Chapter 42: Valued her freedom

’Only if she knew how much I wanted her from the beginning, she might not have thought in this manner.’ He thought as he gripped the edge of the table.

But before a single word could escape his lips, the soft click of approaching footsteps broke the ice.

The waiter appeared with the dishes.

Santino clenched his jaw in frustration. He had wanted to comfort her, but the waiter’s arrival stopped him. He gave the waiter a cold nod as he quickly placed the dishes on the table and left.

They ate in silence, neither of them bringing up what Soraya had said.

Once they were done, Santino paid the bill and stood up, extending his hand to her. Soraya took it, her slender fingers slipping into his firm grip. He led her away from the restaurant, guiding her down a set of stone steps that led directly onto the quiet shoreline.

The evening breeze touched their faces as they walked along the wet shore. They could smell the sea and hear the waves crashing against the sand.

"What’s on your mind?" Santino asked, noticing Soraya lost in her thoughts.

"Nothing," she said in a whispered tone. "It’s just... I remember how everyone wanted to go to the beach during my university days."

"Really?" Santino raised a brow. "So, have you been to one before?"

"No," Soraya shook her head. "When I was at university, I spent most of my time busy studying and doing part-time jobs," She began softly, her gaze fixed at the sea ahead. "So, I barely had time to go out and enjoy, and because of that... I had not many friends who’d ask me to go out with them."

Santino kept his mouth shut, held her hand firmly, and let her speak without interrupting. He kept his pace slow, matching her small strides as they walked further along the coast.

"I didn’t even know what to do with my life; I just followed Emilio wherever he went. I even picked the major that Emilio took," she continued, kicking a small stone into the damp sand. "I thought that way we would always be together, not missing each other all the time."

Santino felt agitated to hear her talk about Emilio once again. But then, she spent more of her life with Emilio than him.

"I had a few friends, but it was hard for me to mingle with them, since they were pretty rich and I had to make amends for everything," Soraya admitted softly. "It was only Claire who approached me and stayed with me until the end."

Her words hit Santino hard. As he remembered what she said, ’No one wanted me.’

His heart ached as beside him was the woman who had filled his thoughts for so long, the woman who had become his reason to live, his comfort, and his greatest weakness.

He had searched everywhere for her and never given up. He had not searched for her only because he wanted her. He had searched because he truly cared about her, and those feelings had never faded, not even for a moment.

He wanted to stop her there, hold her by the shoulders, and tell her everything. He wanted to tell her how hard he had searched for her all this time, how he had gone through every place in the city, checked just to find her, to make sure she was safe, and bring her back to his side.

He wanted her to understand that she had never been invisible to him.

’Should I tell her?’ Santino asked himself, slowing his steps as his hand tightened around hers. ’If I tell her how long I searched, will she see it as love, or will she think I didn’t respect her freedom? Should I put this burden on her now?’

He looked at her face in the moonlight and saw the loneliness still in her eyes. He wanted to break down the wall she had built around her heart, but he was afraid of making her feel overwhelmed.

He knew she valued her freedom. If he told her the truth, she might see him as controlling and push him away, destroying the trust they had slowly built.

He wanted to tell her everything, but he couldn’t bring himself to speak about that.

"Raya," he finally said.

She kept her eyes on the sea, but he gently took her hand and turned her to face him. When she looked up, he saw the sadness in her eyes, and his chest tightened.

"Never say that you’re alone again," he said, holding her hand a little tighter. "I’m here for you. Claire is there for you, and so is the entire Dalias family."

He paused, searching her face as if he wanted to take away the loneliness she had carried for so long.

"So, please..." His voice softened, and his thumb brushed over her knuckles. "Don’t think you have no one, Raya. You have me."

Soraya’s heart skipped a beat. A warmth spread through her chest, something she hadn’t felt since Emilio betrayed her. She lowered her eyes, unsure how to respond to his words.

"Hmm," she said, then turned her gaze toward the sea.

"Just a simple hum!?" He arched his eyebrow and stepped into her path. "You think I will leave you?"

"With time, people change. That’s what I’ve observed," Soraya answered. "I know you won’t leave me. But one day, if you have to choose between your world and me, whom will you choose?"

"You," Santino replied promptly. "Don’t doubt me. You’ve not seen to what extent I can go for you. You didn’t even see the kind of love I possess for you. You compare every situation with the experience you gained from Emilio’s betrayal. Try to broaden your horizons and look at those who truly cherish you."

Soraya’s heartbeats only turned erratic as her gaze remained fixed on his.

"Why aren’t you saying anything?" He stepped closer to her such that their faces were merely a few inches apart. "Do you want me to kill your ex for giving you so much pain? It’s easy for me. Just order me, and his head will be at your feet."