CHAPTER 23 – AURI'S POV (BREAKING NEWS & EMOTIONAL TENSION)
The apartment was quiet. Moonlight spilled softly through the curtains, casting silvery patterns across the floor. I was nearly asleep, cocooned in my blankets, eyelids heavy, mind beginning to drift.
And then… a low voice broke the silence.
"Auri…"
I stirred, half-awake, and saw Dante sitting at the edge of the bed, the dim light highlighting the intensity in his eyes. His presence was magnetic, overwhelming, and I could feel my pulse quicken.
"Dante… it's late," I mumbled, trying to keep my voice calm despite the rush of emotion stirring inside me.
"I know," he said softly, leaning back slightly, but his gaze never left mine. "I couldn't wait until tomorrow to tell you."
I frowned, rubbing my eyes. "Tell me… what?"
He inhaled slowly, as if steeling himself. Then he said, softly, but firmly, "The engagement… it's over. Olivia and I… we broke up."
I froze. My chest tightened, heart skipping a beat.
"…What?" My voice was barely audible.
He nodded, a faint shadow of relief crossing his face. "It's true. We… realized it wasn't right. Not for either of us. And I… I couldn't keep pretending anymore."
I sat up slightly, my hair falling around my face. My mind was spinning. Shock, disbelief, relief… and something else—something I didn't want to admit even to myself. A quiet, fluttering happiness deep in my chest.
"You… you're free," I whispered, my voice barely above a breath.
He nodded, a small, almost vulnerable smile touching his lips. "And I can finally be honest about what I want. About… you."
I blinked, heart pounding wildly. "Me?"
"Yes," he said, voice low, steady. "I want you, Auri. Not because of some mistake or momentary lapse. I've wanted you from the beginning, and now… I don't have to hide it."
I swallowed hard, my body warming despite the cool night air. Part of me wanted to leap into his arms, to let the relief and happiness sweep me away. Another part of me still hesitated, remembering the chaos, the confusion, and my own desire to protect my heart.
"You… you're serious?" I whispered, voice trembling.
"Never more serious," he replied, leaning closer, his eyes burning into mine. "Auri… I'm done pretending. Done holding back. I want to be with you, if you'll let me."
A soft smile tugged at my lips, and I felt my heart flutter uncontrollably. Relief and happiness mingled with nerves and uncertainty, a tangle I hadn't felt in a long time.
"I… I don't know what to say," I admitted, still half-sitting, half-leaning back into the pillows.
"Then don't say anything," he whispered, brushing a hand gently along my arm, careful, teasing, electric. "Just feel it. That's enough for now."
I closed my eyes for a moment, letting the news settle. Letting the warmth of him near me, the closeness, and the words sink in.
Inside, a small, quiet happiness bloomed, one I hadn't allowed myself in weeks. Relief, anticipation… a glimmer of hope.
"You… make everything so complicated," I whispered, opening my eyes to meet his again.
He smiled, almost mischievously, leaning closer. "Complicated?"
"Yes," I said, voice soft but teasing. "And frustrating. And… impossible."
"And yet," he murmured, brushing his thumb along my cheek, "you're still here. And I wouldn't have it any other way."
I felt my chest tighten again. My heart was racing. And for the first time in weeks, I allowed myself a small, genuine smile.
"Yes… I'm still here," I whispered, soft and vulnerable, letting the words linger.
Dante didn't respond immediately. He just leaned closer, resting his forehead against mine, letting the quiet intimacy settle around us. The world outside—the engagements, the misunderstandings, the chaos—could wait. Tonight, it was just him and me.
And for the first time, I allowed myself to believe that maybe… just maybe… this was a beginning, not an end.