As they walked side by side towards the park, Antonio’s heart was filled with a mix of emotions. On one hand, he was grateful for Diana, she is back and alive! This is someone he had mourned for years, having a breakdown and anxiety knowing she will never be with him again. Her death had devastated him all these years, and he had spent countless nights grieving her loss. He couldn't believe that she was alive, let alone here by his side. She is alive and healthy! How was she here? Why had she contacted him after all this time? And most importantly, why had she let him believe that she was dead? He stole a gaze at her. Even with all these questions string inside of him, he could not help but admire how beautifully she had aged in the past years. Dressed in a flowing white gown that hugged her curves in all the right places, cascading down to the ground like a waterfall of silk. Her hair, blonde and golden, fell in soft waves around her shoulders, framing her face like a halo. Her eyes, a bright shade of blue, sparkled in the moonlight like the blue sky, their intensity will always draw Antonio to them. Her full lips were painted a deep red, accentuating her natural beauty and adding to her alluring presence. As Antonio's eyes continued to trail over her, he noticed the delicate gold jewelry that adorned her neck and wrists, glinting in the dim light. The intricate designs seemed to complement her outfit perfectly, creating an ethereal and enchanting look that left Antonio breathless. However, on the other hand, he thought of Angela, his face went pale and head dropped. They reached the gazebo, and sat down on the wooden benches, facing each other in the moonlight. After a few awkward silences between them, Antonio cleared his throat, avoiding her eye contact. “I never wanted it to be like this,” Antonio began. "I never wanted to be in this position”. “Never wanted what, cheating on me with a brunette?” Diana snapped. Antonio was disturbed. “Would it be better if it was a blonde?” “Yes!” Diana snapped impatiently. “At least you would think of me, you made me believe that you did love me”. “I loved you Diana you know very well I do, it wasn't as easy as you think, you were dead, that's what I thought”. “Well I did it for your own good, and what was I paid with, you moving on with some ugly bloody bitch, a brunette!” Antonio stared at her in disbelief, his emotions swirled within him like a stormy sea. His heart raced as he tried to make sense of the situation. He opened his mouth to speak, but found that he was at a loss for words. He stood frozen in place, his eyes locked on hers, trying to communicate the depth of his emotions through his gaze alone. As his mind raced with questions and uncertainties. “What do you mean you did it for my own good?” Antonio finally said, his voice barely above a whisper. Diana took a deep breath before responding. “I faked dead back then, but it was for your protection.” Antonio frowned, trying to understand her words. “Protection from what?” She hesitated for a moment before answering. “From those who wanted to harm you. Antonio, you were young, you wouldn't understand back then…there are many enemies that were out to wipe you out of the Montero's world, so I had to make you believe you killed me and fake my death”. Antonio's mind raced as he tried to make sense out of her words. “What are you talking about? Who wanted to harm me?” Diana remained silent, her eyes darting around processing her next lie. Antonio could tell that she was hiding something, but he wasn't sure what. “From what Diana? Why did you fake your death, do you know how hard my life has been all these years?” he snapped impatiently, desperation creeping into his voice. “Well, it was a lot harder for me, I had to live away from the mansion from the Montero's world and you! I was a target, a bait go get you killed, I found out and had to fake my death to save you from falling into that trap…why are you mad at me for saving you!” She snapped, tears embedded in her eyes. Antonio felt a mixture of anger and betrayal as he listened to her statement. She had faked her death, even made him believe he killed her with his own hands. He couldn't believe that she had put him through the agony of mourning her loss, all while she was still alive and well. Traumatic flashbacks of her dying in his arms and coming back to see that her body was missing. He crossed his arms over his chest, his expression hard and unimpressed. “You should have told me,” he said curtly. “You had no right to keep something like this from me.” “I know, Antonio. But you are young to understand, you won't let me go easily if I tell you. I didn't have a choice. I had to protect you, no matter the cost.” Antonio shook his head, his frustration mounting. “Protect me from what? You're not making any sense, Diana. I have my securities who can protect me, the Mafias are just mere threats, you know they can't harm me”. “Antonio, you are thinking about this from your adult perspective, as a teenager you had no link with the Mafias, you could be eliminated at any point. Trust me, they would have stopped at nothing to get what they wanted, and I couldn't let that happen”. Antonio let out a bitter laugh. “And so you thought the best way to protect me was to make me believe that you were dead?” “What else am I supposed to do!” Diana snapped impatiently, triggered about his delay in accepting her explanation. However, he had grown this past years, she could see. Emotionally and otherwise, yelling won't work this time. She had to keep it low. She sighed hotly. “I am sorry Antonio, I didn't know what else to do, Antonio. It was the only way to keep you safe.” She sobbed. “I am sorry”. She cried this time. Antonio's anger began to dissipate as he saw her in tears. He still didn't fully understand what had happened, but he could tell that she had made a difficult choice, one that had clearly taken a toll on her. “I just wish you had told me the truth,” he said softly. “I missed you so much. I thought I would never see you again.” Diana smiled in tears, reaching out to take his hand. "I missed you too, Antonio. More than you could ever know. But I couldn't risk putting you in danger. I… But I couldn't risk putting you in danger. I had to do what was best for you, even if it meant breaking both of our hearts. However, I am here now, it will be alright”. She leaned forward, her eyes locking onto Antonio's. Her hand, still holding his, had moved to rest on his knee, her touch sent chills down his spine. It was a touch he lost a long time ago, it was soft, gentle, and familiar. Her head tilted towards him, her lips parting slightly as she moved in for the kiss. Antonio's heart raced with the tension, the anticipation, the memory of their past intimacy rushing back to him. But as her lips grazed his, he pulled away, his face a mix of desire and guilt. Diana's expression turned pale at Antonio's withdrawal, but she won't give up so soon. Her lips still hovered in front of his, her breath mingling with his own, but Antonio remained still, his eyes fixed on her. He pulled away from her again, avoiding her gaze. “I'm sorry, Diana, I can't do this,” Antonio said, his voice filled with regret. “I'm so confused right now. I don't know what to do. I'm still with Angela. And no matter what, I can't just throw our relationship away.” Diana tried to hide her pain. "I understand, Antonio. But you can't stay with someone who's keeping secrets from you. Angela is not the person you think she is.” Antonio skipped, at that point, he met her gaze. “What do you mean keep secrets from me? What do you know about Angela”? “Not much…” Diana smirked and took her phone out from her bag. “I have something to show you”.