Chapter 52

Aurora's POV
I nodded, trying to absorb Dante’s words and understand what I meant. While it’s sometimes hard not to compare my own family to my in-laws, I know that their love for each other is the most precious thing.
With my in-laws gone, Dante also longed for a deeper bond within his family. Perhaps this was the time for him to focus on building a brighter future, creating stronger bonds within his own household, and nurturing the love and togetherness between them.
Roland and Ronald showed joy as they played with the gifts from their grandparents, giving me some solace. Seeing the children interact and laugh was a reminder that, despite the disharmony outside, love and happiness can be found at home.
With the warmth of Dante’s love and my two boys, I felt renewed strength to move forward. Indeed, their focus was on the family they had built together. And when the time came to deepen their relationship with my in-laws, I hoped it would come more naturally.
“Well, we have everything we need here,” I murmured, determined not to let the outside tensions affect the happiness they had built. They are my family, and that love is what I need most to keep shining.
“Dante, honestly I miss Roline so much. Why hasn’t she come home yet?” I asked in a worried voice. This feeling of anxiety was eating away at my heart, and even though some time had passed, the loss was still very painful.
Dante looked at me with empathy. “We’ve tried our best, Aurora. I miss her too,” he replied, his voice reflecting his feelings.
Hearing his words, my heart trembled. Honestly, all this time I felt like I couldn’t do anything, and all the efforts we made seemed to bear no fruit. “I’ve done my best, but it feels like nothing changes. Every day passes without any news from her,” I said bitterly, feeling a deepening sense of despair.
Suddenly, Dante suggested, “Aurora, how about you continue your Master’s degree? It’s time to register now.”
I was surprised to hear the suggestion. “Master’s degree? Now? With everything that’s happened?” I asked, doubting the idea. Education had always been my dream, but in the midst of all this chaos, was it the right priority?
“Yes! If you have something else to focus on, maybe it can help you take your mind off of all this. Besides, your education shouldn’t stop. It’s important to be better for yourself and our children,” Dante said, trying to convince me.
He was right, and his words started to touch a hidden part of me. Continuing my studies should be a good thing, especially if it could help me occupy my mind and create positive thoughts amidst all the problems. Maybe this could be a small step to getting back on my feet.
“I do feel trapped without Roline here. If a Master’s degree can help distract me and give me new hope, I’ll consider it,” I said, starting to open up to the possibility.
Dante smiled, his smile looking a little relieved. “That’s it! We have to keep fighting. Roline will definitely come back. And when she does, we have to be ready to give her a better future,” he said confidently.
Hearing that, I felt a new spirit within me. Starting a master’s degree might be a challenge, but it was an opportunity to develop myself and focus on the positive things in life.
“I will start looking for information about the registration and available programs. Thank you, Dante, for encouraging me to look forward,” I said as I took Dante’s hand, feeling the strength in the promise we would build together, for ourselves and our children’s future.
Even though Roline had not returned home, that hope would not fade. With determination and love, we would keep going, trying our best to face all the challenges in the future.
I had indeed wanted to continue my master’s degree for a long time, but circumstances had not allowed it. Especially this past year has been very difficult for me, amidst various problems and confusions that had been lingering. However, today, with Dante’s support beside me, I felt a little stronger to take this new step.
Dante drove me to campus, and when we arrived, nostalgia immediately came over me. Every corner of this campus was filled with memories—walking with Robert, my ex-boyfriend, among the green trees, talking about my ideals and hopes at that time. Those times felt so far away, and even though the past held so much sweetness, I couldn’t forget how hard our separation had been.
“Don’t think too much about the past, Aurora. You’re here to start something new,” Dante reminded me, distracting me from the painful memories. He patted my shoulder gently, giving me the support I had been waiting for.
“Yeah, I know. It’s just hard not to think about everything that happened. Since I met Laura, I haven’t seen them again,” I said, a little taken aback by the reality. How much time had passed, and how everything could have changed.
“Forget about them. I’m here to support you, and you have every reason to focus on yourself now,” Dante replied, his smile giving me hope and encouragement.
I nodded, trying to push away the doubts in my heart. Thinking positively, I stepped into the campus building. Tension and nervousness haunted me, but when I saw the healthy faces of old friends who had returned, I felt reconnected to this place.
New lessons, new friends, and a chance to start over—all of these must be taken with courage. The desire to succeed and do my best for my family replaced all the anxiety inside me.
Dante accompanied me into the classroom, and when I turned to look at him, he gave me a nod of support. “Remember, this is your journey. Do your best!” he said before I proceeded to my seat.
As I sat down and looked around, my feelings began to calm down. Despite the lingering memories of Robert and how I would never see them again, here I was—ready to learn and grow. With determination, I vowed to take this course wholeheartedly, for a better future, both for myself and for my family.