REJECTED AT MIDNIGHT

For two weeks, Dante refused to give up on me.

Every morning, a delivery arrived at my apartment. Sometimes it was white roses. Other times, it was expensive jewellery, beautiful dresses or handwritten letters.

I returned everything.

I didn't want his gifts. I wanted an explanation, an assurance that what had happened between us would never happen again.

Most importantly, I wanted to know whether he would stand by me when things became difficult.

But Dante never stopped trying.

On the fourteenth night, I returned from work to find him standing outside my apartment.

It was raining heavily.

His expensive shirt was soaked, his hair was dripping, and there was no driver or security guard beside him.

Just Dante.

"Go home," I said, stopping at the gate.

He shook his head.

"Aria, please. Just give me a chance to explain."

"I've heard enough explanations."

He suddenly dropped to his knees on the wet concrete.

My eyes widened.

"Dante! What are you doing?"

"I can't lose you."

"Get up."

"Not until you listen to me."

I looked around nervously, hoping none of my neighbours was watching.

But he didn't care.

"I love you, Aria. I know I made a mistake, but I swear I would rather hurt myself than deliberately hurt you."

I turned away.

He followed me as far as the kitchen, stopping at the doorway.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I'm so sorry."

I stood beside the sink, trying to control the tears gathering in my eyes.

"Do you know what hurts the most?" I asked.

He remained silent.

"It's not even what happened that night. It's the fact that I finally allowed myself to trust someone, and now I'm afraid I was wrong to do so."

He stepped closer.

I didn't move away.

He gently wiped a tear from my cheek.

"Have you forgiven me?"

I closed my eyes.

"Yes."

His shoulders dropped with relief.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then he whispered, "I'm thirsty. Could you get me a glass of water?"

I nodded and turned towards the kitchen.

When I returned, I stopped in surprise.

Three enormous boxes wrapped in silver paper were stacked on my kitchen table. Beside them stood a bouquet of white roses.

"Dante!"

He smiled.

"What?"

"This is ridiculous!"

"I know."

I laughed despite myself.

He stepped closer and held my hands.

"Have you made up your mind about me?"

I looked into his grey eyes.

"Maybe."

"Aria."

I tried to maintain a serious expression, but I couldn't.

"Yes. I'll be your girlfriend, you idiot."

His face lit up.

He pulled me into his arms and kissed me.

For the first time in weeks, I allowed myself to believe that perhaps things could still work between us.

When he finally left close to midnight, I stood by my window watching his car disappear.

Then I called Brenna.

She answered immediately.

"What happened?"

"I said yes!"

There was a brief silence.

Then she screamed.

"I KNEW IT!"

I laughed so loudly that I had to cover my mouth.

For a little while, everything felt perfect.

But happiness can sometimes be the calm before the storm.

---

The Moon Festival was approaching, and Dante became unusually distant.

He still visited me, called me and sent gifts, but something was troubling him.

One evening, his driver called to say that he wasn't feeling well.

I immediately prepared a flask of soup and bought some fever medication before heading to the Romano mansion.

When I entered his bedroom, he was lying on the bed.

His face was pale, and his eyes were red.

"Dante?"

He turned towards me.

"Aria."

I placed the flask on the bedside table and sat beside him.

"What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing."

"Don't lie to me. You look terrible."

He managed a weak smile.

I opened the flask and began feeding him the soup.

He barely touched it.

"Talk to me," I pleaded.

He stared at the ceiling for a long time before speaking.

"My father wants me to marry someone."

My hand stopped.

"What?"

"Serenna Thomas. The daughter of Beta Thomas."

I slowly put the spoon down.

"Why?"

"Because our families arranged it years ago. The wedding is supposed to take place during the Moon Festival."

I felt something tighten in my chest.

"And what did you tell him?"

"I told him I couldn't do it."

I looked at him.

"Then what's the problem?"

"If I refuse, I lose everything. My inheritance, my position in the family business and even the house my mother lives in."

He turned towards me.

"Aria, I don't want to marry her."

I stared at him, trying to understand what he was asking me to accept.

"You have to decide what matters most to you, Dante."

"You're what matters most to me."

"Then prove it."

He reached for my hand.

"I will. I'll speak to my father again."

I shook my head.

"No. Don't."

His eyebrows drew together.

"What do you mean?"

"Go and marry her."

He sat up.

"Aria!"

I forced a smile, although my heart was breaking.

"She's your family's choice. If marrying her is what you need to do, then do it."

"I don't want her. I want you."

"Then don't make promises you cannot keep."

He held my hand against his lips.

"This marriage won't last. I promise you. I'll find a way out of it. I'm yours, Aria."

I wanted to believe him.

So I did.

---

The night of the Moon Festival arrived.

The entire city was decorated with beautiful lanterns. Silver lights illuminated the streets, and people gathered in the square to celebrate.

I stood at the back of the crowd, holding a paper lantern.

My eyes searched for one person.

Dante.

He stood at the front wearing a black coat. Beside him was a beautiful blonde woman dressed in white lace.

Serenna Thomas.

The priest began reciting the traditional wedding vows.

I felt my fingers tighten around the lantern.

I wanted to leave.

I wanted to run away before I heard the words that would break my heart.

But I stayed.

And when Dante finally said his vows, the crowd erupted in celebration.

I lowered my head.

A tear rolled down my cheek.

That night, I went home alone.

Dante kept his promise in his own way. He continued visiting me on weekends and arranging private meetings at hotels.

But every time I looked at him, I remembered that he was another woman's husband.

I told myself it was temporary.

I told myself he would eventually find a way to leave the marriage.

I didn't know how badly I would regret believing him.

---

A few weeks later, I returned from work and noticed smoke rising above the buildings on my street.

At first, I thought it was coming from a nearby restaurant.

Then I saw the flames.

My house was burning.

I ran towards it, shouting.

"NO! PLEASE!"

Firefighters were already trying to control the flames.

I stood on the pavement, still holding my handbag and my house keys.

The curtains my mother had once chosen were burning behind the windows.

Everything was disappearing.

My photographs. My clothes. My parents' memories.

I tried to move closer, but a firefighter stopped me.

"Madam, you can't go in there!"

I began shaking.

Brenna was away visiting her parents, and her phone wasn't connecting.

I had nobody else to call.

Then I remembered Dante.

My fingers trembled as I dialled his number.

"Aria?"

His voice came through almost immediately.

"Dante..."

"What happened?"

"My house. It's burning."

There was a brief silence.

"Where are you?"

I gave him my location.

"I'm sending a car. Don't move."

Within minutes, his driver arrived.

I was taken to the Romano mansion.

It was the last place I wanted to be, but I had nowhere else to go.

Dante met me at the entrance and pulled me into his arms.

"You're safe now."

I held onto him.

For that moment, I didn't care that he was married. I didn't care about anything except the fact that I had lost another home.

"Show me where I can stay," I whispered.

"You're not going to the servants' quarters, Aria. I've prepared a room for you."

He led me upstairs.

I was exhausted, but I knew I couldn't avoid meeting his wife forever.

That evening, I entered the dining room.

A beautiful woman sat at the table, wearing cream-coloured silk. Her blonde hair was pinned neatly, and expensive jewellery glittered around her neck.

She looked up when she saw me.

Her eyes travelled slowly from my face to my clothes.

"And who is this?"

I forced a polite smile.

"Good evening. My name is Aria."

She ignored my greeting and turned towards Dante.

"You brought a stranger into our matrimonial home without consulting me?"

Dante put down his glass.

"She's an old friend. Her house burned down, and she needs somewhere to stay until she finds another place."

Serenna laughed coldly.

"A charity case?"

"Careful, Serenna."

She made a strange hissing sound.

Dante's expression darkened.

"How dare you behave like that in my presence? That is the first and last time you question my decision."

Serenna pushed her chair backwards and walked out.

I stood there, embarrassed.

Dante turned towards me.

"I'm sorry about that."

I forced a smile.

"It's fine."

But deep down, I knew I had just entered a dangerous situation.

---

The mansion became increasingly uncomfortable.

The chef went away to visit his family, and Serenna refused to allow anyone else to prepare meals for us.

She ordered food for herself and ate in her room.

One evening, I returned from work feeling exhausted and hungry.

I entered the kitchen and found almost nothing prepared.

I decided to boil some yams.

I made enough for myself and Dante, placed his portion on a plate and covered it with foil.

I didn't notice Serenna watching me from the pantry doorway.

She waited until I had gone upstairs.

Then she entered the kitchen, opened her handbag and removed a small brown bottle.

She looked towards the staircase.

Nobody was there.

Slowly, she unscrewed the bottle.

---

At three in the morning, a scream woke me.

I jumped out of bed.

The sound came from downstairs.

I rushed down the staircase in my socks and found Dante lying on the marble floor.

He was sweating heavily and struggling to breathe.

"Dante!"

I dropped to my knees beside him.

"What happened?"

He tried to speak, but another wave of pain made him curl up.

Before I could understand what was happening, Serenna appeared.

"Don't touch him!"

I turned towards her.

"What?"

She pointed at the plate on the kitchen counter.

"Look at what you've done!"

My eyes moved towards the plate.

The foil had been removed.

"What are you talking about?"

"You poisoned him!"

I stared at her in disbelief.

"That's impossible!"

Dante was rushed to the hospital.

The doctors discovered poison in his blood.

By morning, the police had found my fingerprints on the plate.

I tried to explain that I had only prepared food for him, but nobody wanted to listen.

The mansion's servants began whispering whenever I walked past.

Some called me a murderer.

Others called me a desperate Omega who wanted to take the Alpha away from his wife.

I was innocent.

But innocence meant nothing when everyone had already decided I was guilty.

Dante remained in the hospital for four months.

During that period, Serenna took control of the mansion.

I was treated like a criminal.

I scrubbed floors, carried heavy things and ate whatever food was left in the kitchen.

The same people who had once watched me serve guests now ordered me around without hesitation.

I endured it because I believed Dante would eventually return and defend me.

I believed he would remember the woman he had told he loved.

I was wrong.

---

When Dante finally returned from the hospital, he looked thinner and weaker.

I was in the back garden, hanging clothes, when I heard footsteps behind me.

I turned.

He stood near the gate.

For a moment, I couldn't speak.

"Dante..."

He looked at me.

"Did you do it?"

My heart stopped.

I dropped the sheet I was holding.

"What?"

"Did you poison my food?"

I stared at him, searching his face for some sign that he didn't believe the accusation.

"You know I wouldn't do that."

He remained silent.

"I cooked that food because you were hungry. I wanted you to eat something before going to bed. Why would I poison you?"

His expression was unreadable.

Then he turned and walked away.

I stood there, watching him disappear.

He hadn't defended me.

He hadn't even tried to investigate what happened.

And that was when I realised that the man I loved might never believe me.

---

The second Moon Festival arrived.

I closed early at the event hall and hurried to the Romano mansion.

I still hoped Dante would finally speak up for me.

The grand hall was decorated with beautiful lanterns. Guests filled the room, and Serenna sat beside Dante at the head table.

I approached quietly.

Then Dante stood.

The room fell silent.

He lifted his glass.

"Tonight, I have an announcement to make."

I looked at him.

He turned towards the guests.

"Aria Cole attempted to murder me by poisoning my food. The evidence is clear, and I regret the day our paths crossed."

For a moment, I couldn't breathe.

I stared at him.

"Dante?"

He didn't look at me.

"You can't do this to me," I whispered.

He raised his hand.

"Guards!"

Two men approached and grabbed my arms.

I struggled.

"Please, Dante! Look at me!"

He remained seated.

Serenna stood and walked towards me.

Her expression was filled with satisfaction.

She leaned closer and whispered:

"Omegas should know their place."

My eyes filled with tears.

The guards dragged me through the entrance and threw me outside.

Rain poured from the dark sky.

I landed on the wet pavement, my clothes soaked within seconds.

Behind me, people began laughing.

Someone threw an apple core.

Another person threw a stone.

I covered my face.

I had lost my parents.

I had lost my home.

I had lost my best friend.

And now the man I loved had publicly declared me a murderer.

I struggled to my feet and picked up my small suitcase.

With trembling fingers, I called Brenna.

"Aria? Where are you?" she asked.

Her voice sounded distant, mixed with the noise of an engine.

"Brenna, please. I need you."

"I'm driving back. Stay where you are. I'll come tomorrow."

I swallowed the lump in my throat.

"I don't know where to go."

"Just hold on, Aria. Please."

The call ended.

I stood in the rain, wondering whether I would survive another night.

Then an elderly woman wearing a blue headscarf stopped in front of me.

She was carrying a bag filled with schoolbooks.

"Child, what are you doing out here in this weather?"

I lowered my eyes.

"I'm sorry, ma. I don't mean to disturb you."

She studied my face.

"Where is your family?"

I tried to answer, but my voice broke.

"I have nobody."

The woman looked at my suitcase, then back at me.

"What happened?"

"I was thrown out of my boyfriend's house. They accused me of something I didn't do."

She remained silent for a moment.

Then she extended her hand.

"My name is Mrs. Fortune."

I looked at her hand.

"Come with me, child. I have some hot soup at home."

I hesitated.

I had learned the hard way that not everyone who smiled at me wished me well.

But something about her eyes made me feel safe.

I slowly placed my hand in hers.

As we walked away from the mansion, I looked back one last time.

I made a silent promise to myself.

One day, I would return.

Not as the helpless Omega they had thrown into the rain.

But as a woman nobody could ever humiliate again.