Page 15 of Forsaken Promises

She may wear my ring, may bear my name… but her heart will never belong to me.

As we glide across the dance floor, I lean in close to Sofia, my lips brushing against her ear. “You look beautiful tonight,” I murmur, trying to break the icy tension between us. “That dress is stunning on you.”

Sofia stiffens in my arms, her blue eyes flashing with anger. “I’m sure you can find plenty of other girls who would be more than happy to put it on for you,” she hisses, her voice dripping with venom. “But don’t get too attached. I intend to burn it as soon as I get the chance, now that I know you like it.”

I feel a surge of irritation at her words, at the way she twists my compliment into an accusation. “What, are you giving me permission to sleep around now?” I ask sarcastically, my grip on her waist tightening. “How generous of you.”

Sofia lets out a bitter laugh, the sound grating against my nerves. “Oh, please. As if you ever needed my permission before. Why start asking for it now?”

Her words cut deep, hitting me like a punch to the gut. I know she’s referring to the past, to the lie I told her all those years ago to make sure our breakup was permanent.

But hearing her throw it in my face, on our wedding day, of all days… it’s too much.

“You know, for someone who claims to hate me so much, you sure seem obsessed with my sex life,” I snap, my temper flaring. “What’s the matter, Sofia? Jealous that you’re not the only one who’s had a taste of the Sicura charm?”

Sofia’s eyes narrow to slits, her fingers digging into my shoulder. “You arrogant bastard,” she spits, her voice trembling with rage. “You think I give a damn about your whores? I wouldn’t touch you again if you were the last man on earth.”

I feel a flicker of pain at her words, at the disgust and contempt in her voice. But I push it down, masking it with a sneer. “Well, that’s too bad, sweetheart, because like it or not, you’re stuck with me now. Till death do us part, remember?”

Sofia’s lips curl into a mocking smile, her eyes glittering with malice. “Oh, I remember. But maybe I’ll get lucky and your death will be a lot sooner than expected. But let me make one thing clear, Dominico. This marriage may be a legal requirement, but that’s all it is. I willnevermake the mistake of loving you again. As far as I’m concerned, you’re nothing more than a means to an end, a tool to be used and discarded when I’m done with you.”

I feel a rush of anger at her words, at the way she reduces our relationship to a cold, clinical transaction. “Is that so?” I growl, my voice low and dangerous. “Well, let me remind you of something, Sofia. I’m not just some pawn in your little game. I’m your husband now, whether you like it or not. And I won’t be cast aside like yesterday’s trash.”

Sofia opens her mouth to retort, but just then, the music swells to a crescendo and the dance comes to an end. We pull apart, both of us breathing hard, our eyes locked in a silent battle of wills.

Around us, the guests erupt into applause, oblivious to the tension crackling between us. We paste on fake smiles, bowing and curtseying to the crowd.

I release Sofia’s hand like it’s a hot coal. I can’t stand the feeling of her skin against mine, the way her touch sends sparks of electricity racing through my veins.

It’s a cruel irony, really. The woman I once loved more than life itself, the woman I would have moved heaven and earth to be with… is now the last person I want to be around.

But it’s not just because of the hatred and resentment that hang between us like a poisonous cloud. No, it’s something worse, something that twists my gut and makes my heart ache with a bittersweet longing.

I’m still attracted to her. Even after all these years, even after everything that's happened between us… I can’t deny the pull I feel toward her, the way my body responds to her presence like a moth drawn to a flame.

It’s a sick, twisted thing, this desire that wars with my anger and my pain. I know Sofia wants nothing to do with me, that she would rather walk barefoot over hot coals than let me touch her again.

And yet, I can’t help the way my eyes linger on the curve of her neck, the swell of her breasts, the sway of her hips as she moves. I can’t help the memories that flood my mind, the ghost of her lips on mine, her body moving beneath me as I speared into her.

It’s a special kind of hell, being so close to the woman I once worshipped, the woman I still crave with every fiber of my being… and knowing that she despises me, that she would recoil from my touch like it was poison.

And now, we’re expected to live together. To share a home, a bed, a life. As man and wife.

The thought makes my stomach churn with a mix of dread and anticipation, fear and longing. How am I supposed to survive this? How am I supposed to keep my distance, to respect the boundaries Sofia has so clearly drawn… when every cell in my body is screaming at me to take her in my arms, to claim her as mine once and for all?

I have no idea, but one thing is for fucking sure.

I need to get away from her. I need to put some distance between us before I do something I’ll regret.

So I flee the dance floor like a coward. I weave through the crowd of well-wishers and congratulators, my heart pounding in my chest, my skin prickling with the memory of Sofia’s touch.

I need a drink. I need a dozen drinks. I need something, anything, to numb the pain and the confusion, the desire and the despair that war within me.

But even as I make my way to the bar, even as I down shot after shot of burning amber liquid… I know it’s futile.

Because no matter how much I drink, no matter how much I try to forget… Sofia will always be there.

She’s a part of me, whether I like it or not.

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