Confession, Love Prevails (R-18)

The base was alive with the lively tunes of the jazz band, and couples swayed across the dance floor in a sea of colorful gowns and sharp suits. The air was thick with the scent of expensive cologne and perfume, mingling with the sweet aroma of fine cigars. It was a night to celebrate, and celebrate they did. At the center of it all, Lorenzo, freshly returned from the war, cut a dashing figure in his navy blue suit, his every move on the dance floor oozing confidence and grace. His partner, the beautiful and enchanting Deborah, matched him step for step, her dress swirling around her slender legs as they twirled across the parquet floor.

The others couldn't help but turn their heads to catch a glimpse of the dazzling pair, their eyes glued to the couple's every move. Among them, the other young men from Lupo's gang couldn't help but exchange admiring glances.

"Look at the boss, he's got the moves of a professional," the first one said, awe in his voice.

"Yeah, and check out his wife there," the other replied, nodding towards Deborah.

"She's just as good on the dance floor as she is on those pins!"

Laughter erupted between the two, but it was clear that their admiration for their boss and his stunning companion was genuine.

Tonight, the war was a distant memory, and the only thing that mattered was the rhythm of the music and the company they kept.

As they danced, Lorenzo couldn't help but glanced at Deborah. It had been two long years since he'd last laid eyes on her, and the time apart had only made her more captivating. Her once coltish figure had blossomed into a womanly hourglass, her curves accentuated by the silhouette of her gown. Her porcelain skin glowed under the twinkling lights, and her eyes sparkled with a newfound maturity that tugged at his heartstrings.

He remembered the shy, giggling girl she'd been when he left for war, and now, in her place, stood a woman who exuded poise and confidence.

The passing of time had been kind to her, and it showed in every inch of her 5'7" frame. Although she still didn't quite reach his own height, she carried herself with a grace that belied her eighteen years.

Her fuller bosom swayed enticingly with each turn, and Lorenzo felt a familiar heat creeping up his neck. He quickly snapped out of his thoughts, clearing his throat and focusing on the dance at hand. But in that moment, he knew that the wait had been worth it, and he couldn't wait to pick up where they left off.

Deborah chuckled, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "My, my, it seems like the army has been treating you well, eh?" she purred, her fingers lightly grazing the newfound muscles that had appeared on Lorenzo's lean frame.

Lorenzo grinned, his gaze lingering on her alluring figure. "You're not so bad yourself, doll," he said, his voice low and husky. "I see you've been taking good care of your own… assets too."

Deborah blushed, but her smile gave her away. "I'm just glad you made it back in one piece," she breathed, her voice barely audible over the music.

Lorenzo pulled her a little closer, their bodies now mere centimeters apart. "Deborah, there's something I've been dying to tell you," he whispered into her ear, his warm breath tickling her neck.

Deborah tilted her head, her heart pounding in anticipation. "What is it, Lorenzo?"

He glanced around the crowded room, his expression torn between longing and caution. "Not here," he murmured, his eyes darting from side to side. "There are too many people."

Deborah bit her lip, understanding dawning in her eyes. "Alright," she agreed, her voice laced with curiosity. "I can't wait to hear it."

The music faded into the background as they continued to dance, their hearts pounding in sync with the rhythm of the band.

---

As the party wound down, Lorenzo and Deborah made their way to the Gelly family's delicatessen. The moment they stepped inside, the tension in the air was palpable. Simeon Gelly, Deborah's father, frowned upon seeing his daughter on the arm of a young man he didn't recognize. Moe, Deborah's brother, shifted uncomfortably, unable to meet their gazes.

"Deborah, who is this... gentleman?" Simeon asked, his voice laced with disapproval. "We haven't heard a thing about him before."

Lorenzo gave Deborah an encouraging smile, trying to calm her nerves. Delilah, Deborah's mother, intervened, "Introduce us to your... friend, my dear."

Lorenzo couldn't help but smile at the resemblance between mother and daughter.

"Mother, Father..." Deborah began, her voice shaking slightly. "This is Lorenzo Lupo."

"It's a pleasure to meet you both, father, mother." Lorenzo said, addressing them as his own parents.

Simeon's frown deepened. "I'm not your father, kid," he barked.

Delilah placed a calming hand on her husband's arm. "Simeon, let him be."

But Simeon wasn't having it. "No, Delilah, I won't have it. He needs to know his place until we approve of their relationship."

The room fell silent, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife.

Deborah's cheeks flushed a deeper shade of red, but her chin held high. "Father, I love Lorenzo," she said defiantly.

Simeon scoffed. "Yeah, right. And can your lover here support you now?" he sneered, turning his attention to Lorenzo. "Young man, what do you do for a living?"

Lorenzo chuckled, a hint of amusement in his voice. "I just returned from the war, sir. I retired as a brigadier general and army commander at Fort Dix."

The room erupted in gasps, even Deborah's jaw dropped. She had known he'd been in the war, but a high-ranking officer?

Simeon narrowed his eyes, not believing a word. "Don't lie to me, kid."

Lorenzo reached into his pocket and produced his badge. "Here's my ranking badge," he said, handing it over. "I still have it as a keepsake."

Simeon's eyes widened as he inspected the badge, unable to hide his surprise. "You have a good standing in the army… Why did you retire? You had a promising future ahead of you," he said begrudgingly.

Lorenzo's smile didn't quite reach his eyes. He knew that if he'd stayed in the army, the corruption he'd been involved in would eventually catch up to him. "Father, I felt my heart wasn't in the army anymore," he said, fabricating a story on the spot. "I have a café and a clothing store in the neighborhood. Managing my businesses seemed like a better fit for me, so I decided to leave the military life behind."

Deborah's gaze never left his face, but she didn't question his words.

Simeon Gelly studied Lorenzo, his expression softening slightly. "Well, I must admit, you've surprised me, son," he said begrudgingly. "You've got guts, I'll give you that."

Delilah, on the other hand, was quicker to warm up to him. "We're just happy to see our Deborah happy," she said, patting her daughter's hand.

Deborah breathed a sigh of relief, relieved that her parents weren't as opposed to their relationship as she'd feared.

Moe, on the other hand, couldn't believe his eyes. Just moments ago, their father was ready to chew Lorenzo out, and now, he was practically welcoming him into the family.

"Just... don't break her heart, you hear me?" Simeon warned, his voice still carrying a hint of menace.

Lorenzo nodded, determination in his eyes. "I won't, sir. I promise."

And with that, the tension in the room dissipated, replaced by a tentative air of acceptance.

As Lorenzo and Deborah's parents talked, it soon came to light that the two had been in a relationship for two years before he enlisted. Simeon, despite his initial reservations, couldn't help but respect the young man's bravery.

"You're a brave one, fighting for your country," he said, and even Delilah nodded in agreement.

As the conversation progressed, they found themselves warming up to the idea of their daughter being with Lorenzo.

Finally, Lorenzo broached the subject of taking Deborah out for a meal at a nearby luxury hotel. "I've just returned from the war, and I'd like to spend as much time with her as possible," he explained.

Delilah chuckled. "Go ahead, you two. Enjoy yourselves, officer," she said, patting him on the back.

Simeon reluctantly agreed, still trying to process the whirlwind of emotions.

Deborah watched on, dumbfounded. Minutes ago, they were ready to disown her, and now, they were practically shoving her into Lorenzo's arms.

Lorenzo and Deborah climbed into the car Adam had bought for him, their conversation flowing effortlessly as they made their way to the luxurious hotel. The tension from earlier forgotten, they were now lost in each other's company.

Upon arriving, they were ushered to a private table, where they enjoyed a sumptuous meal, catching up on the past two years. As they finished their meal, Lorenzo couldn't take it anymore. He led Deborah to their suite, his heart pounding in anticipation.

The moment the door clicked shut behind them, they were in each other's arms, their lips crashing together in a heated kiss. Two years of pent-up desire spilled forth, their hands roaming over each other's bodies, reacquainting themselves with every curve and crevice.

Lorenzo's hand found its way to Deborah's dress zipper, expertly undoing it as she moaned into his mouth. Her emerald eyes sparkled with wanton need as she unbuttoned his shirt, revealing his toned chest beneath.

Their clothes pooled on the floor, discarded like the barriers that once stood between them. Their naked bodies collided, their skin slick with sweat as they explored each other's bodies as if it were the first time.

Lorenzo's lips trailed down her neck, leaving a trail of goosebumps in his wake, while Deborah's nails raked down his back, urging him on.

In the dimly lit hotel room, muffled cries echoed through the thin walls. Lorenzo pulled Deborah into a passionate kiss, their lips meeting in a desperate attempt to forget the world outside. Their breaths mingled as they separated, their gazes locked in a silent understanding.

Deborah's brow furrowed as she suddenly remembered something. "Oh, right. You wanted to talk to me about something, didn't you?"

Lorenzo chuckled nervously, his expression turning sheepish. "Yeah, there is something I need to tell you."

A frown creased Deborah's forehead. "What is it? You can tell me anything."

Lorenzo sighed, hesitating. "I... I don't know if you'll forgive me for this."

"Lorenzo, what is it?" Deborah's voice was firm but laced with concern. "You know you can't keep secrets from me, right?"

Lorenzo caressed her cheek, his fingers trembling slightly. "I... I need you to promise you won't be mad at me, alright?"

Deborh's eyes narrowed. "You know I can't make that promise until I know what it is, but you can trust me, okay?"

Lorenzo leaned in and pressed a brief kiss to her lips before pulling away. His gaze fell to the floor. "The war... it's been... hard on me."

"I know," Deborah whispered, her fingers tracing soothing circles on his back. "It's been horrible."

"I met a young woman in Sicily," Lorenzo began, his voice barely a whisper. "The Allies had just pushed the Italians and Axis powers back."

Deborah's frown deepened. "What about her?"

Lorenzo hesitated, his gaze darting around the room before meeting hers. "To... to help me cope with the war, to keep my sanity intact, I... I got into a relationship with her."

Deborah's grip on his arms tightened. "You mean..."

"It's true," he confessed, unable to meet her eyes. "Things... got out of hand between us. I thought of you the entire time, I swear."

"Did you tell her about me?" Deborah asked, her voice trembling.

"I did," Lorenzo said, his voice cracking. "I told her I had someone I loved back home. That it was you."

"But she still went through with it?"

"Yes," he admitted, his voice heavy with guilt. "I'm so sorry, Deborah. I love you, I swear."

Deborah's eyes softened, but the betrayal still stung. "I know... you were just using her because of the war, right? To keep yourself sane on the battlefield?"

Lorenzo didn't respond, his silence hanging heavy in the air.

"Are you mad at me?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper.

Deborah didn't respond right away, her heart pounding in her chest. Tears spilled down her cheeks as she finally spoke. "I'm not mad at you... I know how difficult it must have been for you. But I'm mad at that woman. How could she do that, knowing you were in love with someone else?"

Lorenzo pulled her closer, his arms wrapping around her trembling form. "I'm so sorry, Deborah. I never meant to hurt you."

"I know," she whispered into his chest. "I just… I missed you so much, and to think that you were with someone else…"

Lorenzo stroked her hair, trying to soothe her. "I know, and I'm sorry. I should have been stronger. I should have thought about how this would affect you."

Lorenzo felt a warmth spread through him as Deborah forgave him. He knew her love for him was genuine, and he could see it in her eyes. In his mind, he thought about the [Relationship Tab] and saw that her feelings for him had increased and reached 102%.

"There's one more thing," he said, hesitating. "That woman… she became pregnant… and she had my daughter."

Deborah's eyes widened in shock. "Really?"

Lorenzo nodded, unable to meet her gaze.

"Are you sure it's yours? I mean, from what you've told me about her, she seems… promiscuous."

"I'm sure the daughter is mine," Lorenzo said, his voice firm but laced with uncertainty. "Please, don't take your anger out on her, alright?"

Deborah shook her head, her expression softening. "Of course not. If she's your daughter, then she's my daughter too."