Fated Hearts

~Chap 5~ Dominic De Luca

I hadn’t expected the night to turn out like this, sitting beside a stranger who had caught my attention in more ways than one. Laura. Her name suited her perfectly—simple yet elegant. She sat there, quiet at first, her eyes darting between me and the pool. I broke the silence.

“Who are you?” I asked, my voice low and deliberate.

She raised a brow, clearly startled. “I could ask you the same thing,” she shot back, her voice a mix of curiosity and defensiveness.

I leaned in slightly, my height towering over her even as we sat. “Dominic,” I said, my gaze locked on hers. “Now, your turn.”

“Laura,” she replied after a moment, her tone soft but steady.

“Laura,” I repeated, letting the name roll off my tongue. “What brings you to this corner of the night?”

She hesitated, clearly weighing her words. “Just needed some air,” she finally said, brushing off the deeper truth I suspected lingered behind her answer.

“And you?” she asked, tilting her head to study me. “Why are you here?”

“I could say the same,” I replied smoothly, evading the question.

We sat in an unspoken truce, exchanging polite questions about each other’s lives. Nothing too personal—just surface-level details. She told me she was here on a trip, and I mentioned I was handling some business. Neither of us pressed further, but the tension between us was palpable.

I could've been in that club with any woman i wanted who could promise me the most interesting night but instead I'm out in the cold night, curiosity fueled by a simple girl like Laura. I didn't want the night to end, my curiosity wasn't satisfied yet.

"The wine tastes good here" I stared at he

Her face changed the moment I mentioned the club. "Wait," she said, narrowing her eyes at me. "You’re the reason they ended my party early."

I almost smiled at the sudden fire in her tone, but instead, I shrugged. “I didn’t realize I was cutting into anything significant,” I said smoothly, my voice calm.

“You—” she stopped herself, letting out an exasperated sigh. The flush on her cheeks deepened as she reached for her drink.

Her anger fueled the conversation, pulling her deeper into her emotions. She told me everything—the betrayal, the lies, the love she thought was unbreakable. All of it spilled out, and I listened, observing her carefully. Her tears shimmered under the soft lighting, but there was something about her vulnerability that drew me in.

When she stopped, her glass was nearly empty. I took it from her hand before she could refill it. “Why did you stay with him?” I asked, genuinely curious.

Her voice was quieter now, almost uncertain. “Because I loved him.”

I couldn’t help but scoff. “Love? That’s what kept you there?”

She frowned, her brows knitting together. “What do you mean by that?”

“There’s no such thing as love,” I said simply. My tone was firm, and I meant every word. “It’s an illusion people chase to fill the void they refuse to acknowledge.”

Her eyes met mine, a spark of defiance flickering in them. “If that’s true, then why did you bother inviting me here? What do you want from me?”

Before I could answer, she hiccupped, her eyes widening in surprise as the sound escaped her. I couldn’t help but chuckle, a rare moment of amusement breaking through my usual stoicism. “You’re tipsy,” I said, shaking my head.

“No, I’m not,” she argued, but the way she swayed slightly in her seat said otherwise.

“You’re a cute drunk,” I added with a smirk. She frowned at me, trying to look offended, but the corners of her lips twitched upward.

I placed my hand over hers, stopping her from reaching for another drink. “Enough. Let’s take a walk before you completely lose yourself.”

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