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 then he turned around and I did the same, realizing people were looking our way. "But not here, over lunch.

trust him. But my curiosity got the better part of me. What was he in Italy, at the same

small café just outside the campus, and once seated, I wasted no time. "So, what's going on?

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

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

out of the way. I wasn't

"Coincidental? Maybe the previous

I was admitted a few days ago for food poisoning after trying out a new dish," he gave out a small laugh, but

for any sign of

smile

my head.

pocket and pulled out a small wallet, flipping it open to reveal a chef's badge. "I'm a chef too, Arielle. I'm here on a scholarship as it has

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

scrolled through, my

handed the phone back, feeling a bit

we were fated to meet," he said with

my arms, tilting my head as I

laugh. "Then I guess I owe you an apology... for

feeling a genuine sense of ease for the first time in what seemed

our orders. As we waited for our meal to arrive, I decided to ask a question I had been

I mean, it's thousands of

- Italy has

had a lot in common. "Same here," and that statement was true. Despite using the scholarship as an avenue to get over Jared and the past, I have always wanted to visit Italy. I had even thought of convincing Jared that we visit during one of our anniversaries. A

husband handling your being away for three whole years?" Dwayne suddenly asked, as if he

unsure of my

to pry, it's just that your Mom mentioned

much to reveal. "I'm divorced," I

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 conversation to

"We've still got some time before the break is over.

academy alone didn't sound appealing. "Okay, sure," I agreed. "I

he said

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 when you said art museum?" I said, feeling

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