Betrayed By My Fiancée

Chapter 9: Between Two Man

I step out of the building and the morning air hits me harder than I expect. It’s colder than I remember, like my body has only just realised I barely slept. I adjust my sleeve and look ahead, still half stuck in my thoughts from last night.

Then I stop.

Dante’s car.

Parked right outside like it’s been waiting for me.

My stomach does this small drop thing I don’t like. Not panic exactly… just awareness. I walk closer slowly, my steps unconsciously slowing as I reach the window. Inside, I see him.

Asleep.

His head is tilted against the seat, his face tired in a way I haven’t really seen before. Even from here, I can see his eyes look a bit red, like he hasn’t rested properly at all. Something in my chest tightens without permission.

I knock lightly on the window.

He stirs immediately.

His eyes open slowly at first, then fully lock onto me. And the second he sees me, it’s like something switches in him. Relief. Real, visible relief. I feel it before he even moves.

He’s out of the car in seconds.

Then he’s pulling me into a hug.

Tight. Immediate. Like he was holding his breath until this exact moment.

“I noticed you left your bag when I got home,” he says, voice low but rushed. “I was worried. I didn’t know where you were or where you slept.”

I stand there for a second, caught in it. His arms feel familiar, but my body takes a moment to fully relax into them. I smile awkwardly against his shoulder before gently pulling back.

“I’m fine,” I say softly. “A kind neighbor helped me out. He gave me a place to sleep and even made sure I had food.”

It’s true. Simple. Nothing weird.

At least that’s what I think.

Dante’s expression changes almost instantly.

“He?” he repeats, just like that.

His tone tightens slightly, subtle but enough that I notice it immediately. My stomach shifts a little, as I stepped on something I shouldn’t have.

I hurry to fix it. “Yes, but don’t worry,” I add quickly. “He didn’t do anything strange. He gave me the bed and took the couch like a proper gentleman.”

I look at him more seriously now. “Don’t think of me like that,” I say. “I’m not that low.”

The words come out firmer than I expected, but I don’t take them back.

Dante holds my gaze for a moment. I can’t really read him. Then he exhales slowly, like he’s letting something go before it builds into something worse.

“I didn’t mean it like that,” he says.

A pause.

Then, quieter, “Can I meet him?”

I blink.

“Meet him?” I repeat.

“Yes,” he says. “I want to thank him properly.”

That throws me off slightly. I didn’t expect that direction at all. I hesitate for a second, just thinking it through. Then I nod.

“Okay,” I say softly. “He lives right next to me anyway.”

We turn and walk back inside together.

The hallway feels different now. Same place, but heavier somehow. It remembers everything that happened last night even if no one else does. I stop in front of Mike’s door and knock lightly.

It opens almost immediately.

Mike stands there like he hasn’t changed at all from yesterday. Calm. Put together. His eyes flick from me to Dante in one clean glance, and I can practically see him putting the pieces together without effort.

“Oh, hey Jade,” he says casually. Then his gaze shifts to Dante. “I take it this is your fiancé.”

He steps forward and holds out his hand. “Hi, I’m Mike. Nice to meet you.”

Dante shakes his hand firmly. “Dante,” he replies. “Thank you for helping her. I appreciate it.”

Mike nods easily. “It wasn’t a problem. She needed help, that’s all.”

Dante pulls out his phone. “I’d like to give you my number,” he says. “If anything like that happens again, just call me directly.”

Mike takes it without hesitation. “Alright,” he says. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

There’s a short silence after that. Not awkward exactly, but not relaxed either. I shift my weight slightly, suddenly aware of how different the energy is when both of them are in the same space.

“Well,” I say softly, breaking it, “thank you again, Mike.”

He nods at me. “Take care, Jade.”

And just like that, it’s done.

Dante and I walk back out together.

The air outside feels heavier now. I don’t know why. Maybe it’s just me noticing things too much lately. We get into the car and sit there for a moment without speaking.

Then Dante looks at me.

“Do you want to sleep over today?” he asks quietly. “I miss you.”

That catches me off guard more than I want to admit. I turn my head slightly, studying him. He looks sincere. Not playful. Not testing me. Just… honest.

“Is your mother still there?” I ask.

He pauses.

“Yes,” he admits.

I shake my head slightly before I even think about it. “Then no,” I say softly.

No anger. No drama. Just a boundary.

He nods once like he expected that answer.

“Then I’ll come to you,” he says instead. “I’ll sleep over.”

I blink at him.

That was fast.

But also… very him.

“Okay,” I say after a second. “That makes things easier.”

I lean back into the seat as he starts the car. His hands are steady on the wheel, but I can tell his mind isn’t fully here. Mine isn’t either.

So we drive.

And somewhere in that silence, without either of us really noticing it, something between us feels slightly different than before.

Not broken.

Not fixed either.

Just… shifting.