Page 25 of Forsaken Promises


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I nod, my throat tight with emotion. “Of course. What’s on your mind?”

She takes a deep breath, as if steeling herself for what she’s about to say. “I wanted to apologize for last night. For the way I behaved, the things I said to you. I was being unreasonable, and I’m sorry.”

I blink in surprise, hardly able to believe what I’m hearing. Sofia, apologizing to me?

“Do you… do you think we can make this work after everything that’s happened?” she asks in a small voice.

Am I dreaming? Is she really saying this to me?

I reach out and take her hand in mine, marveling at the way it still fits so perfectly. “I’m willing to do whatever it takes, Sofia. I want to be the husband you deserve, the man you always believed I could be.”

She smiles up at me then, a real smile that lights up her whole face and makes my heart skip a beat. “I think we can build something together if we’re both willing to try.”

I pull her into my arms, holding her close and breathing in the scent of her hair. For a moment, everything else falls away—the hurt, the anger, the bitter words and shattered dreams.

I can’t help but marvel at the turn of events. Just minutes ago, I was dreading the thought of facing her, of trying to make this marriage work when she so clearly hated me.

But now with her apology and her tentative hope for our future, I feel a glimmer of relief. Maybe, just maybe, we can find a way to move past the hurt and the anger to make something real and lasting together.

And yet, even as I bask in the joy of this moment, I can’t shake the feeling of imprisonment that lurks in the back of my mind. The sense that no matter how much I may want this, no matter how much I may love Sofia… I’m still trapped by the expectations of my family, by the iron will of my father.

I think back to our conversation just a short while ago, to the icy coldness in his eyes as he told me in no uncertain terms that I had to make this marriage work. That I had no choice but to win Sofia over, to prove myself a worthy husband and ally to the Marino Family.

It’s like a leash around my neck, a constant reminder that my life is not my own. That every decision I make, every move I take, is dictated by the needs and desires of the Sicura empire.

And as much as I may want to break free, as much as I may long for the freedom to choose my own path… I know that I can’t. I’m too deeply enmeshed in this world, too bound by the ties of blood and duty that have shaped my life from the moment I was born.

But still, I can’t help but feel a flicker of resentment, a spark of rebellion that burns deep in my gut. Is this really the life I want for myself? Is this the future I envisioned when I was young and naive and full of dreams?

I push those thoughts aside, focusing instead on the woman in my arms. The woman who, despite everything, still holds the key to my heart.

We’ve been given a second chance, a chance to make things right. And I’ll be damned if I let it slip through my fingers again.

11

SOFIA

As I stand there in Dom’s arms, listening to his words of hope and commitment, I feel a wave of relief wash over me. Just moments ago, I was consumed with fear and dread, terrified that our marriage was doomed before it even began.

I was so afraid that Dom would reject me, that he would send me back to my father in disgrace. The thought of failing to fulfill my father’s dying wish, of being a terrible daughter who couldn’t even make her arranged marriage work… it was almost too much to bear.

But now, hearing Dom say that he wants to try again, that he believes we can make this marriage work… it’s like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders. A glimmer of hope, flickering to life.

“I’m so glad you feel that way,” I murmur, looking up at him with shining eyes. “I was so scared that you would give up on us, that you would decide I wasn't worth the effort.”

Dom shakes his head, his expression soft and tender. “Never, Sofia. I made a vow to you, and I intend to keep it. For better or for worse, remember?”

He takes a deep breath, as if steeling himself for what he's about to say. “I know we have a lot of work to do, a lot of trust to rebuild. But I'm willing to put in the effort if you are.”

“I am,” I say firmly, my voice ringing with conviction. “I want to make this work, Dom.”

He smiles, his eyes crinkling at the corners in that way I’ve always loved. “Then let's start by getting to know each other again. We've both changed so much over the years, grown into different people. But that doesn't mean we can't find new things to love about each other.”

I tilt my head, intrigued by the idea. “What did you have in mind?”

“Let's go on a proper date,” he suggests, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “We can catch up on all the things we've been doing, talk about our new interests and hobbies. Really take the time to rediscover each other.”

I blink in surprise, taken aback by the suggestion. A date? With my own husband? It seems so strange, so formal after everything we've been through.