Page 32 of Forsaken Promises
My mind drifts back to the events of the day. The picnic in the woods, the easy conversation and laughter, the passion that had flared between us with such intensity… it had all felt so real, so genuine.
For a few blissful hours, I had allowed myself to forget about the past, about the betrayal and heartbreak that had shattered my world all those years ago. I had let myself believe that maybe, just maybe, Dom's feelings for me were as strong and true as my own.
But now, in the harsh light of his father’s words, I can’t help but question everything. Was it all just an act, a calculated move to lower my defenses and make me more pliable to his family’s wishes? Was every touch, every kiss nothing more than a means to an end?
The thought makes me feel sick to my stomach, a wave of nausea and betrayal washing over me with such force that I have to close my eyes against the dizzying rush of emotion.
I had been so angry at Dom for so long, so consumed by the pain and rage of his betrayal that I had never really stopped to consider the situation from every angle. I had been so focused on my own hurt, my own sense of being wronged, that I had never really thought about what he might be getting out of our marriage.
But now, I can see it all too clearly. The Sicuras are a powerful Family, but they have never been as powerful as my Family.
By marrying me, a Marino, Dom is securing a place for his Family in the very heart of the Mafia’s elite. He's elevating their status, opening doors that might have remained closed to them otherwise.
And what do I get in return? The dubious honor of being a Sicura wife, of spending the rest of my life shackled to a man who sees me as nothing more than a pawn in his family’s games? The cold comfort of knowing that my mother and sisters will be protected, even as I’m left to navigate this treacherous new world alone?
I bury my face in the pillows, a fresh wave of tears spilling from my eyes as I let myself succumb to the pain, to the anguish of a love that was never really mine to keep.
I had been so foolish, so naive, to think that we could ever recapture what we had lost. To believe that the past could ever truly be forgotten, that the wounds could ever fully heal.
But I know better now. I know that the only way forward is to harden my heart, to build up the walls that will keep me safe from further hurt.
I will play my part and will be the dutiful wife and loyal daughter-in-law that the Sicuras expect me to be. I will smile and charm and navigate this new life with all the grace and poise that my upbringing has instilled in me.
But I will never again let myself believe in the lie of love, in the false promise of a future that was never really mine to claim.
I will endure, I will survive, I will find a way to carve out a place for myself in this gilded cage.
But I will never again let Dominico Sicura hold the key to my heart.
Never again will I be foolish enough to trust in the illusion of his love, in the fleeting warmth of his touch and the empty whispers of his devotion.
From this moment on, I will be the master of my own fate, the keeper of my own soul.
And I will never, ever let myself be broken again.
14
DOMINICO
Fuck.
I watch Sofia’s retreating form as she hurries out of the dining room, my heart sinking with every step she takes.
Double fuck.
I can see the hurt and betrayal written all over her face, the pain that my father’s careless words have inflicted on her heart.
I feel a surge of frustration and anger toward my father, toward the callous way he spoke about our marriage as if it were nothing more than a business transaction. Doesn’t he realize how much progress I’ve made with Sofia today, how hard I’ve worked to start mending the rift between us?
I glance around the table, taking in the reactions of my family. My mother is studiously avoiding my gaze, her eyes fixed on her plate as if it holds the secrets of the universe. But Valentina… Valentina is staring at me with a challenging look in her eye as if to say, “Well? Are you going to go after her or not?”
I push back my chair and stand abruptly, mumbling some half-hearted excuse about needing to check on Sofia. I can feel my father’s disapproving stare boring into my back as I walk out of the room, but I don’t give a damn. Right now, the only thing that matters is making sure Sofia is okay.
I take the stairs two at a time, my heart pounding in my chest as I approach our bedroom door. I pause for a moment, taking a deep breath to steady myself before knocking softly.
“Sofia? Can I come in?”
Sofia is sitting on the edge of the bed, her back ramrod straight and her hands clasped tightly in her lap. Her face is carefully blank, but I can see the telltale signs of tears in her reddened eyes and the way her bottom lip trembles ever so slightly.
