Chapter 227 The Uninvited Guest

Words : 1080 Updated : May 20th, 2025

Emily returned home after her last meeting with the team, instructing everyone to send their reports to her email so she could review them at home. With little work left on her plate, she figured it was better to occupy herself rather than succumb to boredom until sleep. Feeling exhausted, she didn't have much appetite and decided to skip dinner. Her mood was particularly sour after Matteo's mother and his fiancée had shown up at his office, humiliating Emily for no reason at all. The sting of their condescension lingered, making it difficult for her to shake off the negativity throughout the whole day. She vowed to keep her distance from that troublesome attorney, even though he had helped her a lot. Emily was doing her best to repay him by refraining from showing disrespect and enduring everything until the renovations in his office were completed. She believed she couldn't do anything more than that. It was late evening when she finally settled onto her bed, laptop resting on her lap in a relaxing position. Just as she began to unwind, the doorbell rang, causing her to squeeze her eyes shut in irritation. She was so tired that she didn't even want to get up to answer the door. But when the doorbell rang again, Emily reluctantly got up, dragging her tired body toward the door. She guessed it might be the neighbor's kids from the upper floor, who used to come over to play since Gia and Maximo lived there. Even after the twins moved to Florence, the kids continued to visit Emily, often brightening her day with their laughter. She sometimes treated them to chocolates or cupcakes, and their joy was infectious. The thought of their playful energy brought a smile to Emily's tired face, reminding her of how much she loved spending time with children. But when she opened the door with a bright grin, her smile quickly faltered at the sight of Matteo Vinci standing before her. The moment she took him in, her heart skipped a beat. He looked effortlessly hot and incredibly sexy. His perfectly styled hair was disheveled as if he had run his hands through it several times in frustration. The tie he wore in the morning was absent, and a few top buttons on his crisp white shirt were undone, revealing a hint of his toned chest. The suit jacket was draped over his strong, muscular arm, suggesting he found it uncomfortable while stressing over something. However, the shirt sleeves were rolled up, showcasing his veined, muscular arms, making Emily's mouth go dry as she swallowed unconsciously. When Matteo thought Emily was staring at him in shock, a playful smirk tugged at his lips. All his doubts evaporated in that moment; he knew she wanted him just as much as he wanted her. He was Matteo Vinci, and he understood all too well how his charm never failed. He bit his lip to suppress the smug grin threatening to break free before extending a bouquet and a bottle of wine toward her. Emily's eyes darted from the beautiful bouquet and wine to Matteo's face, her mind racing as she struggled to understand why Matteo Vinci stood at her door at this hour. What did he want from her? "Are you not going to invite me in, Miss Yang?" Matteo's husky voice, tinged with mischief, broke her reverie. Shaking off her surprise, she nodded and stepped aside to let him in. As Matteo entered, Emily closed the door behind him, her frown deepening. She turned to face him, arms crossed defensively. "Mr. Vinci, why did you bother coming here at this time? If you needed anything, you could have just texted me," she snapped, sarcasm dripping from her words. Matteo smiled before extending the bouquet and wine forward to her. “For what happened in my office, Emily.” His tone shifted to seriousness as he continued, “Please accept my apology. I am truly sorry for how my mother treated you. I would do anything to make it up to you.” Emily sighed, reluctantly accepting the items from his hands. “That's fine. I don't hold any grudges, after all.” “Thank you, ma douce,” he murmured, smiling softly as he stepped closer, his gaze locking deeply onto hers. The air between them felt charged, and for a moment, the world outside faded away. “I value our friendship more than you know, and I promise to do better.” Emily could see the sincerity in his eyes, a flicker of hope igniting in her heart. Anxiety bubbled in Emily's chest; she wanted him to leave immediately. His proximity stirred emotions within her that she had never wanted to feel, and the thought of embarrassing herself made her restless. But then, she caught Matteo shamelessly checking her out, his hungry gaze roaming over her from head to toe. She suddenly felt self-conscious, acutely aware that she was still in her pajama shorts and tank top. Suddenly, self-consciousness washed over her, and she felt the urge to wrap her arms around herself and dash to her room to find something more appropriate to wear. But against her better judgment, she stood her ground, attempting to project confidence. "So? Is that all you're here for?" Emily asked, trying to hint that he should leave. Matteo chuckled, clearly understanding her intent. "Aren't you going to invite me for dinner?" "I've already had dinner, Mr. Vinci," she lied, trying to sound convincing. But her stomach betrayed her, grumbling loudly against her statement. Matteo laughed again, a warm sound that filled the room. "I... I don't have anything to eat at home. The fridge is empty, and I'm out of supplies," she covered up quickly. "But I thought you had enough chefs at your place to cook for you anytime." "Yeah, but I'm here, and it's late, and it's my dinner time. It's quite rude not to offer me dinner after I've traveled across the city to see you," he replied, both teasing and persistent. "Okay, fine. What would you like to eat for dinner?" Emily asked, huffing in defeat as she mentally scanned what she could make with the few ingredients left in her kitchen. "You." Matteo's sensual whisper caught her off guard, making her wonder if she had heard him correctly.

Chapter 227 The Uninvited Guest

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