Chapter 117
Before Nonna could say anything more, she noticed Dante emerging from the corridor, already changed out of his bathrobe and back into casual clothes.
Nonna had been hoping, praying, really that something would happen between him and Elodie in that intimate little pool. Some spark. Some connection. Something that was anything romantic.
But looking at the careful distance they kept from each other, the way neither of them even glanced in the other’s direction, it was painfully clear that nothing had changed.
She sighed, her disappointment settling heavy in her chest.
“I just got a call from a friend who’s here for treatment,” Nonna said, patting Elodie’s hand gently. She turned to Dante, her expression sharpening. “I need to head back for a bit. You two stay and enjoy yourselves.” She pointed a finger at her grandson. “And no bullying Elodie, you hear me p>
Dante’s expression remained infuriatingly neutral. “Got it p>
At that exact moment, another elevator dinged open.
And Levi stepped out.
Elodie’s eyes widened slightly. She hadn’t expected to see him here, of all places.
But neither Nonna nor Dante seemed surprised. Clearly, they’d known he was coming.
When Levi spotted Elodie, one eyebrow lifted in that trademark smirk of his. Then he turned to Nonna, his whole demeanor shifting to something warm and affectionate.
“Nonna, you’re leaving already? Don’t you want to stay for lunch before you go p>
The Davis and Bellini families went way back. Nonna had practically watched Levi grow up, so she smiled fondly at him. “No need, caro. You all have fun p>
They walked Nonna to her car, watching as it pulled away down the winding resort road.
The moment the car disappeared, Liora bounced over to Levi, her face lit up with curiosity. “Uncle Levi! What are you doing here p>
Levi crouched down and gave her cheek a playful pinch. “Your dad asked me to come. I checked in with Nonna first, then came straight over. Pretty loyal of me, right p>
“Oh! So Dad invited you?” Liora’s eyes went wide with understanding.
“Yep.” Levi grinned, then continued intentionally, his eyes flicking toward Elodie. “And since I heard your great-grandmother was leaving, I went ahead and let Uncle Harry and Aunt Sienna know. They’re on their way here now. Should be arriving any minute. Isn’t that exciting p>
His tone was casual. Too casual.
And the way he looked at Elodie when he said Aunt Sienna made it crystal clear who that little announcement was really for.
Liora’s face brightened immediately. She opened her mouth to respond with enthusiasm, but then she hesitated, her eyes darting up to Elodie.
Elodie caught the look and felt something twist in her chest.
But she didn’t let it show.
Instead, she reached down and ruffled Liora’s hair gently, her smile soft and practiced. “You all have fun, sweetheart. I’m going to head back to my room p>
She didn’t look at Dante. Didn’t look at Levi. Just turned on her heel and walked away, her spine straight, her expression unreadable.
Dante watched her go.
Her face had been completely blank. Cold, even. None of the tension or unease she used to show whenever Sienna’s name came up. No flinch. No hesitation.
It was like she didn’t care anymore.
And for some reason, that bothered him more than he wanted to admit.
Liora was still standing there, so he couldn’t say anything. But Levi, never one to miss an opportunity, leaned in close and lowered his voice.
“What the hell is going on with you two p>
Dante’s expression didn’t change. His tone stayed flat. “Did you come alone p>
Levi blinked, caught off guard. Then he grinned. “Of course not. Who comes to a hot springs resort alone? I brought my precious little firecracker with me p>
He started to elaborate, but then paused, narrowing his eyes at Dante. “Wait a minute. You’re changing the subject p>
Dante didn’t deny it. He just tilted his head slightly toward the entrance. “Your precious one just arrived p>
Levi turned.
And sure enough, walking toward them with long, confident strides, was a tall, curvaceous woman wearing nothing but a bikini under a white bathrobe and with a smile that could stop traffic.
Levi’s grin widened. “There she is p>
But Dante wasn’t looking at her.
He was still staring at the spot where Elodie had disappeared, his jaw tight, something unreadable flickering behind his eyes.
Back in her room, Elodie had changed into comfortable clothes, soft leggings and an oversized sweater and settled at the small round table by the window. Her laptop was open in front of her, screen glowing with research notes from the recent tech exhibition.
She was digging deeper into the exhibits, cross-referencing data, looking for patterns. Looking for something.
Half an hour later, after combining everything she’d gathered over the past few days, an idea struck her.
She grabbed her phone and called Johnny.
“Are you free p>
There was loud music in the background, laughter, the clink of glasses. “I’m at a masquerade party. What’s up p>
Elodie explained her idea quickly, her words tumbling out faster than usual because she knew… knew this could be something.
Johnny’s voice shifted immediately. Turned serious and excited. “Hold on. I’m heading back right now p>
“Okay p>
She hung up and dove back into her work, her fingers flying over the keyboard.
Time slipped away unnoticed.
Then she heard voices drifting up from downstairs. They were loud and familiar.
Elodie paused, her hands stilling over the keys.
Harry and Sienna must’ve arrived.
She stood, walked to the window, and closed it. Shutting out the noise. Shutting out the reminder of who was down there and why.
Her stomach growled.
She hadn’t eaten since breakfast, and the pastry at the hot springs barely counted. She picked up the internal phone and ordered a meal to be sent to her room.
The staff agreed immediately.
Downstairs, the staff member was walking through the lobby with a covered tray when he crossed paths with Dante and the others.
Levi glanced at the tray, then at the staff member. “Who’s that for p>
The staff straightened slightly, clearly aware of who he was addressing. “It’s for Madam p>
Madam. Only Elodie would be called that here. Only the Alpha’s wife.
Levi’s eyebrows lifted, but he didn’t press further. Neither did the others. They let the staff continue on his way.
But once he was out of earshot, Levi turned to Dante with a grin. “Guess we won’t have to invite her down for dinner after all p>
Dante’s expression didn’t change. His voice was calm. “We should still invite her p>
Sienna froze mid-step, her eyes flicking to Dante.
Harry and Levi both looked at him, surprised.
Levi recovered first, laughing it off. “Right, right. Nonna did tell you to take care of her. If we all eat without inviting her, and Nonna finds out? We’re screwed p>
After all, this was the Bellini family’s private resort. Nonna had people everywhere. Any movement they made would likely get back to her.
Sienna’s shoulders relaxed slightly. She’d thought just for a second that Nonna’s matchmaking efforts were actually getting to Dante. That maybe he was starting to care about Elodie.
But Levi’s words reminded her: this wasn’t about care. This was about obligation. About keeping up appearances.
She pressed her lips together and said nothing.
Harry looked away, his jaw tight.
Just then, Liora came bounding back from wherever she’d wandered off to, her face flushed with excitement.
Dante reached down and ruffled her hair. “Go upstairs and ask your mom to come down for dinner p>
Liora froze.
Her smile faltered, confusion flickering across her face. “You want me to ask Mom to come eat with us p>
“Yes p>
Liora opened her mouth like she was about to say something, then stopped. Her gaze shifted to Sienna, uncertainty written all over her face.
Because the truth was, Liora didn’t understand.
She didn’t understand why her dad wanted her mom there when Aunt Sienna was already here. She didn’t understand why things felt so complicated all the time. She didn’t understand why her mom always looked so sad, even when she smiled.
And she didn’t know how to ask.
Dante noticed the hesitation. His expression didn’t change, but his voice softened, just barely. “Go on, Lio p>