CHAPTER 69 — NEW FRIEND, NEW LIGHT
The morning sun crept through the curtains gently, warming Auri's cheek as she woke to the soft buzz of her phone vibrating on the bed. She blinked sleepily, reached for it, and her eyes instantly lit up.
Marcela sent a DM.
Marcy🌸:
GOOD MORNING, MY FELLOW OVERTHINKER.
I just woke up and my legs are still mad at me for jogging yesterday 💀
Auri burst into a giggle before she could stop herself. Her fingers moved fast.
Auri:
Good morning!! 😂
You're jogging again today?
Marcy🌸:
Jog??? TODAY???
Girl I can't even walk to the kitchen without crying inside 😭😭😭
Auri laughed harder, covering her mouth.
Auri:
You're dramatic.
Marcy🌸:
And proud of it 🤌✨
Anyways, what are you doing? Working again? Drinking tea? Staring at a wall dramatically?
Auri felt her heart warm. Marcela's energy was like sunshine in message form.
Auri:
Working 😅
Client meeting later.
Marcy🌸:
UGH, responsibilities.
I hope your meeting goes well.
And if it doesn't, I will personally fight your client.
Auri burst into laughter again.
Auri:
Please don't fight people for me 😭💀
Marcy🌸:
Too late. I already threw imaginary hands.
Also—wanna hang out again today?
I promise I won't force you to jog.
Auri smiled softly at the screen.
Auri:
I'd love to. Maybe later this afternoon?
Marcy🌸:
PERFECT.
I'll bring snacks.
You bring your cute self 😌✨
Auri's face heated as she kicked her blanket shyly. She had never become this instantly comfortable with a stranger before. Marcela was… refreshing. Warm. Easy to talk to.
Her phone suddenly rang — Dante calling.
Auri quickly answered.
"Dante?"
"Good morning, sweetheart," Dante's warm voice came through the line, softened by static from another country. "Did you sleep well?"
"Yes," she said, smiling unconsciously. "I… actually woke up excited today."
"Oh?" Dante teased. "And what made my girl excited? Hmm?"
Auri giggled. "I made a new friend yesterday!"
She could practically hear Dante pause.
"A new friend? Really?"
His tone shifted — curious, surprised, and undeniably happy.
"Yes!" Auri sat up straighter. "Her name's Marcela. She's so funny, Dante. Like—really funny. And she talks a lot, but in a good way. And she made me laugh so much yesterday."
Dante exhaled softly — a mixture of relief and joy.
"That's wonderful, Auri… I'm really happy hearing your voice like this."
Auri giggled again, excited. "She messaged me this morning, and I'm going to meet her again later! I'm actually… excited to go out."
"That's great, sweetheart," Dante said warmly. "I love hearing you excited. You deserve to feel light again."
Auri felt her heart soften at his words.
"I want to meet her," Dante added suddenly.
Auri blinked. "Really?"
"Yes," he said with certainty. "When I come home next week, let's invite her. Even for just a short dinner or coffee. I want to see the friend who makes my wife—"
He paused, correcting himself gently,
"—who makes you laugh again."
Auri covered her mouth, blushing deeply.
"Dante…"
"I mean it," he said softly. "You sounded so alive just now. I want to meet the person who helped bring that back."
Auri felt warm tears forming—not of sadness, but of gratitude.
"I'll tell her," she whispered.
"Good. And Auri?"
"Yes…?"
"I'm proud of you," he murmured. "So proud. I'll call again later, okay?"
"Okay," she whispered, smiling widely. "I love you."
"I love you too."
Auri Messages Marcela Excitedly
The moment the call ended, Auri returned to Marcela's DM thread, her hands trembling with excitement.
Auri:
Marcelaaa???
Marcy🌸:
YES MA'AM?
Why are we yelling 🤣
Auri giggled.
Auri:
I told my… uh… partner about you.
He wants to meet you when he comes home next week.
Marcy🌸:
OH???
Partner??
Is this partner handsome??
Should I wear makeup???
Do I need to practice being less cringe—
Auri:
DONT 😂
He wants to meet you because you made me laugh
There was a long pause.
Then:
Marcy🌸:
Aw… wait…
That's actually so sweet 🥺
You must be special to him if he's that protective.
Auri blushed deeply.
Auri:
He is… special to me too.
Marcy🌸:
Okay then.
I will NOT embarrass you in front of him.
I will be normal.
Auri laughed.
Auri:
Can you be normal?
Marcy🌸:
No. But for you, I'll try 😌✨
Tell me the date and I'll clear my schedule.
I'd love to meet him.
Auri's chest swelled with warmth.
Marcela still didn't know who she really was—
who Dante truly was,
or what their life looked like behind the mansion walls.
She knew nothing of the pain, the wealth, the loss.
And strangely… Auri liked it that way.
For now, Marcela simply saw her as Auri—
the girl on the park bench,
the shy one,
the one who needed a friend.
And it felt refreshing.