unexpected happened.

Amid all the chaos…

A voice reached my ears.

Soft.

Calm.

Soothing.

Nate instantly focused on it.

And strangely…

So did I.

Something about that voice pulled at me.

Every instinct inside me wanted to find its owner.

But I couldn’t leave the client.

Meanwhile, the mysterious scent kept hitting my senses like a missile.

My hands trembled slightly.

Sweat formed on my palms.

The only thing keeping me calm was the alcohol.

So I had two more drinks.

Throughout the night, I felt something strange.

Someone was watching me.

I could feel it.

A constant gaze.

Every time I turned to look—

Nothing.

No one suspicious.

Yet the feeling never disappeared.

Strangely, for the first time in a crowded place…

I wasn’t completely irritated.

Something was calming me.

Maybe the alcohol.

Maybe that voice.

Maybe… something else.

Finally, I stood up and said goodbye to the client.

Nate protested instantly.

For the first time, he didn’t want to leave.

But I was done.

My mind had already checked out hours ago.

So I ignored him.

I walked out of the club.

But the moment I stepped outside…

An unexpected emptiness spread through my chest.

Like something important had just slipped away.

I frowned slightly.

“What is this feeling…?”

Top of Form

Bottom of Form

*