Read with BonusRead with Bonus

2. Meeting Philippo and Paul

He stretched out his hand toward his brother. His brother firmly grasped it, and the two exchanged smiles—a heartfelt greeting passing between them.

Ellen stood at his side, catching the sound of the second brother's voice. She turned her head to identify the source and, locking eyes with Paul, his identical twin, her surprise was evident.

It was hard to believe that the handsome man next to her had an identical brother. She had just taken a sip from her second glass of drink, but upon seeing the uncanny resemblance, she choked and coughed, spitting out the liquid and clutching her chest as she coughed repeatedly. She felt as if she were seeing a mirage—encountering two stunning men was just too improbable.

Once her coughing fit subsided a bit, she heard two voices behind her.

"Is everything alright, young lady?" Recognizing the same voice from two distinct men, Ellen turned to face them.

The twins were both gazing at her with the same serious expression. She coughed once more before managing to respond in a subdued voice.

"I... I'm fine... I just choked." Embarrassment tinged her cheeks as she realized she was in the presence of two remarkably attractive men.

The one in the suit projected a more serious demeanor, while the other was more tanned, making it easier to tell them apart. Their eye color matched, but the tanned man wore black clothing with gray necklaces and a quiff hairstyle.

He was looking at Ellen provocatively, his gaze thoroughly examining her. Her reaction was a mixture of confusion and amusement.

As Ellen was about to shift her attention away, one of the twins introduced himself.

"Good to know you're alright. I'm Philippo, pleasure to meet you." He extended his hand, and Ellen, now aware of his name, delicately shook his hand. A crooked smile formed on Philippo's lips, and Ellen reciprocated the gesture.

Meanwhile, Paul, fixing his gaze on her, spoke up. "I'm Paul. Your cough took us by surprise. I thought you were in some trouble. But I'm relieved you're okay, sweetheart."

Paul appeared more lighthearted and less formal than his brother. However, the way he appraised Ellen suggested he was a bit of a playboy. Despite her reservations, Ellen smiled back at him and addressed both of them.

"Nice to meet you both, Philippo and Paul. It was just the drink going down the wrong way. It happens... Well, I should get going. Enjoy yourselves."

She hurriedly made her farewell, not wanting to linger and risk further awkwardness. Ellen wasn't used to saying the right things around men and often found herself misunderstood. Yet, in that brief encounter, she felt a connection to the twins. Her instincts urged her to step away, and she heeded that advice.

She slid off the bench, waved, and navigated her way into the crowd to locate her friend or simply exit the situation.

Paul and Philippo observed her departure, their gazes lingering. While the woman didn't align with their typical preferences, something about her had intrigued them. They couldn't help but watch her move through the crowd.

As she threaded through the dancers, Ellen suddenly found herself jostled by the energetic crowd. She stumbled, unable to find support, and fell backward onto the floor. Instinctively, she placed her hands beneath her head to prevent it from hitting the ground. A pang of pain shot through her back, and she grimaced while muttering a curse.

Her closed eyes squeezed even tighter in discomfort. Upon opening her eyes, she realized no one was offering help. She carefully sat up, her hand pressing against her aching back. Frustration surged through her... everyone was too absorbed in their revelry to notice her mishap.

"Idiots... jerks... what a nuisance." She grimaced once more, mustering her determination to rise. Just as she lifted her head, she spotted a hand extended toward her.

She was taken aback and, upon seeing Philippo, the impeccably dressed man with groomed hair, her surprise intensified. Philippo was smiling, his hand extended in a gesture of assistance. Ellen managed a faint smile as she accepted his hand. With his gentle pull, she rose to her feet. Philippo's concerned gaze swept over her, prompting his inquiry.

"Are you alright? Are you hurt?" Ellen shook her head and retorted with a half-smile.

"I'm fine, just a klutz... Somebody bumped into me, and I took a tumble. But I'm alright. Thanks, Philippo." He maintained his smile as he turned to leave. Just before he departed, he offered his farewell.

"Goodnight, Ellen. Take care." She bid her own farewell to the man who had shown kindness that evening.

"Goodnight, and thank you." With his departure, Ellen continued her search for her friend, determined to exit the situation. The night had come to an end for her. Nevertheless, a positive aspect had emerged from the evening—she had encountered a considerate and attractive man in Philippo.

Hours later, Ellen found herself asleep at her friend's residence. The elegant building in Turkey was soon to become her home as well. The anticipation of moving into the apartment next door had her looking forward to the impending change. Fatigue weighed heavily on her, and she succumbed to sleep as soon as she lay down on the bed.

Previous Chapter
Next Chapter