Chapter 83 — The Breaking Point
Auri's POV
The mansion was quiet, but in the silence, every corner seemed to echo the pain in my chest. I hadn't slept well. My mind refused rest, replaying the email, Dante's trembling apologies, the guilt etched into his face.
I loved him. I had loved him more than I had ever loved anyone. I had fought through grief, through loss, through heartbreak—and I had trusted him again. I had believed in him.
And now… now it felt like everything I had rebuilt was crumbling.
Morning of Resolve
I woke early, the sunlight filtering softly through the curtains. I stared at the ceiling, my chest tight, hands trembling slightly as I clutched the sheets. My eyes were red from crying, my thoughts a tangled storm of anger, betrayal, and sorrow.
How could he…? I whispered to myself. He was here, he was mine, and yet… he almost—he almost let her cross the line. And now she's in our lives, even if he swears he didn't… what do I do with that?
The decision formed quietly in the depths of my heart. I would not let this happen again. I would not give him the chance to hurt me twice.
I rose, every movement deliberate, my resolve hardening. I packed a small bag—some essentials, a change of clothes, a few personal items. Each object felt heavier than the last, symbolic of the weight in my chest.
Facing Him
I found Dante in the living room, pacing near the window. His shoulders were hunched, and when he turned to see me, his face lit up with that familiar, hopeful expression—hopeful that maybe I had forgiven him, that maybe we could continue as though nothing had happened.
I swallowed hard, keeping my voice calm despite the storm inside. "Dante…"
He stopped immediately. His eyes searched mine, almost pleading. "Auri… please… talk to me. Let me explain—"
I shook my head slightly, tears welling again. "I've heard enough explanations, Dante."
His hands twitched at his sides. "You… you can't just decide—"
"I can," I interrupted softly but firmly. "Because this… this isn't just about Celestine. It's about you. Your choices. Your weakness. The fact that you let her get close to you in the first place. You betrayed me before anything physically happened, and that's worse. Because I trusted you. I trusted you with my heart, Dante. And you… almost destroyed it."
Dante's Plea
He stepped closer, voice shaking, raw. "Auri… you don't understand. Nothing happened with her! I—"
"I don't need to understand!" I snapped, my voice breaking. "It doesn't matter! You let it happen in your mind, in your weakness, in your hesitation to protect us properly. That's enough, Dante. Enough to know that I can't—I can't stay with someone who might betray me, even if unintentionally."
His jaw clenched. Pain flashed in his eyes. "Auri… please… you don't mean that. You can't leave me. I… I can fix this! I'll do anything!"
I shook my head, taking a step back. "No. Fixing isn't the point. You broke my trust. And trust… trust isn't something you can repair with words or tears. It's not something you can rebuild after it's been shattered this badly."
I could see his shoulders slump slightly, as though he were carrying the weight of a thousand mistakes. His eyes glistened, guilt shining through in a way that made my chest ache even more.
The painful truth
I took a deep breath, letting the words I had been holding inside spill out, jagged and raw. "I loved you. I fought so hard to come back to you after losing everything… after losing our baby. I believed in us, Dante. I believed in you. And now… I can't. I… I need to protect myself, my heart. And staying with you, knowing what almost happened… I can't. I won't."
His face twisted in desperation, a mixture of anger, pain, and panic. "Auri… please… don't do this. I… I need you. I need you more than anything. I'll go to her, I'll cut her out completely! I'll—"
"You should have cut her out before this ever became a problem," I interrupted sharply, tears streaking my cheeks. "You should have protected us, Dante. But you didn't. And now… I can't risk my heart again."
The final goodbye
The room was heavy with silence. I felt my resolve solidifying with each passing second, even as my chest ached and tears blurred my vision.
"I… I'm leaving," I said softly, voice trembling but unwavering. "I don't hate you. I still love you. But I cannot stay. Not now. Not like this."
Dante staggered back slightly, lips parting in disbelief. "Auri… you… you can't leave me. Please… I… I'm sorry! I—"
I shook my head. "I know. And I hope… I hope you learn from this. I hope you understand that love isn't enough when trust is gone. I hope… you realize how much you've lost."
I turned and walked toward the door. Every step felt like fire in my chest, every movement painful, every breath a struggle. I didn't look back.
When I reached the front hall, I stopped briefly, hand on the doorknob. "Goodbye, Dante."
And then I left.
Dante's devastation
I didn't hear him call after me. Didn't hear him plead. The silence that followed was deafening.
I could feel the weight of my decision settling over me, heavy but resolute. I was leaving behind the man I loved—but I was saving myself.
And somewhere in the depths of the mansion, Dante Moretti stood alone, guilt and panic eating him alive, realizing in that moment that he had lost her. That he had lost me—the woman who had loved him, believed in him, trusted him—and that nothing, no words, no tears, could bring her back right now.