The afternoon sun filtered softly through the large windows of Hazel's apartment.
Hazel moved around the living room excitedly, adjusting small things that did not really need adjusting.
Her phone buzzed on the table.
I just landed. I will be there soon.
Abi
Hazel smiled.
It had been weeks since she last saw her sister in person.
A few minutes later, a knock came at the door.
Hazel hurried over and opened it.
"Abi!"
The two sisters hugged warmly.
"You look amazing," Hazel said, stepping back to look at her.
Abi laughed.
"And you look like someone who has good news."
Hazel blushed slightly.
"Well..."
Abi raised an eyebrow.
"So it is true."
Hazel hesitated.
"You already guessed?"
"Please," Abi said, walking inside. "You sounded different on the phone."
Hazel smiled shyly.
"It is Luca."
Abi sat down slowly on the couch.
"Luca Valentino."
Hazel nodded.
Abi's expression remained calm, but her mind was racing.
So it really was him.
"So," Abi said casually, "when do I get to meet this famous boyfriend of yours?"
Hazel laughed.
"Actually... you might get your chance sooner than you think."
Later that evening, Hazel and Abi arrived at a small upscale restaurant in the city.
Luca was already seated at a table near the window.
When Hazel approached, his expression softened slightly.
"You are here."
Then his gaze shifted to the woman beside her.
Hazel smiled.
"Luca, this is my sister, Abi."
Abi extended her hand politely.
"It is nice to finally meet you."
Luca shook her hand.
"The pleasure is mine."
For a moment, Abi studied him carefully.
He was even more impressive in person.
Confident.
Composed.
Powerful without even trying.
Abi smiled lightly.
"I have heard a lot about you."
Luca glanced at Hazel.
"Hopefully nothing embarrassing."
Hazel laughed.
"Not yet."
They sat together and began talking.
To anyone watching, it looked like a simple dinner between three people.
But inside Abi's mind, something had already begun shifting.
Hazel had stepped into a world Abi had been trying to reach for years.
And she had done it without even trying.
Abi glanced at Luca again.
Why should Hazel be the only one allowed in that world?
Across the table, Luca was speaking with Hazel about work.
Abi listened quietly, smiling when necessary.
But her thoughts were already moving in a different direction.
Later that night, at the Valentino estate, Valeria sat comfortably in the living room while scrolling through messages on her phone.
Her brother walked in casually.
"How was dinner?" she asked without looking up.
"Good."
Valeria raised an eyebrow.
"With Hazel?"
"Yes."
"And?"
Luca shrugged slightly.
"I met her sister."
That made Valeria pause.
Slowly, she looked up.
"Her sister?"
"Abi."
Something in Valeria's expression changed for just a second.
Just long enough to show that she was thinking carefully.
Interesting.
"Did you like her?" Valeria asked calmly.
"She seems ambitious."
Valeria smirked faintly.
That was one way to describe it.
But Valeria knew something Luca did not.
Sometimes ambition has a dangerous side.
And something about the name Abi Hart was already making her curious.
For now, she said nothing.
Instead, she leaned back calmly.
And continued watching the game unfold.