Chapter 51

Aurora's POV
Hearing his words brought a little hope to my heart. “I want to believe, but sometimes the worry and sadness are so heavy. It feels like it will never end,” I said, letting out all my pent-up feelings.
Dante put his arm around me, giving me support and affection in a way that only he could. “It’s hard, Aurora. But we’re not alone in this. We have our children, and we have each other. We have to try hard and stay strong. Maybe there is hope, and by trusting in God, we can find answers.”
One thing that has always been my strength is the belief that Roline is still here, and that we will find her someday. “I hope God will give us guidance, and the strength to get through this. I want our children to grow up with love, and for all the pieces of this family to be whole again,” I replied, my heart quivering.
“And we will. Start by taking care of Roland and Ronald. They need us,” Dante said, smiling and looking at our two boys.
As I looked at their cheerful faces, even though my heart was filled with sadness, I knew I had to be strong for them. We had to fill our days with sincere love, even though the shadow of loss still loomed.
“Okay. I will try to continue living with them. We have to keep them comfortable,” I said, determined to give my best.
Dante nodded, looking proud and loving. “That way, we will survive. Roline will know how much we love her. And when we are reunited, all that love will be even more meaningful.”
Once again, hope burned. Together, we were a team, supporting and strengthening each other. Even though we were still on the journey to find our daughter, we would keep her in prayer and love. On this journey, every step we took was to protect the fighting spirit and warmth between us—an imperfect but loving family.
While we were chatting, the door suddenly opened and unexpected guests entered, my in-laws—Dante’s father and mother. Anxiety immediately gripped my heart when I saw them, especially when his mother appeared with an expression that seemed unfriendly.
“You came, Mom?” Dante asked his mother, looking surprised but still trying to keep his tone neutral.
“Yes, I heard my daughter went missing. How could that be?” his mother answered quickly, immediately highlighting the situation without further ado. In every word she said, I could feel the skepticism that enveloped her.
“Everything is going very hard, Mom,” Dante answered honestly, emphasizing how difficult the situation we were facing was.
I tried to catch my breath and stay calm, but seeing his mother’s face approaching me with a sneer made me feel cornered. It felt like all the tension I had been holding back just came back out. In the past, when she gave birth to her children, her mother was often absent and less supportive, and now her presence was adding to my burden.
“How could this happen? You should be better able to take care of the children,” she said, shaking her head sarcastically. Her voice seemed to reflect dissatisfaction and disbelief.
I tried to restrain myself from answering quickly, but our relationship had never been good and the accusing gaze hurt. It felt like all the struggle and love I had supported for my family disappeared instantly when faced with the cynicism of my mother-in-law.
“Mom, this is not the time to blame each other. We are struggling to find Roline,” I replied, trying not to show the emotions raging inside.
Dante tried to mediate. “Mom, let’s focus on the reality. We need the support of our family, not justifications about who is at fault.”
His mother seemed silent, but her expression still showed dissatisfaction. “I just want to make sure that you are okay. Roline is my granddaughter, and of course I want her back. However, we cannot simply ignore the possible mistakes,” she said, her cynicism still unconcealed.
As a wife, I felt an additional burden, but on the other hand, I knew that I had to be strong. This was not just about me, but also about my husband and our children.
“I want her back just like you want. Let’s work together to find her. This is not the time to blame each other,” I replied, trying to be strong even though my heart was shaking.
In this situation, I realized that when there are difficulties, support within the family should come first, not negative judgment. Even though I feel pressured by their presence, I will still strive to create a positive atmosphere for our children.
Dante and I must stay united amidst all the challenges, and with mutual support, we will protect our children from the distortions outside. Hopefully, one day, our relationship with our in-laws can improve, and everything will return to the love and support of a true family.
When my in-laws arrived, the atmosphere in the house suddenly became a little more tense. They didn’t stay overnight, just came for a short time and gave Roland and Ronald gifts. The gifts seemed luxurious—nice toys and clothes—but to me, it all felt a little awkward. Their new grandparents even seemed foreign to the children, since Roland and Ronald had never met them before. This was different from my father and mother, who were already very close and warm.
Watching the interactions between them, I felt a wave of doubt hit my heart. I knew that my in-laws had tried hard to build a relationship with my children, but they seemed to just show up and leave without giving me a deeper sense of family closeness.
Dante, even though he was still recovering from his injury, continued to provide her with the support she needed. “You don’t have to think about my parents, Aurora,” he said softly, distracting me from my feelings of lack of togetherness. “The most important thing is us—the people who are here. We are a real family.”