Chapter 18 - THE PROMISE|
Nora looked into his pale blue eyes, feeling the steady, reassuring warmth of his grip.
"Are you sure you want this, Dominic?" she asked softly. "My life isn't filled with galas, marble floors, or private jets. I'm simple."
"I spent my entire life surrounded by luxury, Nora," Dominic said, his silver eyes flashing with intense emotion. "And it almost killed me. I don't want simple. I want real. I want you."
He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a small black velvet box.
He didn't drop to one knee with grand theater or flash cameras. He simply opened the box, revealing a simple, gorgeous antique band set with a radiant clear diamond—not the cold six-carat stone he had given Chloe, but a warm, brilliant jewel that caught the sunlight like a promise.
"Nora Hale," Dominic whispered, his voice trembling slightly with a rare vulnerability. "Will you build an empire with me?"
Nora stared at the ring, then looked up at her father, who was standing near the rosebushes, smiling at them with tears in his eyes and nodding his head.
Nora looked back at Dominic, a beautiful, radiant smile spreading across her face.
May you like
"Yes," she whispered. "Yes, Dominic. I will."
He slid the ring onto her finger, pulled her into his arms, and kissed her deep under the golden autumn leaves, sealing a bond forged in dark rooms, broken locks, and unwavering loyalty.
