Chapter 5

I woke up the next morning to the sound of birds singing outside the window. For a few seconds, I stared at the unfamiliar ceiling above me, trying to remember where I was. Then everything from the previous night came rushing back. The warehouse. Dante's proposal. The attack on the mansion. The wound on his shoulder. And the strange words he had whispered while sleeping.

I've been looking for you for so long.

I sat up slowly, remembering the way he had held my wrist as if he was afraid I would disappear. The words had sounded so real, so full of emotion, but I still couldn't understand them. How could Dante Moretti, a man I had only met yesterday, say something like that?

Maybe he was only dreaming.

That had to be the explanation.

I pushed the thought away and got ready for the day. The clothes prepared for me were beautiful, but I still felt strange wearing something so expensive. I was used to simple dresses and old shoes, not designer outfits chosen by someone else. Looking at my reflection in the mirror, I barely recognized myself.

A knock sounded at the door.

"Come in."

Martha entered with a warm smile. "Good morning, Miss Aria. Breakfast is ready."

I nodded. "Thank you, Martha."

As I followed her downstairs, I noticed how different the mansion felt during the day. Last night, it had been filled with fear and danger. Now, everything was calm. Servants moved quietly, guards stood outside, and sunlight filled the large windows.

When I entered the dining room, I saw Dante sitting at the table.

He looked completely different from the man I had seen injured the night before. He wore a dark suit, his hair was neatly arranged, and his expression had returned to the calm and unreadable one everyone knew.

For a moment, I wondered if I had imagined the softer side of him.

"Good morning," he said.

I stopped for a second before replying. "Good morning."

His eyes moved over me briefly before returning to his breakfast.

"Did you sleep well?"

I sat across from him. "Yes."

A quiet silence followed.

I wanted to ask him about last night. I wanted to know what he meant by those words, but I didn't know how to bring it up. What if he didn't remember? What if he thought I was strange for asking?

Finally, Dante spoke.

"You have a question."

I looked up in surprise.

"How did you know?"

A small smile appeared on his lips. "You have been thinking loudly since you walked in."

I looked away, slightly embarrassed. "I was just wondering..."

"About what?"

I hesitated.

"About what you said last night."

For the first time, Dante's expression changed slightly.

"What did I say?"

My eyes widened.

So he didn't remember.

"You said something about looking for someone."

For a few seconds, he remained silent. Then he looked down at his coffee.

"Did I?"

His answer confused me.

"Yes."

Dante didn't explain. Instead, he changed the subject.

"There is something we need to discuss."

I knew immediately that he was avoiding the question.

"About the marriage?"

He nodded.

"Our families need to be informed."

I almost choked on my drink.

"Our families?"

"Yes."

I placed the glass down carefully. "But we haven't even had a wedding yet."

"We will."

His simple answer made my heart beat faster.

Dante looked at me seriously.

"My family dinner is tonight."

I stared at him.

"Tonight?"

"Yes."

A nervous feeling settled inside me.

Meeting Dante was one thing.

Meeting the people who had known him his entire life was something completely different.

"What if they don't accept me?"

The question left my mouth before I could stop it.

Dante's gaze softened slightly.

"They will."

"You sound very sure."

"I am."

I looked at him quietly.

"Why?"

Dante leaned back in his chair.

"Because you are the woman I chose."

Those words shouldn't have affected me.

But somehow, they did.

After breakfast, Martha helped me prepare for the family dinner while I tried to convince myself that I had nothing to worry about. But no matter how many times I told myself to stay calm, the thought of meeting Dante's family made my stomach tighten.

This was not just any family.

This was the Moretti family.

A family known for power, wealth, and influence. A family where everyone probably had high expectations. And I was just Aria Bennett, a woman who had worked hard all her life and accidentally stepped into a world she barely understood.

By evening, I stood in front of the mirror wearing a simple but elegant dress. It wasn't something I would have chosen for myself, but when I saw the way it fit perfectly, I couldn't deny that it was beautiful. My hair was styled neatly, and for the first time in a long while, I looked like someone who belonged in a place like this.

But deep down, I still felt like an outsider.

A knock sounded at the door.

"Come in."

Dante entered.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

"You look beautiful," he said.

The compliment caught me off guard.

"Thank you."

He stepped closer, adjusting the cuff of his sleeve.

"Are you nervous?"

I looked away.

"Maybe a little."

Dante studied me for a moment before speaking.

"You don't have to impress anyone tonight."

I looked back at him.

"They are your family. Their opinion matters."

"No," he replied firmly. "What matters is that you remember who you are."

His words surprised me.

"You say that like you already know me."

A brief silence passed between us.

Then Dante simply said, "I know enough."

Before I could ask what he meant, he turned toward the door.

"It's time to go."

The drive to the Moretti family estate was quiet. I looked out the window at the passing city lights while trying to calm my thoughts. Dante sat beside me, focused on his phone, but every now and then I noticed him glance in my direction.

When the car finally stopped, I looked outside and saw a mansion even larger than Dante's.

I took a deep breath.

"This is where you grew up?"

"Yes."

I stepped out of the car, and immediately several people greeted us. Servants bowed respectfully while security guards opened the entrance.

The moment we entered the dining room, every conversation stopped.

Everyone turned to look at me.

At the head of the table sat an older woman with elegant features and a cold expression. Beside her were several other members of the Moretti family.

Her eyes moved from Dante to me.

"So this is the woman you decided to bring here."

Her voice was polite, but there was no warmth behind it.

Dante's expression hardened slightly.

"She is Aria Bennett."

The woman looked at me carefully.

"Aria Bennett."

She repeated my name as if testing it.

"I expected someone different."

I felt the tension in the room immediately.

Before I could respond, Dante spoke.

"Mother."

Just one word.

But the warning in his voice was clear.

The woman looked at him.

"I am only saying what everyone is thinking."

Dante stepped slightly closer to me.

"Everyone's opinion is irrelevant."

The room became silent.

I looked at him in surprise.

He had just defended me in front of his family without hesitation.

His mother narrowed her eyes.

"You are willing to risk everything for someone you barely know?"

Dante didn't move.

"She is my choice."

Those four words carried more power than any argument.

No one spoke again.

The dinner continued, but I could feel the tension around the table. Questions were asked about me, my background, and my life. Some were polite, while others felt like they were trying to find reasons why I didn't belong.

But every time someone crossed a line, Dante was there.

He didn't raise his voice.

He didn't need to.

His presence alone was enough.

When dinner finally ended, I followed Dante outside into the quiet garden. The cool night air touched my face, and I released a breath I didn't realize I had been holding.

"Thank you," I said softly.

Dante looked at me.

"For what?"

"For defending me."

He looked away for a moment.

"You shouldn't have needed defending."

I smiled slightly.

"Still... thank you."