Chapter 89

Aurora's POV
But my father-in-law just stared at me coldly, as if he didn’t care what I said. “This is none of your business, Aurora. This problem could have been avoided if Dante had been more responsible,” he replied, still in an angry tone.
Dante tried to nod, but I could see that he was very shaken and tired. “Dad, I will fix everything. I need some time to resolve this issue. I am also very sorry,” he said, trying to explain while struggling to stay calm.
But my father-in-law seemed stubborn. “Aren’t you panicking? This has dragged on and harmed many people. Where is your sensitivity as a leader?”
Seeing the tension rising, I felt that I could no longer remain silent. I mustered up the courage to speak up. “Dante has done his best for the company. If there is one thing we have learned from this experience, it is the importance of team support and mutual trust. Don’t make decisions that could change everything just because of emotion,” I said firmly but with understanding.
My father-in-law fell silent for a moment. Hearing my words, I might have had a little effect in changing the mood. I wanted to help him see that we were all part of a team and that being there and supporting each other was the most important thing right now.
“I promise I will take responsibility for this and find a solution as soon as possible. I hope there is a chance to prove that,” Dante said firmly, trying to reaffirm his position.
With the tension in the room, tears began to well up in my eyes. “Dante needs to rest,” I said softly but firmly. “Let’s all stay calm and talk from there. We can find a way out together.”
After my father-in-law’s angry outburst, he finally left in annoyance, saying, “I’ll wait for you until you get out of the hospital, Dante.” As the door closed, I let out a sigh of relief, as if a heavy weight had been lifted off my shoulders.
Although the atmosphere in the room was still tense, I felt a little calmer. My father-in-law certainly cared deeply about the company, and I could understand how frustrated he was with the situation. But I still hoped she could see the other side—that Dante wasn’t the only one responsible and that we were all struggling.
When I looked back at Dante now, his face was tired and strained. “I’m sorry for all this,” he said quietly, looking down, as if feeling helpless. “I should have prevented this. I didn’t want to let anyone down.”
“Dante, this wasn’t just your fault,” I said softly, trying to calm him down. “We all made decisions based on the information we had at the time. The most important thing now is to focus on your recovery and figure this out together.”
He looked up at me, gratitude in his eyes. “Thank you, Aurora. Without your support, I don’t know how I would have gotten through this,” he said, his voice shaking.
From the first day we were together, I had committed myself to being his support system. Even in difficult situations, I believe that the love and support we give each other is a strong foundation. In my heart, I prayed that we would get through all of life’s trials—trials that came one after another, sometimes unexpected, but also a reminder that our family roof must remain standing.
After a while, I decided to change the atmosphere. “How about we talk about our plans for the future? Once you’re better, we need to think about what’s next,” I suggested.
Dante nodded, looking more at ease. “You’re right. I don’t want to leave everything to this situation. We need to make a plan to fix this.”
Having a productive conversation, I felt a new spirit begin to grow amidst the challenges. We shared ideas and developed strategies to restore trust in the company. My feet felt lighter as we discussed the future, even though I knew there was a long way to go.
The days ahead would likely be filled with tension and hardship, but I was confident that with love and cooperation, we would be able to move forward, facing all the trials life had to offer. We were a family, and together, no challenge was too big to overcome.
The next morning, as the sunlight streamed through the hospital window, I heard cheerful voices outside the room. It was the children and their two babysitters. They were clearly worried about their father still in the hospital, and their presence brightened the mood in the room a little.
Seeing them enter the room, the cheerful faces immediately brightened the previously tense picture. “Daddy!” Roline shouted as she ran to Dante who was still lying on the bed. Roland and Ronald quickly followed her, and behind them, Cherry also approached.
“Mommy, we love you Daddy!” all the children shouted in unison, hugging Dante with all their hearts. Seeing them united, my heart felt warm. The love and care they showed clearly made the previously anxious atmosphere more pleasant.
Dante smiled weakly, but his eyes sparkled when he saw his children united. “I love you too,” he replied, his voice soft and loving. “Thank you for coming. I will get better soon and come back to play with you.”
The children joked and chatted about the activities they had done while Dante was gone, while Cherry was alert to catch every detail. He may not be my biological child, but he has the energy and cheerfulness that brings color to our every day. In some ways, he was just like the other kids—jovial and curious, always ready to play.
After a few moments of sharing a beautiful moment, I felt reassured by how their togetherness could lighten the situation. “Daddy needs a break, son. Let’s let him rest and then we can come back,” I told the kids, hoping they’d understand.
“Okay, Mom!” Roline replied excitedly. “We can bring a drawing for Daddy!” She pulled a drawing paper out of her bag and showed it to the others.