Chapter 81

Aurora's POV
With the situation calmed down, we all finally gathered to enjoy the newly bought cake. The children’s cheerfulness and Dante’s increasingly clear outlook helped ease the feeling of anxiety that had been weighing on my heart.
I promised myself to maintain honest communication between us and make sure that we support each other without jealousy. We are a family, and even though challenges may be shocking, love and trust for each other are the most important things to maintain.
After days of mourning, I finally began to feel the weight of my heart ease. While the grief of losing my mother will never completely go away, I have learned to accept that she is now at peace. It has been a difficult process, but I am determined to move forward for myself and my children.
One afternoon, while relaxing in the living room, my phone suddenly rang. I saw an incoming message from a number I did not recognize. Alienation and curiosity enveloped my mind. When I opened the message, I suddenly saw the name Robert. The message read, “It’s nice to see you again.”
My heart fluttered for a moment; there were mixed feelings when seeing his name reappear in my life. But before I could respond, Dante, who was sitting next to me, quickly read the message. “Who is it?” he asked, his tone showing interest.
“Uh, I don’t know,” I replied, trying to play it cool even though I knew Dante already had a hunch. “It’s… probably a casual friend from the past.”
Dante couldn’t hide his jealousy. “Oh, don’t tell me it’s Robert,” he said with a grin. “I guessed it.”
“I don’t know!” I said, feeling burdened by guilt. “I just met him at the bakery a while ago. He helped carry Roline.”
Dante tried to remain calm, but I could sense his discomfort. “I don’t like hearing this. Do we have to do this all over again?” he looked at me, looking a little annoyed.
“Dante, this is just a message. Nothing special! Just a hello, nothing more,” I said, trying to reassure him. I felt the need to bridge this feeling and keep our relationship strong amidst the uncomfortable atmosphere.
Eventually, I decided to reply to Robert’s message simply. “Nice to meet you too. Hope you’re doing well.” It was a way of closing things that might have been brought up from the past.
Dante rummaged through his thoughts for a moment, but soon enough, he tried to change the mood. “We have other plans to keep ourselves busy,” he said, distracting us from the message. “How about we spend some time with the kids? Go to the park, have a picnic, or maybe go to the movies this weekend?”
“A great plan! Let’s do it,” I replied, feeling more at ease. This decision was an opportunity to make sure that our focus was on the children’s togetherness and happiness.
In my heart, I promised myself that we would continue to maintain the love and trust between us, no matter what. We are a team, and together we will overcome every challenge with love.
The long-awaited weekend had finally arrived. I felt excited and ready to spend some quality time with my family. After planning this vacation for some time, I finally decided to visit the luxury resort that Dante recommended. We hadn’t had the chance to spend time together as a family, and I hoped this trip would bring us closer together.
Before we left, we all got ready with great enthusiasm. The kids were running around, picking out their own clothes, and seemed eager to go on an adventure. I loved watching them grow and become more independent. This time, the six of us decided to go without a babysitter, so that we could focus more on each other.
“Dad, I brought this toy!” Ronald shouted, showing his favorite toy that he would bring. “I can play in the pool!” Roline and Roland laughed, equally excited to have a great time.
When we arrived at the resort, the atmosphere immediately greeted us warmly. The stunning scenery around us left us all in awe. I could feel the children’s enthusiasm increasing. They couldn’t wait to swim and explore all the facilities on offer.
After checking in and getting our rooms, we immediately headed to the pool. The sensation of the cold water was immediately refreshing, laughter and screams filled the air as the children jumped into the pool. Soon, Cherry joined in, and Dante and I tried to keep everyone safe.
I felt happy watching them play together. All the tension and sadness of the past few days slowly disappeared. Here, in this loving atmosphere, I felt the true meaning of togetherness—how important it is to maintain our relationships as a family.
“How about we go to the beach tonight?” Dante suggested as he looked at the bright sunset. “We can make a bonfire and spend time while the stars start to come out.”
The children immediately cheered, “Yes! That’s a great idea!” I agreed too, a smile spreading across my face. We quickly packed up our toys and got ready for the next adventure.
That night, as we gathered around a small bonfire on the beach, the atmosphere was magical. The blazing fire provided warmth, and the yellow-orange light danced, creating beautiful shadows on the children's faces. The sound of the waves crashing against the shore provided a soothing soundtrack, as if holding us in a peaceful night song.
We sat in a circle, the children happily sharing stories. Roland and Ronald took turns telling us about the silly adventures they had at school, while Roline, with a big smile, performed a funny dance that made everyone laugh. Seeing their happiness made me feel warm inside, as if all the burdens I had ever carried had just evaporated.
"Cherry, do you want to sing along?" Ronald said, gesturing to Cherry, who looked at us with round, curious eyes. The two of them began to sing cheerful songs that we had sung at home, and their antics made the atmosphere even more lively. Soon, with Dante's voice joining in, the songs filled the night air, making us all sing without shame.