Chapter 36: I Have to stop this

Dante
The morning had started like any other, but when Marco called me to his office, I knew something big was about to happen. The grave tone of his voice put me on alert, and the look of concern in his eyes didn't bode well.
"Dante, I need to talk to you," Marco said, closing the door behind me. "This isn't easy to say."
"What's wrong, Marco?" I asked, feeling a knot forming in my stomach.
"I need you to take what I'm about to tell you very calmly, seriously."
"And I need you to cut to the chase. Talk already."
"Ana is getting married."
He fell silent, and so did I. It was news I wasn't processing well. I must have heard wrong, that has to be it, it must be a mistake. I'm supposed to be the one Ana walks down the aisle with,
"What?" was the only thing I could manage to articulate.
"Ana said yes to Paolo last night. They're getting married," his words still felt like a bucket of ice water. This couldn't be true.
I was speechless. I felt the ground crumble beneath my feet. Ana... marrying Paolo. The woman I had sworn to protect, the one I loved with every fiber of my being, was going to marry another man. I refused to believe it.
"No... It can't be," I murmured, bringing a hand to my forehead.
"I'm sorry, Dante. I know how much you care about Ana, but she's made her decision," Marco replied, trying to comfort me with his gaze.
"And you agree with this?!"
"There's not much I can do."
"It has to be a joke. A damn joke."
The pain quickly turned into desperation, and desperation into anger. I left Marco's office without another word, needing to be alone. My heart pounded in my chest as I walked down the hallway, my hands trembling with pure frustration.
I reached my room and slammed the door shut, collapsing onto the bed. The room felt claustrophobic, as if the walls were closing in on me. I wanted to scream, break something, anything to release the anguish I felt in my chest.
"Damn it!" I shouted, throwing a book against the wall. The thud was a temporary relief, but the pain remained.
I got up and started pacing the room, unable to stay still. Images of Ana and Paolo together, planning their wedding, flooded my mind. How could she choose Paolo? How could she not remember what we had shared, what we had been through together?
"It can't be... It can't be..." I repeated to myself, as if the words could change reality.
I stopped in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection. Bloodshot eyes, clenched jaw. I knew I was on the verge of losing control, but I couldn't allow myself that. I had to stay calm, for Ana.
"Dante..." I whispered to my reflection. "You have to be strong. You have to find a way to make her see the truth."
But how could I do that when Ana was so convinced of her love for Paolo? How could I fight against the memories she didn't have? The helplessness gnawed at me, making me feel more vulnerable than I had in years.
The sound of my phone pulled me out of my thoughts. It was a message from Valeria, asking me to meet her to talk. I knew she was also suffering, and that she needed comfort as much as I did.
I got dressed as best I could and left the room, trying to calm myself down. I needed to talk to Valeria, to find a way to face this together. As I walked down the hallway, I felt like each step was bringing me closer to an abyss from which I might never escape.
When I arrived at the meeting place, I saw Valeria waiting, her expression mirroring the same anguish I felt. We hugged, seeking solace in each other's presence.
"Dante, I'm so sorry," Valeria said, her eyes filled with tears.
"Me too, Valeria. This is a nightmare," I replied, gritting my teeth.
"I don't know what to do. I feel like I'm betraying Ana by not telling her the truth," she continued, her voice trembling. "And now with the wedding thing, I feel like it's too late for everything."
"We can't give up. We have to find a way to open her eyes," I said with determination. "We can't let Paolo get away with this."
Valeria nodded, wiping away her tears. We knew the battle would be tough, but we weren't about to lose. Ana was too important to both of us, and we would do everything we could to get her back.
"We'll find a solution, Valeria. Together."
"Yes, together," she replied, with a faint smile.
We stayed there in silence, sharing the burden of our pain and the hope that Ana would remember and choose her true path. We knew it would be a difficult journey, but we were ready to walk it, no matter the obstacles.
After talking with Valeria, I headed to my room. The pain and frustration were unbearable, but I couldn’t give up. I couldn’t let Ana marry Paolo without a fight. I knew there was one person I could turn to, even though I didn’t trust her—the mysterious woman.
I grabbed my phone and dialed her number, my heart pounding as I waited for her to answer.
“Dante?” Her voice was soft and calculated, as always.
“Ana’s going to marry Paolo. I can’t let that happen. I need your help,” I said, trying to stay calm.
“The wedding must go on,” she responded coldly.
“What? Are you crazy? I can’t let Ana marry him!” I exclaimed, my voice full of desperation.
“Dante, everything is under control. I have a plan. But for it to work, the wedding must happen,” she said, her tone unyielding.
“I won’t accept that. You need to do something now. If you don’t, I’ll reveal all your plans to the others,” I threatened, my voice shaking with anger.
There was a pause on the line before she spoke again, her voice colder than ever.
“If you do that, Dante, you’ll not only ruin everything but also put Ana’s life in danger. Is that what you want?” she said, her threat clear.
I was speechless. I couldn’t risk putting Ana in danger. The thought of anything happening to her terrified me.
“Fine. What’s your plan?” I asked, resigned.
“Trust me, Dante. Everything will go as it should. Just follow the instructions and stay calm,” she said, her voice filled with unsettling confidence.
I hung up the phone, feeling more powerless than ever. The idea of trusting that woman disgusted me, but I had no other choice. I had to find a way to stop the wedding on my own.
I sat on the bed, my mind racing. What could I do to prevent Ana from marrying Paolo without putting her in danger? It had to be something subtle, something that wouldn’t raise suspicion. I needed a flawless plan.
As I thought, I remembered the days when Ana and I worked together. She had been my partner, my friend, and something more. I knew I had to protect her, even if it meant going against her current wishes. Paolo wasn’t good for her, and I would do everything I could to prove it.
I decided that the only way to proceed was to stay close to Ana, gain her trust, and wait for the right moment to act. I didn’t know how or when, but I would find a way to save her from that fate.