Chapter 42 — The First Morning After Honesty
Auri barely slept.
Every time she closed her eyes, her mind replayed the scene at the park—
Dante's voice cracking with honesty,
the way he held her hand like it was the only steady thing in his world,
and the trembling softness in his eyes when he said she mattered to him.
It was the first time he allowed himself to be that vulnerable.
And it shook her entire existence.
She lay awake staring at the ceiling, hugging her pillow like it could calm her racing heart.
What is happening to me?
What is happening to us?
She wasn't foolish enough to call it a relationship—
No, not when Dante himself didn't know how to describe whatever this bond was.
But tonight changed something.
She could feel it deep in her bones.
A New Morning
Auri got up early, showered, dressed simply—soft cream sweater, high-waist jeans, light makeup.
She wanted to look normal.
Neutral.
Not like her stomach was flipping at the thought of seeing him again.
At exactly 7:13 a.m., a knock sounded at her door.
Her heart jumped.
He's early.
She opened the door slowly… and stopped breathing.
Dante stood there in a crisp black shirt, sleeves rolled, hair pushed back, looking like he stepped out of a luxury magazine.
His presence filled the entire hallway, confident yet strangely calm.
But his eyes—
His eyes softened the moment they landed on her.
"Auri," he murmured, voice low. "Morning."
She fought a sudden urge to melt.
"G-Good morning. You're early."
"I didn't sleep much," he admitted casually.
Then his gaze dropped briefly—subtle but intimate.
"You look… beautiful."
Heat flooded her cheeks.
"Thank you. You too."
His lips tilted slightly, almost shy—almost.
Breakfast, Complicated
They walked side by side toward his car.
Unlike last night, Dante didn't reach for her hand.
Auri wondered if she should.
But before she could decide, Dante unlocked his car and opened the passenger door for her.
"You don't have to—"
"It's not about have to," he cut in gently. "Get in."
Her cheeks warmed again.
They drove to a quiet brunch café tucked behind glass buildings—a place that looked too classy for her, yet Dante walked like he owned it.
The staff bowed the moment they entered.
"Good morning, Mr. Moretti. Your private booth is ready."
Auri's eyes widened.
"Do you… come here often?"
"Only when I need a place without cameras," he replied.
"That's… very specific."
"Mm."
Then he glanced sideways at her.
"I didn't want anyone watching you."
Her heart skipped.
They sat across each other in a low-lit booth.
Auri tried focusing on the menu, but Dante kept watching her—slow, steady, like he was memorizing her.
"Did you sleep well?" he asked quietly.
"Not really."
"Because of me?"
She hesitated.
"…Yes."
A deep breath escaped him, something between guilt and relief.
"Same."
Silence stretched—warm, heavy, intimate.
The Conversation That Needed to Happen
Their food came—pancakes for her, black coffee and eggs for him.
Auri played with her fork before speaking.
"Dante… you said last night that you don't want to lose me."
Dante's jaw tightened—subtle, protective.
"I meant every word."
She looked down.
"But I'm scared," she whispered. "I don't want to be someone temporary for you."
He didn't answer at first.
Instead, he reached out, placing his hand over hers—firm, grounding.
"Auri," he said softly, "if I wanted temporary, I would've walked away a long time ago."
She stared at him—confused, breathless, vulnerable.
"But you still don't know if this is love."
"No," he admitted honestly. "I don't. Not yet."
Her heart fell—
"Because love isn't something I've ever felt before," he added.
She looked up sharply.
Dante's eyes held an emotion she'd never seen in him—a strange mix of fear and sincerity.
"You're the first person who's ever made me question everything I believed about myself," he said.
"You're the first person who's ever made me want more than my world."
Auri's breath caught.
"Dante…"
He squeezed her hand gently.
"I don't know how to love right now… but I know I want you by my side while I learn."
Her chest tightened painfully.
"And if you get hurt?" she whispered.
"Then I'll spend every day fixing it," he said without hesitation.
Auri felt her throat close.
Her heart raced in her chest like it wanted to escape.
She swallowed.
"Then… I'll stay," she whispered.
Dante inhaled sharply, eyes flicking to her lips for just a second too long.
"Auri," he murmured, voice low, "you can't imagine what you just did to me."
She blushed hard.
A Quiet Walk After
After breakfast, they walked outside slowly.
The morning sun painted Dante's features with warm gold, softening the rough edges of his sharp face.
Auri felt like she was seeing a different version of him—
not the powerful CEO,
not the cold businessman,
not the jealous man who fought Adrian.
But a man who was trying.
A man who was willing.
A man who was learning how to love.
They walked in silence until Dante suddenly paused.
"Auri."
"Yes?"
His hand moved—slowly, hesitantly—until his fingers brushed hers.
She froze.
He froze too.
Then… he intertwined their fingers gently.
Not possessive.
Not forceful.
Tender.
Auri's heart melted.
"Is this okay?" he asked quietly.
"…Yes," she whispered.
They continued walking, hand in hand, both feeling the shift neither dared to say out loud—
Something new had begun.
Not perfect.
Not clear.
Not defined.
But real.