Chapter 113

Aurora POV

I almost don’t believe what I’m seeing is real.

Gianna stands there in the hallway, wrapped in a plain jacket with her hair pulled into a loose knot at the back of her head. She looks tired, worn in a way I’m not used to seeing her but her eyes flick away from mine almost instantly, her posture uncertain.

She doesn’t say hello or smile. She simply stares at the floor beneath our feet before quietly asking, “Can I come in?”

My chest squeezes so tightly it’s a miracle I can speak.

“Of course,” I say quickly, stepping aside before she has the chance to change her mind and walk away. The fear that she might lingers in my gut like a heavy stone.

Her boots click softly against the hardwood as she steps inside. She stays rooted just past the threshold, glancing around as though trying to memorize the space. I shut the door gently behind her, resisting the urge to grab her hand and drag her toward the couch just to make sure she stays and doesn’t bolt for the door.

“Do you want something to drink? Tea? Water? Uh, wine?” I’m already moving toward the kitchen, needing to keep myself busy before I spiral into a nervous breakdown. “I’ve got some pastries left from yesterday, too. We could—”

“Tea’s fine,” she says, her voice barely above a murmur.

I breathe out and flash her a tight smile. “Okay. Coming right up.”

The sound of the kettle filling and the hum of the stove are the only noises between us for the next minute.

I keep my eyes down, pretending to fuss with rearranging our mugs on the counter so I don’t have to stare at her or let her see the ache in my own expression. When the tea is steeping, I grab a small plate of lemon cookies from the counter and carry everything over to the coffee table in the living room when my pamphlets are still laying out.

Gianna sits on the edge of the couch, knees together, Her hands are wrapped loosely around the mug when I hand it to her. She doesn’t drink it at first, just stares into the steam like she’s reading her own future in its curl.

The silence stretches between us.

It makes me want to tear out my own hair but for the life of me, I can’t seem to come up with anything to say.

Finally, when she speaks, she says. “Are you… um, okay? After your fight with Camilla?”

I blink at her, surprised she’s even bringing it up considering it didn’t seem like she cared at all once she’d gotten it broken up. “Yeah. I’m alright. She was just being an asshole. Nothing new there. She tried to steal my ring and was blaming me for all this other bullshit.”

Her brows draw together, glancing over at me. “Your ring?”

“My engagement ring.” I hold my hand up, the gold band catching the light. “Dominic’s mother’s ring, actually. Camilla went off the walls when she found out we’re engaged. She really thought after me and you fled to Mexico that she could somehow scoop him up. Kind of delusional if you ask me.”

Gianna snorts softly. “That’s an understatement.”

I shouldn’t find that funny, I really shouldn’t, but it bubbles up in me anyway. It’s a sharp, bitter little laugh I can’t quite contain. “Well, it’s not like I can exactly control what Dominic does. Besides, Camilla’s never been good to me. One good deed doesn’t erase a lifetime of her crap.”

Gianna’s lips twitch, but she doesn’t completely smile.

The air between us is fragile. I take a slow sip of my tea, trying to find a way to keep it from shattering. “How have you been?”

She hesitates, her gaze darting away from me then back again. “Romero’s been… checking up on me.”

That catches me off guard. “Romero?”

“Yeah.” She shifts in her seat, looking uncomfortable. “I’m not sure why. He’s not exactly the friendly type. It’s one of the reasons I came over, actually. I wanted to ask if Dominic put some kind of order on me to keep watch over me. Or… I don’t know. Keep tabs on me for some reason?”

I shake my head immediately. “Not that I’m aware of. But if it would make you feel better, I can ask Dominic. Just to be sure.”

Her fingers tighten around her mug. “Yes. Sure.”

Another pause settles over us.

I hate it.

I hate that she’s here and yet still feels so far away. I open my mouth to say something, anything, but at the exact same moment, she does too.

“I’m sorry,” we blurt out together.

The words hang between us for a beat, then we both laugh. It’s soft and shaky but real. And just like that, the distance between us cracks enough for me to see her again, the girl I grew up with, the one who’s been my anchor through every storm my entire life.

I set my mug aside and move toward her without thinking. She does the same and when we meet halfway on the couch, our arms wrap tight around each other.

Her breath hitches against my shoulder.

“I’m sorry for everything. For the fighting, for letting other people come between us.”

“Stop,” she interrupts, pulling back just far enough to look at me. Her eyes are red, shimmering with unshed tears. “I’m sorry too. I shouldn’t have said the things I did. I was just… angry. And scared. I didn’t know who to trust anymore.”

A lump lodges in my throat. “I know. I’m sorry. Things just… moved so fast.”

We hug again, tighter this time. It feels like something in my chest finally exhales after weeks of holding its breath.

“I love you, G.”

She squeezes me tight. “I love you too, Aurora. Forever. Even when I’m being a total bitch.”

When we pull back, I swipe at my cheeks and try to lighten the mood. “Okay, so… don’t laugh, but I’ve been thinking about going to school.”

Gianna blinks at me. “School?”

“Yeah. I know it sounds ridiculous, but… I met this couple recently and the wife was talking about studying abroad, finding her passion, all that. And it made me think… what am I going to do for the rest of my life? Just sit around and wait for Dominic to come home from whatever he’s doing with his family’s syndicate?”

She tilts her head, curiosity breaking through the last of her tension. “Well. That doesn’t sound like a very fun life. You’re right. But, what would you study?”

“That’s the thing, I have no idea. But I found some universities nearby. I could take classes on campus without living there. Maybe just being around other people will help me figure it out.”

Her lips curve into something that almost looks like approval. “Honestly? I think that sounds amazing.”

“You do?”

“Yeah. You’ve been through hell, Aurora. You deserve to have something that’s just yours. Something you choose for yourself. I’ve always wanted that for you.”

Her words land somewhere deep in me, warm and steady.

For the first time in weeks, I feel… hopeful.