Chapter 131. I Love You All

Elena POV

The house is quieter than usual.

Not empty—just hushed, like it’s holding its breath.

Gianna and Valentina are downstairs, laughing softly over something stupid on their phones, giving me space without saying they are.

I linger in the hallway, barefoot, heart thudding for reasons I don’t want to admit out loud.

I miss being touched by my stepbrothers. We have been so busy lately that we don’t even have time to think about sinful thoughts like that.

Now, I’m just lingering at the hallway hoping I’ll see my stepbrothers and they’ll figure out I want to be touched without me saying it.

I feel him before I see him.

Vincenzo stands near the window at the end of the corridor, sleeves rolled up, shirt slightly undone at the collar.

The city lights cast shadows across his sharp features, making him look almost unreal.

He turns when he senses me. Our eyes meet. And something shifts.

“You okay?” he asks quietly