CHAPTER 89 — UNRAVELING TRUTHS AND NEW CONNECTIONS
(Auri's POV + Dante's POV)
Dante's POV
The Moretti mansion was unnervingly quiet when his parents arrived.
His mother, Isabella, walked in first—elegant, composed, and very clearly worried.
His father, Leonardo, followed behind her, stern and unreadable.
"Dante," Isabella said softly. "Where is Auri? We haven't seen her in months."
Dante swallowed hard.
Everything he was avoiding suddenly had a spotlight shining on it.
"She…"
His voice cracked.
"She left."
Isabella's brows pinched. "Left? Why? Did something happen?"
Leonardo crossed his arms, his voice low and sharp.
"Tell us the truth."
Dante closed his eyes.
This was the part he dreaded.
"It was my fault," he whispered.
"I… I betrayed her. I hurt her. More than you know."
The silence that followed felt like the house itself went still.
Isabella's lips parted slowly, disbelief settling in her eyes.
"You… cheated?" she whispered, voice trembling with disappointment.
Dante felt the burn of shame on his skin.
"Yes."
Leonardo stepped forward.
The disappointment on his face was harsher than any slap.
"I raised you better than this. We taught you loyalty, integrity. And you throw away the woman who stood beside you during her darkest grief?" His voice thundered. "Dante, what have you become?"
Isabella shook her head, tears glazing her lashes.
"Auri adored you. She trusted you. And you let her break alone while you—"
Dante flinched.
"Mom… I know. I know I ruined everything."
"Ruined?" Leonardo scoffed. "Son, you didn't ruin. You destroyed."
Those words pierced through Dante's ribs, deeper than he expected.
Isabella stepped back, her voice chilling.
"You lost Auri. And if you don't fix yourself… you'll lose us too."
And with that, they walked away.
Dante stood there, hollow.
Alone in the ruins he created.
Auri's POV
The afternoon sun washed my apartment in warm gold when my phone buzzed.
Adrian Sterling.
A smile tugged at my lips.
Adrian—my once almost-something, the man who always arrived with warmth and soft chaos.
Auri:
Hey Adrian, just checking in. How are you?
It took him five seconds to reply.
Adrian:
Alive, barely. The coffee machine at work tried to kill me.
How are YOU? Still gorgeous? Still ignoring my calls like a goddess?
I snorted.
Auri:
I wasn't ignoring you 😂
I was just… busy.
Adrian:
Busy being pretty?
Busy breaking hearts?
Busy replacing me with some handsome billionaire? 😔💔
He didn't know.
Not fully, at least.
Auri:
Actually… can we meet?
I want to introduce you to someone.
Adrian:
Is it a cat?
Because if it's a cat, I approve.
Auri:
It's Marcela 😂
Adrian:
Ah. The legend.
Tell her to prepare, because I'm very charming today.
I rolled my eyes, laughing despite the heaviness in my heart.
The Café Meetup
Marcela nearly dropped her iced latte when Adrian walked in.
"GOOD LORD," she whispered.
"That's Adrian? The Adrian?? AURIIII WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME HE LOOKS LIKE A ROMANCE NOVEL COVER??"
Adrian approached with that signature boyish grin.
"Hello, beautiful ladies."
Then he looked at Marcela.
"And hello… sunshine with legs."
Marcela turned pink.
I shook my head.
"Adrian, behave."
"I am behaving.
This is my good behavior."
He sat down, gaze softening when he looked at me.
"How are you, Auri? Really?"
I inhaled slowly.
Then gave a small, bitter smile.
"I'm… trying."
Adrian read the pain instantly.
He leaned forward, voice gentle.
"Is it because of Dante?"
Before I could answer, Marcela jumped in—loud, honest, and unfiltered.
"SIR, LET ME TELL YOU—Dante cheated. Cheated-cheated! With a flight attendant named Celestine! Like, full betrayal package! Auri cried buckets. BUCKETS."
Adrian froze.
His playful expression twisted into something darker, angrier.
"He… what?"
His jaw clenched.
"He cheated on you?"
Marcela nodded dramatically.
"Yes! He broke her heart like a stale cookie!"
Adrian turned to me slowly, eyes blazing.
"Auri… sweetheart… why didn't you tell me sooner?"
I shrugged weakly.
"It's… complicated."
"Not to me," he said, voice dangerously calm.
"Cheating is cheating. Only cowards do it."
I swallowed, throat tightening.
Marcela sipped loudly.
"If you punch him, Adrian, I'll clap."
Adrian shot her a wink.
"Careful, sunshine, I might fall in love with you next."
Marcela choked on air.
I snorted.
But then Adrian turned to me again, voice dropping to a soft rumble.
"You deserve someone who won't break you. Someone who worships you. Someone who's not stupid enough to lose you."
My chest tightened.
"And if the universe lets me…"
He smirked gently.
"I might try to court you again."
Marcela squealed.
I covered my face.
Adrian laughed.
For the first time in a long time…
the pain didn't swallow me whole.
There was light.
And warmth.
And hope.