Chapter 46 — Unexpected Family Dinner
Auri had just finished tidying her apartment after a quiet breakfast with Dante.
The weekend had been peaceful—playful, intimate, and honest.
She felt a deep sense of contentment… until Dante's phone buzzed with a call that immediately shifted the atmosphere.
"Dante?" she asked, sensing tension in his usually calm demeanor.
"It's… my parents," he said, jaw tightening. "They're back from the States. Earlier than expected."
Auri's stomach sank slightly.
She knew Dante's family was formal, traditional, and… well, opinionated.
"What do you mean?" she asked carefully.
"They don't know the engagement with Olivia is off," Dante admitted. "And they're expecting her at a family dinner tonight."
Auri's eyes widened. "Wait… so your family still thinks you're engaged to her?"
"Yes," he said, voice low, but his hand brushed against hers briefly, a silent comfort. "And now they'll want to see her. And me with her."
The Dinner Invitation
Half an hour later, Dante was pacing in his apartment, dressed sharply in a tailored suit, phone in hand.
Auri tried to calm him. "You don't have to go alone," she said softly. "I can come with you."
Dante shook his head. "No. This is family business. I'll handle it."
Auri bit her lip, conflicted. She wanted to be there for him, but she also understood this was his world—and sometimes, she had to wait patiently.
He exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "I just… I don't want any drama tonight. They'll ask about Olivia, and I have to make it clear it's over—but carefully. I can't let it get messy."
Auri's heart ached at the thought of him facing this alone. "Dante… just be honest. They'll understand eventually."
"I hope so," he muttered, his fingers tightening around his phone.
Family Expectations
By the evening, Dante arrived at the grand Moretti estate.
The entrance hall shimmered with chandeliers and the soft rustle of formal attire.
His parents appeared—elegant, imposing, with the unmistakable aura of wealth and expectation.
"Dante!" his mother exclaimed, voice warm but slightly demanding. "We weren't expecting you back so soon. And Olivia?"
Dante swallowed, adjusting his tie. "Mom, Dad… Olivia and I… that engagement is over."
There was a pause.
Then a sharp intake of breath from his father.
"Over? But… why? We had plans, Dante. Everything was set."
"She wasn't the one," Dante said firmly. His tone left no room for negotiation.
His mother's eyes softened slightly but were still wary. "And you are sure of this?"
"Yes," Dante said, voice steady. "It's over. Olivia is… lovely, but she and I—there was never love."
The Dinner Begins
Dante led his parents to the dining hall, the conversation tense but civil.
Auri, waiting at home, paced quietly, her phone in hand.
Is he okay? she worried.
Is this going to go smoothly?
Meanwhile, Dante sat at the head of the table, his posture rigid.
He answered questions politely, keeping his tone respectful but firm.
"Olivia?" his father asked cautiously. "She's not coming?"
"No," Dante said firmly. "She's not part of this anymore. And I'd like to talk about the future—ours, as a family, without misunderstandings."
His mother nodded slowly, perhaps seeing the determination in his eyes.
But just as the first course was being served, the tension thickened.
His parents glanced toward the side entrance, clearly expecting Olivia to walk in.
Dante's jaw tightened, and he exhaled quietly.
He didn't want confrontation—but he also wouldn't allow her presence to shadow this new chapter with Auri waiting patiently at home.
Auri's Waiting
Back at her apartment, Auri tried to distract herself, flipping through her laptop and muttering to herself.
He's strong… he can handle this, she reassured herself.
But what if it gets messy? What if Olivia tries to cause problems?
Her phone buzzed.
A text from Dante:
"It's going okay… but tense. Just… keep being patient with me."
Auri smiled softly, typing back:
"Always. Come home safely."
She pressed her head against the sofa, taking a deep breath.
We'll get through this, she whispered to herself.
Together.
-Family Pressure and Refusal-
The grand Moretti estate was bathed in warm light as the evening arrived, but inside, tension crackled like an unseen storm.
Dante had thought he could finally navigate the aftermath of his engagement ending with Olivia quietly, without conflict. He had been wrong.
Across the room, two new figures entered—Olivia's parents. Sophisticated, imposing, and full of determination, they wasted no time. Their mission was clear: convince Dante to honor the engagement.
Dante's jaw tightened as he spotted them.
"Dante," Olivia's father said smoothly, voice firm, "we need to talk. About the engagement. About your marriage to Olivia."
Dante ran a hand through his hair, glancing at his own parents, who had been silently waiting, their faces a mix of expectation and disapproval.
"I told everyone already," Dante began cautiously. "The engagement is over. Olivia and I are not—"
"Not what?" Olivia's mother interrupted sharply, her eyes narrowing. "Not married? You've been seen with her, Dante. The families have already prepared everything. This is not your choice alone!"
Dante's father's voice cut in, steady but severe. "Son, you know how important family honor is. You can't just dismiss this engagement. It reflects on all of us. We've planned, coordinated, invested in this. It must happen."
Olivia's Determination
From across the room, Olivia, poised and elegant, joined the discussion.
"I agree with my parents," she said firmly, a glint of determination in her eyes. "Dante, this engagement—our marriage—should proceed. We both want it."
Dante's chest tightened. He could feel the anger rising, but beneath it, the confusion and frustration bubbled as well.
"I don't want it," he said, voice sharp, cutting through the murmurs and tense silence.
Olivia blinked, disbelief flashing across her face. "What do you mean you don't want it? We've been preparing for months!"
"I said no," Dante repeated, this time with a steelier tone. "The engagement is off, and the marriage is not happening."
The Families Clash
For a moment, silence hung in the room. Then voices rose from both sides.
"You are making a mistake, Dante!" Olivia's father bellowed, red-faced. "You are supposed to honor your commitments!"
"And you are supposed to respect your son's choice!" Dante's mother shot back. "Dante will not marry anyone he doesn't love. Especially not for appearances!"
Olivia's mother's eyes flashed. "He will do as we say! Families arrange marriages for centuries. You can't just… just refuse!"
Dante clenched his fists at his sides. "I can, and I will. I am not marrying Olivia. Ever. Do I make myself clear?"
The room fell into a tense silence. No one dared speak for a moment. Then whispers and murmurs began to rise as both families realized this wouldn't be an easy victory.
Dante's Firm Stand
Olivia's eyes narrowed at him, a mixture of hurt and anger. "So you're saying… I mean nothing to you?"
Dante's dark gaze hardened. "I'm saying I won't marry you because I don't love you. And no one—neither your parents nor mine—can force me into something I don't want."
Olivia's mother scoffed, turning to Dante's father. "Your son is reckless. You must make him understand!"
Dante's father sighed, frustration clear on his face, but his hand brushed his son's shoulder. "We can't make him do anything he doesn't want, but we will… find a way to persuade him. This is family duty. You understand."
Dante's teeth clenched. "I don't care about duty if it involves lying or forcing someone to love who they don't. I will not marry Olivia, and that's final."
The Tension Builds
The dinner continued, but the atmosphere was thick with tension.
Both families sat with carefully polite but pointed expressions, eyes flicking between Dante and Olivia, searching for signs of compromise.
Olivia's parents tried subtle persuasion, asking about tradition, duty, social appearances, and family expectations.
Dante remained immovable, calm on the surface but burning inside with frustration.
His parents were caught between respecting their son's choice and the social pressure Olivia's family exerted.
Olivia, frustrated and flustered, excused herself from the table, muttering under her breath, "You'll regret this, Dante Moretti…"
Dante's jaw tightened, but he didn't respond. He simply stared ahead, resolute.
It was clear: the families had underestimated Dante's resolve.
And it was equally clear that the war over this engagement—and his choice—was far from over.