Chapter 353

Nina

My heart pounded as I finally stepped out of my bedroom, dressed and ready for the ball.

I looked down at the gown, its midnight black fabric shimmering under the soft glow of the hallway lights. For the first time in forever, I felt like I almost belonged in this extravagant setting. But even as I started descending the grand staircase, the awkwardness seeped back in, making me hyper-aware of my every step, of every eye that turned toward me.

“Dazzling, aren’t you?” My dad’s voice was tinged with pride as I reached the bottom step.

I chuckled nervously. “Just trying my best to blend in.”

My mom stood next to him, her eyes misty. “You look absolutely beautiful, Nina.”

I took a deep breath and turned to the crowd. Enzo was talking to a group of people across the room, but when our eyes met, he offered me a reassuring smile that made my heart swell, and made his way over to me.

“Well, hello, there,” he said, taking my hand and kissing it as if this was the first time we had met. “You’re stunning. Are you single?”

I blushed, chuckling. “No, actually. I have a husband.”

He smirked. “Well… What he doesn’t know won’t kill him, right?”

As the evening unfolded, the initial awkwardness started to fade away, replaced by a strange sensation of being in a surreal dream. There was music, laughter, and endless chatter, and then it was time for the father-daughter dance.

“So,” my dad began as he led me around the dance floor. His eyes were searching, as though he were trying to read my thoughts. “Have you given any thought to what your mom and I talked about earlier? About staying here during your pregnancy?”

I looked into his eyes, then my gaze flickered to Enzo across the room. He was still mingling, but there was a certain seriousness to his demeanor that was so unlike the carefree guy I had known.

“I appreciate the offer, dad, I really do,” I said softly, “but I can’t leave our home. Enzo and I have built something there. It’s where I feel the most like myself.”

He looked at me, a little surprised but also understanding. “I thought you might say that,” he admitted.

“You did?” I questioned, my eyes widening.

He nodded, chuckling. “I know we haven’t gotten to know each other until a few months ago, but I can tell how fiercely independent you are. I just worry about you, that’s all. I’d like to make sure you’re safe and taken care of.”

“I know,” I said as I leaned my head on his chest. “But I think I’d be happiest at home.”

“I can respect,” he said, his eyes filled with a strange mixture of pride and melancholy. “But promise me you’ll think about it, even if it’s just for a little while. Sometimes a change of scenery can offer a new perspective.”

I glanced back at Enzo. He was now looking at me, his eyes lingering, filled with a sort of quiet yearning. “A new perspective, huh?” I echoed, more to myself than to my dad.

“Yes, a new perspective,” he confirmed, pulling me a little closer as the song was nearing its end.

For a moment, I lost myself in the music, in the atmosphere of the evening, allowing myself to disappear in this newfound relationship with my father, in the comfort that came from being surrounded by family.

But as I looked around, my eyes always found their way back to Enzo, and each time, it became increasingly clear where I wanted to be, where I felt I truly belonged.

The song ended and the applause washed over us, pulling me back to reality. My dad leaned in, kissing my forehead.

“So, things seem good with you and Enzo,” my father observed, glancing over at him.

I smiled. “They are. I’ve never been happier.”

“Good,” my father said, draping his arm around my shoulder and pulling me closer as we began to walk to the hors d'oeuvres table. “He’s a good man, Nina. I’m proud to call him my son-in-law.”

Just as I was about to respond, I caught a snippet of Enzo’s conversation drifting across the room: “Yes, it’ll be a six-month stretch. It’ll be difficult, but we’ll make it work. We decided it’s best for us to follow our dreams.”

My dad’s eyes narrowed, and I could feel his grip tighten around my shoulders. “Did he just say what I think he said?”

I felt my stomach knot. “Dad, listen—”

“I need to have a word with him,” my dad interrupted, setting down his glass with a decisive clink and starting to move in Enzo’s direction.

But I grabbed his arm, pulling him back. “Dad, wait.”

“What’s going on, Nina? Did I hear correctly? He’s leaving you alone for months while you’re pregnant?”

“It was my idea,” I blurted out, feeling the weight of the confession. “I pushed him to keep the job.”

My dad stared at me incredulously. “You what?”

“It’s a great opportunity for him, Dad. For us. It can set us up for the future.”

“A future where he’s not present?” My father’s voice edged toward anger. “What kind of future is that?”

“Dad, please,” I pleaded, my eyes searching his. “You have to understand. We’ve talked about it, we’ve weighed the pros and cons. We decided this together.”

“But you’re pregnant, Nina. You need support, you need someone around.”

“And I’ll have that,” I countered, trying to keep my voice steady. “I’ll be fine. I have friends, and Enzo will be there whenever he can. Besides, we’ve got phones. I can always call him.”

“Digital companionship isn’t the same. You know that.”

I sighed. “Dad, I love him, and part of loving him is supporting his dreams just like he supports mine. It won’t be easy, but we’ll manage. We always do.”

My father looked at me, the sternness in his eyes softening a bit, but the worry still lingering. “Have you always been this headstrong?” he asked quietly.

“Yes. And I likely got it from you,” I quipped, trying to lighten the mood.

He sighed, taking a moment before speaking again. “If that’s the path you two have chosen, I won't interfere. But now that I know this, I do think you really should consider staying here while he’s away. At least consider it.”

I looked into his eyes and saw genuine concern, a father’s worry for his daughter. “Dad, I know you’re worried, and I love you for it. But our home is important to me, to both of us. Leaving it for months would feel like abandoning a part of myself.”

“Nina, sometimes you have to make sacrifices for your well-being. And for your child’s.”

“And sometimes, dad, you have to stand by the choices that shape your life,” I replied, my eyes meeting his, unwavering.

He looked at me for a long moment, as if measuring the resolve in my eyes, then finally nodded. “Alright. You’re your own person, Nina, with your own life to lead. I may not like it, but I have to respect it.”

“Thank you, dad,” I said, feeling a mix of relief and apprehension. “That means a lot to me.”

He put an arm around me, pulling me into a half-hug. “I love you, Nina. And I’m sure, no matter what, your mother is smiling down on you.”

I blinked away the tears that threatened to come at the mention of her—the mother I never got to meet.

“And Selena?” I found myself croaking out.

My father paused for a few long moments before finally nodding, his watery eyes meeting mine.

“Yes. And Selena.”