Chapter 2: The Anniversary Promise

I woke up that morning to shouting.

Half-asleep, I pushed the window open.

In the middle of the family compound—a place reserved for people connected to Dominic’s organization—a woman was clutching a man’s coat, her face twisted with rage and heartbreak.

“I’ve given your family more than ten years of my life!” she screamed.

“You swore you’d love me forever, and now you’re sleeping with some cheap mistress behind my back?”

The neighbors froze for a second, then erupted into whispers and judgment.

The man’s face darkened. He grabbed her arm roughly.

“Are you done humiliating me? Get inside. Now.”

I stood there, stunned.

A warm hand suddenly covered my ears from behind.

“Arabella,” Dominic said softly, his voice close. “Don’t listen to that filth.”

I didn’t turn around.

“Tell me,” I asked quietly, “do all men change?”

His body stiffened.

He turned me to face him, his dark eyes unwavering—too steady, too sure.

“I don’t know about other men,” he said. “But I do know this—I won’t betray you. I can’t.”

“Only me?” I smiled faintly. “A lifetime is very long.”

“A lifetime is long,” he said. “That’s why I’m willing to stake everything on it.”

I laughed softly—but even to my own ears, it sounded bitter.

“And if you do betray me?”

His jaw tightened.

“Then let the Conti name end with me,” he said.

“Let my seat be stripped, my inheritance revoked, my authority burned to ash.”

I froze.

“In this city, in my family, I swear it,” he continued. “If I ever choose another woman, let me lose my position, my power—everything I was born to be. Let me live as a man without a name.”

The weight of his words pressed into my chest.

I looked at him, my voice barely more than a whisper.

“Dominic Conti… aren’t you afraid? For a man like you—losing all of that—wouldn’t it be worse than death?”

He chuckled softly.

“Arabella… I don’t fear losing anything. Because I will never betray you. I’ll never let anyone else touch what’s mine, and what’s mine is you. That’s how sure I am. Nothing—no one—can take you from me.”

“Nothing… can take me?”

I forced a bitter smile, the question burning on my lips.

“Dominic… why promise me eternity… while putting a child in another woman?”

“And… what are you two up to?”

A sweet, teasing voice broke the moment.

Ava stood at the doorway.

I felt Dominic tense instantly.

He frowned.

“Why are you dressed like that? Where are you going?”

That tone wasn’t concern.

It sounded like jealousy—like a husband questioning his wife.

Ava smiled shyly.

“There’s a social mixer tonight. I thought I’d go meet someone. I won’t be back.”

Dominic’s face changed immediately.

Her smile widened.

“Oh, right—what about you two? Any plans today?”

He snapped back to himself and took my hand.

“It’s our third wedding anniversary. I’m taking Arabella out.”

She nodded and left.

Thirty minutes later, Dominic picked up the sapphire rings he had ordered months ago, then drove me to a private restaurant owned by his family.

Candlelight.

Imported ingredients.

Fireworks outside the window forming glowing words in the sky:

“Arabella, I love you.”

“Happy 3rd Anniversary.”

Once, this would’ve made me cry from happiness.

Now, all I felt was mockery.

People say when a man loves you, he proves it with effort.

Dominic never forgot a single date.

He spared no expense.

He made grand gestures that made every woman envy me.

I thought that was love.

Now I understood—it was performance.

A carefully crafted illusion, meant to convince me his loyalty was real…

so I’d never question the betrayal underneath.

The fireworks exploded across social media.

I want a man like Dominic Conti.

Where do men like this even exist?

Halfway through dinner, Dominic was about to speak when one of his men approached and whispered something in his ear.

His expression changed instantly.

I caught fragments.

Ava.

Suicide attempt.

Collapsed.

He stood up abruptly.

“I’m sorry, Arabella. I need to handle something urgent. Eat slowly. I’ll come back for you.”

He didn’t wait for my answer.

He didn’t even take his coat.

I watched the fireworks continue to bloom outside—still spelling his love.

But I knew he wasn’t coming back.

He never did.

Near dawn, I took a taxi home.

I saw him at the door, about to leave.

He froze when he saw me, then pulled me into his arms, apologetic and gentle.

“I’m sorry. I was just coming to get you. Did you wait long?”

He pulled me into a tight embrace.

“I’ve made it clear to everyone—no matter what, nothing and no one is allowed to interrupt our time together again.”

I felt a little suffocated in his arms, and pushed him gently away, forcing a smile.

“It’s fine. Work comes first.”

After all—

There was no future left for us anyway.