Chapter 148
Aria’s POV
I woke up slowly, my body heavy like it had been holding the weight of a thousand bricks. My eyes felt swollen from crying, and when I reached up to touch my cheeks, I could still feel the dried tears there. My head throbbed lightly, but it was nothing compared to the ache in my heart.
The room was quiet, dimly lit by soft morning light slipping through the curtains. For a moment, I just lay there, staring at the ceiling, my thoughts swirling like smoke. I had cried until I couldn’t anymore, and even now, I wasn’t sure what I felt. Numb maybe. Confused. Hurt. Lost.
I remembered Enzo’s arms around me last night. The way Matteo rubbed my back. The way Dante sat close, his hand rubbing my thighs to calm me. I remembered how their voices wrapped around me like blankets, whispering words I couldn’t fully hear through my sobs, but still, I felt every one of them.
It was the first time in a long time that I had felt safe while falling apart.
A soft knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts. I sat up slowly, hugging the blanket to my chest. My voice came out quiet.
“Yes?”
The door opened gently and Enzo peeked in, his soft curls messy like he had just woken up too. His smile was warm, gentle.
“Hey, sunshine,” he said, stepping inside, “we were thinking… maybe you could use something to make you smile today, the surprise we told you about.”
I blinked at him. He walked to the side of the bed and held out a dress. It was white, simple but elegant, like something from a dream. The fabric looked soft, light. Flowing.
“What’s this?” I asked, my voice hoarse.
“A little something,” he said, reaching out to brush my hair back, “put it on. We want to show you something.”
I hesitated, my fingers curling around the blanket. My body still felt like it was recovering from yesterday. My heart definitely was. But when I looked up and saw the way Enzo was looking at me, like I was the only thing that mattered in the world, I nodded.
“Okay.”
After I got dressed, I stood in front of the mirror for a moment. The white dress fell around me like water, soft and graceful. I brushed my fingers through my hair, letting it fall down my back, and for a second, I barely recognized myself. I looked… different. Softer. Like someone who could be loved.
Matteo appeared at the door next, a playful grin on his lips.
“You ready, bella?” he asked.
“I think so,” I said, nervous all over again.
He held up a blindfold and I raised an eyebrow.
“Oh no,” I muttered.
He chuckled. “Trust us. You’ll love it.”
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Chapter 148
With a sigh, I let him tie the soft cloth over my eyes. The world went dark but his hand took mine, guiding me gently through the hallway. I could hear footsteps, soft laughter, and feel the cool night ait kiss my skin as we stepped outside.
Then the blindfold came off.
And I gasped.
The backyard had been transformed. There were lanterns hanging from vines, casting golden light over everything. A long wooden table was set with candles, glowing softly, and plates filled with pasta, bread, and small bowls of sauce. Music played quietly in the background, a slow violin that made my chest ache in the most beautiful way.
It looked like a dream. No. It looked like a painting. Warm and alive.
“Welcome to Italy,” Dante said from beside me, smiling in that way that always made my stomach flutter.
Tears prickled my eyes again but for a very different reason.
“You did all this?” I whispered.
“We wanted to give you something good,” Matteo said, pulling out a chair for me. “Something just for you.”
They sat with me, surrounding me in every way. Their voices, their smiles, their warmth. They poured me wine. Passed me food. We talked, not about danger or grief, but about things that made us laugh. Dante told a story about Enzo trying to cook once and burning the pasta. Enzo rolled his eyes and threw a piece of bread at him. Matteo leaned in close and asked what my favorite dessert was. I couldn’t even remember the last time someone asked me that.
At some point, Dante stood and held out his hand.
“Dance with me.”
I hesitated. “I don’t know how.”
He smiled and gently pulled me to my feet. “Then let me lead.”
He held me close, our bodies swaying to the slow music. His hand was on my waist. His breath tickled my ear as he whispered something in Italian I didn’t understand, but it made me shiver in the best way. I rested my head on his chest, and for the first time since everything happened, I felt like I could breathe.
After a while, Enzo walked over and guided me to another part of the yard. Matteo stood beside an easel with something covered in white cloth. I tilted my head.
“What’s that?”
“Our real surprise,” Enzo said, a little nervous now.
Matteo pulled the cloth away slowly.
My breath caught in my throat.
It was a painting. Of me.
But not the me I saw in the mirror. No, this was different.
This version of me looked strong. Serene. Her eyes were soft but brave. Her face calm. She looked like someone who had been through fire and come out glowing. Behind her were shadows of the three brothers, standing close, like guardians in the night.
Tears slipped down my cheeks before I could stop them.
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Chapter 148
“Is this how you see me?” I asked, my voice breaking.
“It’s how we always saw you,” Enzo said softly.
“You’re not broken,” Dante whispered.
“You’re beautiful,” Matteo added.
I covered my mouth, shaking, crying. But it wasn’t the same as before. These tears were not full of pain. They were full of something warm. Something healing. Something… safe.
I turned to them, hugging Enzo first, then Dante, then Matteo, letting them hold me, kiss my forehead, wipe my tears. Their arms were warm, strong, safe. I had never felt this protected before. Never this loved.
And just when I thought the night had already given me more than I could handle, Enzo leaned close to my ear and whispered.
“There’s one more thing.”
