The morning sun had barely risen, casting a warm glow through the curtains. Amelia lay in bed, her head resting on the pillow, but her mind was far from peaceful. Her conversation with Dante the night before had been a turning point, but a new thought gnawed at her the question that had been lurking in her mind since Isabella's unexpected appearance at their home.
Isabella.
Her name kept echoing in Amelia's mind like an unanswered prayer. Who was she really to Dante? There had been something in his eyes when he spoke about her, a flicker of emotion that made Amelia's heart ache with uncertainty. Was there something more to their connection than what he had let on? And why had Isabella shown up so suddenly?
Amelia knew she needed answers. She needed to understand, to put her fears to rest. And there was only one person who could give her the truth.
She found Dante in the kitchen, dressed in a simple black shirt and dark jeans, his back turned to her as he poured coffee into a mug. The aroma of the freshly brewed coffee filled the room, but it did little to ease the tension that hung between them. Amelia stood in the doorway for a moment, watching him, her thoughts swirling.
Dante didn't turn around, sensing her presence before she even spoke. He had a way of knowing when she was near, a heightened awareness that made him both protective and cautious.
"Good morning," he said softly, his voice warm but guarded.
Amelia hesitated for a moment, then walked toward him. She stopped just behind him, her heart racing in her chest. She had made up her mind she would ask him about Isabella. There was no more avoiding it.
"Dante," she began, her voice trembling slightly, "Who is Isabella to you?"
The words hung in the air, sharp and direct. She could feel his body stiffen as soon as she said her name. Dante set the coffee cup down, slowly turning to face her. His dark eyes met hers, but there was a flicker of something unreadable in them. The walls he had worked so hard to maintain began to shift, and Amelia could see the internal struggle in his gaze.
"Isabella?" Dante repeated her name as if testing it on his tongue, though his voice betrayed a hint of wariness.
"Yes," Amelia pressed, her eyes never leaving his. "Who is she, Dante? You've never really explained. I saw the way you looked at her last night. And the way she spoke to you... It wasn't like the way people speak to a friend. You didn't tell me who she is, but I need to know."
Dante took a deep breath, his jaw tightening. He hadn't anticipated this question so soon, though he had known it was coming. He could see the hurt and curiosity in her eyes, and it made him feel both defensive and guilty at the same time.
"She's…" he began, but the words felt heavy, as though they didn't want to come out. He ran a hand through his hair, his mind searching for the right thing to say.
Amelia took a step closer to him, her voice quieter now, but no less determined. "I need the truth, Dante. I'm not asking to control you or judge you. I just need to know. Who is she really to you?"
Dante's gaze softened, but the flicker of unease remained. He hadn't realized how much Amelia needed this answer, how much this situation had been weighing on her. He could tell she wasn't asking because of jealousy, but because of a deeper need to understand him, to know who he was beneath the cold exterior. And for the first time, Dante found himself considering how much of himself he was willing to reveal.
"Isabella is…" Dante paused, his chest tightening. There was so much he wanted to explain, but the words felt inadequate. "She's someone I used to care for. Someone I've known for a long time, before everything changed."
Amelia frowned, sensing the complexity in his answer. "Used to care for?"
Dante nodded slowly, his eyes flickering with memories. "We were close once. Very close. But things… things happened. Things I'm not proud of." His voice softened, and he looked away, unable to meet her gaze. "Isabella was part of a life I walked away from when I joined the family business. She didn't understand my choices, and I didn't know how to explain them to her. Eventually, we drifted apart. But she… she still has a place in my past, Amelia. I won't lie about that."
Amelia's heart ached as she listened to him. She had never heard him speak so openly about someone else, and hearing him admit that there was a part of him that still lingered in his past made her feel small and uncertain. She had known that Dante's past wasn't simple, but hearing this admission from him made it feel so much more complicated.
"So, she's someone you loved once?" Amelia's voice was barely a whisper, the question hanging between them.
Dante turned back to her, his gaze intense. "I did love her. But that was a long time ago, Amelia. I don't want to go back there. I don't want to bring that part of my life into this marriage. You're my wife, and I… I don't want anyone else, not when I have you."
Amelia looked up at him, feeling the sincerity in his words, but also the weight of the history he carried. She took a step back, her thoughts racing. The emotions she had felt the night before those moments of tenderness and connection suddenly felt fragile, overshadowed by this revelation.
"I don't want to keep secrets from you," Dante said softly, taking a step toward her. "But I also need you to understand that the past is the past. I've moved on, Amelia. I'm here now, with you. And I want to build something with you, not just carry the ghosts of old loves."
Amelia stared at him for a long moment, her emotions conflicting. She wanted to believe him, wanted to trust him with everything she had. But the weight of his past was like a shadow over them, and it would take time to move beyond it.
"I just want you, Dante," she whispered, her voice tinged with vulnerability. "I need to know that I'm enough for you. That you're not still caught up in whatever happened with her."
Dante stepped forward and cupped her face, his thumb brushing over her cheek. "You are more than enough, Amelia. I swear to you, I'm here. I'm all yours. Whatever I had with her, it's over. You're the only one I need."
And for the first time, Amelia believed him. The sincerity in his voice, the way he held her gaze, made her feel like the woman he had chosen. She had her doubts, but for this moment, she allowed herself to believe in the love they were building, in the connection that was growing between them.