As Amelia walked away, she couldn't help but think about the strange sense of déjà vu she felt when she met Draco. It was as if she had seen those piercing eyes before, but where? She pushed the thought aside, focusing on the task at hand – saving her family's struggling business.

The echo of the ballroom's music faded as Amelia retreated to the quieter corridors of the mansion. She needed a moment to clear her mind, but instead, her thoughts kept circling back to Draco. There was something unsettlingly familiar about him, something that tugged at the corners of her memory, yet remained elusive.

Amelia leaned against a marble pillar, closing her eyes for a brief moment. She willed herself to focus on the evening’s purpose—networking, securing new alliances, and ensuring her family’s legacy endured. But Draco’s intense gaze haunted her, making concentration impossible.

“Amelia?”

Amelia’s eyes snapped open at the sound of her mother’s voice. Maria Valenti approached, her elegant dress sweeping the floor. “Is everything alright, dear? You seemed distracted earlier.”

Amelia forced a smile, pushing aside her thoughts of Draco. “I’m fine, Mama. Just needed a moment to breathe.”

Maria’s eyes softened as she reached out to touch her daughter’s arm. “I know these events can be overwhelming, especially with everything on your shoulders. But you’re doing wonderfully, my love. Your father would be proud.”

The mention of her father brought a lump to Amelia’s throat. “Thank you, Mama. I’m just trying to do what’s best for the family.”

“You always have,” Maria said with a warm smile. “Now, come back inside. The guests are asking about you, and I’ve heard there are a few potential investors you should meet.”

Amelia nodded, but as she followed her mother back toward the ballroom, her mind remained clouded with thoughts of Draco. She couldn’t shake the feeling that their paths had crossed before, but how?

Meanwhile, Draco watched her leave, his gaze lingering on her retreating figure. He, too, felt a spark of recognition, but it was quickly extinguished by his years of training to suppress emotions. He had a reputation to uphold, after all – that of a ruthless Mafia king.

Draco remained in the ballroom, surrounded by the city’s elite, yet he felt strangely disconnected. Amelia Valenti. The name had been familiar to him before tonight, but seeing her in person had triggered something deeper, something buried in his past.

He took a sip of his whiskey, the liquid burning down his throat as he considered the possibilities. Draco had spent years perfecting the art of control, honing his instincts to read people, to manipulate them. But Amelia was different. She was a mystery, one that he wasn’t sure he wanted to unravel.

“De Luca.”

Draco turned to see his right-hand man, Marco, approaching. Marco’s expression was as stoic as ever, but there was an urgency in his eyes. “What is it?” Draco asked, his voice low.

“We’ve received word from our contacts. There’s been a development in the northern territories,” Marco replied, his tone cautious. “The situation might require your attention sooner than expected.”

Draco’s jaw tightened, his thoughts of Amelia momentarily pushed aside. “I see. Make the necessary arrangements. We’ll leave tonight.”

Marco nodded, his gaze flickering briefly to the crowd. “And the Valenti girl?”

“What about her?” Draco’s voice was sharp, defensive even.

Marco raised an eyebrow. “You seemed... interested.”

Draco’s expression darkened. “Amelia Valenti is none of your concern. Focus on the task at hand.”

Marco inclined his head in acknowledgment. “Of course.”

As Marco disappeared into the crowd, Draco’s thoughts returned to Amelia. There was something about her, something that both intrigued and unsettled him. But he couldn’t afford to be distracted, not when the stakes were this high. He had a duty to his family, to the empire he had built, and he couldn’t let anyone—especially not Amelia Valenti—jeopardize that.

Yet, as he turned to leave the ballroom, Draco couldn’t shake the feeling that their encounter was only the beginning. He had spent years burying his past, but something about Amelia made him wonder if that past was about to resurface, bringing with it a flood of memories he had long tried to forget.