CHAPTER 51 — BREAKING POINT AND THE UNEXPECTED GIFT
Auri's POV — Morning
The morning sun had already crept past the blinds, but Auri didn't stir from the cocoon of blankets she had wrapped herself in. Her body ached, and her heart felt raw from the previous days. She had cried more than she cared to admit, and the exhaustion had finally overtaken her, letting her drift in a restless, uneasy sleep.
Her phone vibrated insistently on the nightstand. She ignored it.
DANTE: Auri… please… just open the door.
DANTE: I won't wait forever. I need to see you.
DANTE: I can't lose you.
Her chest tightened. Her body wanted to respond, to rush to him, to throw herself into his arms. But her mind resisted. Not yet… not now…
She forced herself up, hair tangled and cheeks still puffy from crying. She moved mechanically, cleaning the small messes in her apartment, washing dishes, folding laundry. Her hands shook, her movements precise, but every step felt like a struggle. Each task was a distraction from the storm in her chest.
The knocks on the door came next. Soft at first, then insistent.
"Auri…" a familiar voice called, deep and commanding. "Please… I'm outside. Open up."
She froze, heart hammering in her chest. Every instinct screamed at her to hide, to retreat further into her apartment.
"I… I can't," she whispered, clutching a blanket around her shoulders.
The knocking grew louder, accompanied by his voice, more urgent this time:
"Auri! Open the door! I won't wait forever!"
Her breath caught. She pressed herself into the corner of the living room, wishing the earth would swallow her whole.
---
Dante's POV — Outside the Apartment
Dante had been waiting for hours. Every moment without her felt like torture. The thought of her alone, sobbing, ignoring him, was unbearable. His jaw was tight, fists clenched at his sides. Every missed call, every ignored text gnawed at him.
He couldn't let her avoid him any longer. Not today. Not like this.
"Auri," he whispered, almost pleading now. "I can't… I can't take it anymore. I'm coming in if you don't open that door."
He knocked again, more forcefully this time. His knuckles rapped against the wood, each sound resonating with frustration and desperation.
"This is it," he muttered. "She can't hide forever. I'm not letting her push me away."
---
The Confrontation
Auri hesitated, trembling. Slowly, with shaking hands, she unlocked the door. The moment it swung open, Dante was there, his arms wrapping around her in a tight embrace.
"Auri!" he said, voice thick with emotion. "Don't shut me out like this!"
"Dante! Let go!" she cried, pushing at his chest.
His grip didn't loosen. "No. Not until you hear me. Not until you understand."
She stepped back, hands on her hips, chest heaving. "I can't understand! I can't! Everything's so messed up! The cafeteria, Olivia, the wedding rumors… everything!"
Dante's eyes softened slightly, though his jaw remained tense. "Auri… listen to me. What you saw… it wasn't what it looked like. Olivia and I… the engagement… everything was forced. My parents, her parents—they're pushing a marriage we never wanted And what you saw in the cafeteria it is not what you think, It's just she slipped and I just catched her. It never an intension"
Auri blinked, trying to absorb his words. "But you… you were so close to her. Everyone saw it. They cheered! It felt… real, Dante. It hurt."
He sighed, running a hand through his hair, his expression a mixture of frustration and pain. "It hurt me too, seeing you hurting because of it. But Auri… I never kissed her. I never wanted to. My heart… it's always been yours. Only yours."
Her lips trembled, but she didn't speak. The weight of everything pressed down on her.
---
The Sudden Sickness
Before she could respond, a sharp wave of nausea hit her. She doubled over, clutching her stomach.
"I… I need the bathroom!" she gasped, stumbling past him.
Dante's eyes widened. "Auri! Wait!" He rushed after her, gently guiding her forward.
She barely made it before vomiting. Dante's hands were everywhere—on her back, supporting her, brushing hair from her face. His worry was palpable.
"You're burning up," he murmured. "We're going to the hospital. Now."
"I… I'm fine," she whispered weakly, shaking. "It's just… I don't know what's wrong with me."
Dante ignored her protests. "Don't argue. Let's go."
Inside Dante's Car — The Ride to the Hospital
Dante drove with a tight grip on the steering wheel, his knuckles white, eyes darting between the road and the rearview mirror where Auri sat, trembling, clutching her stomach. The air inside the car was thick with tension, worry, and unspoken words.
"Auri…" Dante finally broke the silence, voice low but laced with guilt. "I… this is my fault. I shouldn't have let the cafeteria thing happen. I should've—"
"It's not just the cafeteria, Dante!" Auri interrupted sharply, tears streaking her cheeks. "It's everything! Seeing you with Olivia… being so close… the cheering, everyone watching… it made me feel invisible!"
Dante's jaw tightened. "You… you think I wanted that? You think I enjoy seeing you hurt? Do you even know how it felt to watch you freeze when I… when I had to pretend?"
Auri's hands trembled as she wiped her eyes. "I don't know what to think anymore! I… I don't know if I can trust what's real anymore!"
Dante's voice softened slightly, though the anger lingered. "Auri, you have to trust me! Everything you saw… it was a misunderstanding. Never my intention. I never wanted her. I never wanted anything with her. My heart… it's yours. Only yours."
"I… I want to believe that," Auri whispered, voice cracking. "But my heart… it's been hurt so many times. I'm scared, Dante. I don't know if I can handle this…"
Dante reached over instinctively, placing his hand over hers. "Hey… look at me." Her head lifted slightly, eyes swimming in tears. "I know you're scared. I know this is sudden, overwhelming. But I'm not going anywhere. You're not alone, Auri. Not now. Not ever."
-Hospital Arrival-
By the time they arrived at the hospital, Auri was trembling from both exhaustion and fear. Dante guided her carefully inside, refusing to let her move too fast. The sterile smell of antiseptic and the quiet beeping of monitors did nothing to calm her nerves.
The nurse greeted them and led Auri to a private examination room. The minutes stretched painfully as they waited for confirmation. Auri sat on the edge of the examination table, hands clasped tightly in her lap, tears streaking her face.
Dante's hand found hers immediately, holding it tightly. "Auri… please stay relaxed and be good baby. Everything will be alright"
She nodded, trembling. "I… I'm feeling tired."
Dante's jaw tightened. "I'm here! Don't worry."
The nurse returned, clipboard in hand, a smile on her face. "Congratulations, Ms. Aurelia. You are 2 months pregnant."
Auri gasped, tears spilling freely. Dante's eyes widened in shock, then a radiant smile slowly spread across his face.
"Pregnant? Are you sure about that?" he asked and the Doctor smiled and nodded, voice cracking with happiness. "This… is amazing. It's real. It's… ours."
Auri blinked, a mixture of relief, fear, and joy flooding her senses. "I… I can't believe it… Wait!"
Dante pulled her into a fierce embrace, kissing the top of her head. "Yes. And you're going to be amazing. You're going to be my partner, my love, the mother of our child. Nothing will hurt you, Auri. Not ever."
Back to the Car — Emotional Arguments
As they left the hospital, the car was quiet at first. Auri leaned against the seat, exhausted and overwhelmed. Dante drove carefully, his mind racing.
"I… I can't believe this is happening," Auri whispered. "I'm happy… but scared. So scared."
Dante glanced at her. "I know… it's a lot. But Auri… we'll figure it out. We'll make this work. Together."
She wiped her tears, but another wave of emotion hit her. "Dante… what about your parents? And Olivia? I… I don't want to cause more problems."
Dante's jaw hardened. "I'll handle them. Olivia… she's out of the picture. The engagement is over. And my parents? They'll have to understand. Auri… you and this baby are my priority. Nothing else matters."
Auri shook her head, voice trembling. "I… I'm not ready for all this. I wasn't prepared. I… I don't know if I can…"
Dante reached over, taking her hand in both of his. "Yes, you are. And I'll be right here, every step of the way. I promise, Auri. No matter what, I won't let anything happen to you. Not now. Not ever. And this baby… ours… it's the start of everything we've ever wanted."
She sobbed softly, leaning into his hand. The fear, the confusion, the worry—all of it mixed with relief and love. She realized that no matter how scared she was, she had him. And that was enough.
Planning and Future
Dante's mind was already working, even as he held her. "Tomorrow… I'm telling my parents. We're calling off the wedding. Olivia… that chapter is closed. From now on, it's just us. And this baby. Nothing will come between us again."
Auri nodded, burying her face in his chest. "I… I trust you, Dante. I do… I just… I need time to adjust. Everything is happening so fast."
Dante pressed a gentle kiss to her temple. "I know, my love. And you have all the time you need. I'll be here. Every step. Always. I won't let you go through this alone."
Her tears flowed freely now, but they were tears of relief, of joy, and finally, hope. She clung to him, feeling his steady heartbeat beneath her ear, feeling the warmth of his arms around her, the certainty of his protection, and the love he had for her and their unborn child.
For the first time in weeks, Auri smiled through her tears. She realized that despite the chaos, the misunderstandings, the fears—they were finally moving forward together. Stronger than ever.
And for Dante, holding her in his arms, seeing her smile through the tears, he finally understood: nothing, not parents, not rivals, not even the past, could ever come between them. Not when the future was already theirs.