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?"

me explain," and then he turned around and I did the same, realizing people were looking

me. What was he in Italy, at the same place, and at the same time as me? I nodded. "Fine. But just

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

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

want to know what's going on, and

out of

"Coincidental? Maybe the previous encounters, but not this

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 evening to unwind, and I

for

asked the smile back

shook my

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

it to me. It was his F******k page, filled with culinary

I scrolled through, my skepticism began to

feeling a bit silly

meet," he

but 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

smiling too, feeling a genuine sense of ease for

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

take on the scholarship? I mean, it's thousands of miles away

the culture, the passion - Italy has it all. And I wanted to learn from the

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

three whole years?" Dwayne suddenly asked, as if he knew what I

unsure of my

quickly added. "I don't mean to pry, it's just

deciding how much to reveal. "I'm divorced," I responded, and quickly

but it was just as difficult to hide something 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 conversation to something

lunch, he surprised me with a suggestion. "We've still got some time before the

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

Come on," he said and

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

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