Fated to meet you.

(ARIELLE'S POV)

I had arrived in Italy and settled in, although the first week was a maze of orientation and waiting for students who had delays in arrival, to arrive. The academy provided accommodations, but I chose to stay outside campus due to my pregnant state. I got a decent apartment and spent the week touring the city, registering for antenatal in a hospital, and keeping in touch with Mom and Ashley.

But none of it filled the emptiness gnawing inside me. Late at night, when the city was quiet and my thoughts drifted back to Jared and the child I had lost, I felt the weight of it all. I tried hard to stay distracted, burying myself in activities so I wouldn't have to remember those painful memories.

Classes finally began, and during a break, I stepped out for some fresh air. As I made my way through the courtyard, my heart skipped a beat.

A familiar figure caught my eye-broad shoulders, tall frame, dark hair... My breath hitched. Jared?

But when he turned around, I immediately knew I was wrong when seeing that drowning emerald green eyes.

It was Dwayne.

I stumbled backward by the impact of the collision, shocked.

"D... Dwayne?" I called, eyes widened.

A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips as his eyes locked with mine. "Hi, Arielle." The light breeze tousled his hair, and there was something about his easy charm that made it hard to look away.

My surprise quickly morphed into suspicion. "What are you doing here?" I asked, taking a step backward.

"I know you're surprised-" he said, taking a step closer.

"Are you stalking me?" I asked, trying to process the unexpected encounter.

He sighed. "No, Arielle, I'm not stalking you."

I narrowed my eyes. "Then how are you here? At the same academy, in the same city?"

"I'm a student here, too."

My eyes dimmed. "What? How is that possible?"

realizing people were looking our way. "But not here,

my curiosity got the better part of me. What was he in Italy, at the same place, and at the

and once seated, I

again, as if he enjoyed the tension between us. "You're not going to let me off the

what's going on, and

of the way. I wasn't stalking you, Arielle. Our meetings were purely

eyebrow. "Coincidental? Maybe the previous encounters, but not this one.

I was admitted a few days ago for food poisoning after trying out a new dish," he gave out a small laugh, but I maintained my straight face. "And the mall?" He shrugged. "I was shopping for ingredients for my cooking class. Karaoke night? Just

studying his face for any sign of

the smile back

shook my head. "Not

pulled out a small wallet, flipping it open to reveal a chef's badge. "I'm a chef too, Arielle. I'm

his phone and tapped on it, before handing it to me. It was his F******k page,

my skepticism began to

handed the phone back, feeling a bit silly for

meet," he said with a

mutter, "Hey, this is more like a serial killer chasing after his victim to me okay? Don't underestimate a woman's vigilance in today's world." I crossed my arms, tilting my head as I added, "After all, you're way too suspicious.

moment before bursting into small laugh. "Then I guess I owe you

and I found myself smiling too, feeling a genuine sense of

waiter, and we placed our orders. As we waited for our meal to arrive, I

made you take on the scholarship? I mean, it's thousands of miles away from your country of residence," I

the culture, the passion - Italy has it

and the past, I have always wanted to visit

years?" Dwayne suddenly asked, as if

paused, unsure

"I don't mean to pry, it's just that your

breath, finally deciding how much to reveal. "I'm divorced," I responded, and quickly added, "I don't

from those piercing emerald eyes. Somehow, I felt like Dwayne saw right through me, like he could sense what had gone wrong. However, Dwayne didn't push further. He simply nodded, his gaze softening, and smoothly shifted the

got some time before the break is over. How about

it. I didn't have any friends here yet, and going back to the academy alone didn't sound appealing. "Okay, sure," I

Come on," he said

arrived at the museum, and Dwayne guided me to a section labeled "Butterfly Diorama." Butterflies of various species, in different stages of their lives, were arranged in delicate displays. The vibrant colors and details of their wings caught my attention immediately. I turned to Dwayne curiously. "I thought you meant paintings and sculptures

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