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?"

and I did the same, realizing people

he in Italy, at the same place, and

once seated, I wasted no time. "So, what's going

glinting with amusement again, as if he enjoyed the tension between us. "You're not going to let

crossed my arms. "No. I just want to know what's going on, and why you're at

"Okay, let's get this out of

an eyebrow. "Coincidental? Maybe the previous encounters,

first time we met at the hospital garden, I was there because I stepped out to get some fresh air. 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 an

his face for any sign of deception

the smile back on his

shook my head. "Not

a chef's

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

scrolled through, my skepticism

the phone back, feeling a

meet," he said with a

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. Let's be real, I'm not narcissistic enough to believe that

a moment before bursting into small laugh. "Then I

feeling a

our meal to arrive, I decided to ask a question I had been wanting to

of miles away from your country of residence," I asked,

passion - Italy has it all. And I wanted to

always wanted to visit Italy. I had

years?" Dwayne suddenly

unsure

don't mean to pry, it's

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

like Dwayne saw right through me, like he could sense what had gone wrong. However, Dwayne didn't

"We've still got some time before the break

it. I didn't have any friends here yet, and going back to the academy alone didn't

Come on," he said and led the

vibrant colors and details of their wings caught my attention immediately. I

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