4. Dominico
4
DOMINICO
I slam my bedroom door behind me, the sound echoing through the hallway. I’m seething with anger and frustration, my jaw clenched so tightly it hurts. Ever since I found out I’m engaged to Sofia Marino and the wedding is only a week away, I’ve been in a constant state of rage.
I can’t believe my father is forcing me into this. Marrying a woman who hates my guts, all for the sake of some bullshit alliance. It’s not fair. It’s not right.
A knock at the door interrupts my brooding. “Dom? Can I come in?” It’s Valentina, the only person who seems to understand what I’m going through.
“Yeah, whatever,” I mutter, flopping down on my bed.
Valentina slips into the room, closing the door softly behind her. She takes one look at my face and sighs, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Still in a mood, I see.”
“Of course I’m in a fucking mood,” I snap. “I’m being forced to marry a woman who despises me, and I have no say in the matter. How the hell am I supposed to be happy about that?”
She sits down on the edge of the bed, her expression sympathetic. “I know it’s not ideal, Dom. But maybe… maybe it won’t be as bad as you think. Sofia is a beautiful girl, and she comes from a good family.”
I snort derisively. “Sofia’s not just some pretty face, Val. She's got a fire in her, a stubborn streak a mile wide. She’ll make my life a living hell, I guarantee it.”
Valentina is quiet for a moment, studying me intently. “Is this really about the arranged marriage, Dom? Or is it about what happened between you and Sofia all those years ago?”
I stiffen, my heart clenching painfully in my chest. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Don’t bullshit me, Dominico,” she says sharply. “I know you two had a thing when we were teenagers. And I know it ended badly. Is that what this is really about? You’re still hung up on her?”
I sit up abruptly, my hands clenched into fists. “I am not hung up on Sofia Marino,” I snarl. “I couldn’t care less about her. This is about my father trying to control my life, to force me into a marriage I don’t want.”
Valentina holds up her hands in surrender. “Okay, okay. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to push.”
I take a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. “No, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have snapped at you. It’s just… this whole situation is fucking with my head.”
“I can’t say I get it,” she says softly. “But Dom… maybe this is a chance for you to make things right with Sofia. To start over.”
I let out a humorless laugh. “Start over? Val, she hates me. And she has every reason to. I broke her heart, shattered her trust. I took her goddamn virginity and didn’t marry her. There’s no coming back from that.”
Before Valentina can respond, there’s another knock at the door. “Dominico!” It’s my father, and he sounds pissed.
I groan, dragging myself off the bed and yanking open the door. “What?”
My father glares at me, his eyes narrowed. “I just had two of the maids in my office, crying their eyes out. Apparently, you've been taking your bad mood out on the staff.”
I roll my eyes. “Oh, for fuck’s sake. They’re just being sensitive.”
“Watch your tongue,” he snaps. “I won't have you disrespecting the people who work for this family. You may be unhappy about your impending marriage, but that doesn’t give you the right to take it out on others.”
I clench my jaw, biting back the retort that springs to my lips. As much as I hate to admit it, he’s right. I’ve been a real asshole lately.
“I’m sorry, Father,” I say through gritted teeth. “It won’t happen again.”
He nods curtly. “See that it doesn’t. Now, your mother is waiting for you in the dining room. She wants to go over some details for the wedding.”
I suppress a groan. The last thing I want to do is sit through another wedding planning session with my overly enthusiastic mother. She’s thrown herself into the preparations with a vengeance, determined to give me the perfect wedding despite the short notice.
But I know better than to argue. “Fine. I’ll be right down.”
As my father leaves, Valentina gives me a sympathetic smile. “Duty calls, huh?”
“Apparently,” I mutter. “I don’t even get to see my bride before the wedding. It’s all happening so fucking fast.”
A sudden thought occurs to me, and I feel a flicker of excitement in my chest. “Unless…”
“Unless what?” Valentina asks, her brow furrowed.
I grin at her, a plan already forming in my mind. “Unless I sneak onto the Marino estate and steal a glimpse of her myself.”
Valentina’s eyes widen. “Dom, no . That’s a terrible idea. If you get caught?—”
“I won’t get caught,” I say confidently. “I’m a Sicura, remember? Stealth is in my blood.”
She shakes her head, but I can see the hint of a smile tugging at her lips. “You’re crazy, you know that?”
“Crazy in love, maybe,” I joke, but the words feel hollow even to my own ears.
Because I am crazy. Crazy to even consider seeking Sofia out after all these years. Crazy to think that seeing her will somehow make this whole situation better.
But I can’t help it. I need to see her, need to look into those blue eyes and try to find a glimmer of the girl I once knew. The girl I loved.
Even if she hates me now. Even if there’s no hope for us.
I have to try.
* * *
As I make my way through the familiar grounds of the Marino estate, a flood of memories washes over me. Late-night rendezvous, stolen kisses, whispered promises under the stars. Despite everything that’s happened, I can’t help but look back on those moments with a bittersweet fondness.
But the sweetness is tainted by the bitter tang of guilt. Guilt for how I hurt Sofia, for the way I shattered her trust and broke her heart. And beneath that, a simmering resentment. Resentment for the fate I tried so hard to escape, the destiny I could never outrun.
I pause beneath Sofia’s balcony, my heart hammering in my chest. How many times did I climb up those ivy-covered trellises, sneaking into her room to spend the night with her? Having to be quiet as we made love so we wouldn’t wake up her sisters?
It feels like a lifetime ago.
To my surprise, Sofia is standing on the balcony, her face tilted up to the moon. The silvery light casts an ethereal glow over her delicate features, making her look even more breathtaking than I remember.
Suddenly, inspiration strikes me. Doesn’t every girl love Romeo and Juliet? This is just like the scene where Romeo speaks to Juliet by her balcony. All girls love a little romance.
Before I can talk myself out of it, I step out of the shadows. “Sofia,” I call out softly.
She stiffens, her head whipping around to find the source of the sound. When her eyes land on me, they widen in shock. “Dominico? What the hell are you doing here?”
I take a step closer, my hands held up in a placating gesture. “I needed to see you. To talk to you.”
Sofia scoffs, her delicate features twisting into a scowl. “We have nothing to talk about. You made your choice years ago, and I’ve made my peace with it.”
“Please, Sofia,” I plead, my heart in my throat. “Can I come up? Just for a moment?”
She stares down at me, her blue eyes filled with such vitriol that I take an involuntary step back. “ Talk ? You want to talk now, Dominico? After everything you’ve done?”
Her words are like a slap in the face, a harsh reminder of the pain I’ve caused her, but I feel a flicker of annoyance beneath the guilt. Does she really think I’m the only one to blame here, that she’s completely innocent in all of this?
I grit my teeth, trying to keep my temper in check. “Look, I know I fucked up, Sofia. But we’re getting married in a week, whether we like it or not. The least you can do is hear me out.”
Sofia scoffs, her delicate features twisting into a sneer. “Hear you out? Why should I bother? You’ll just spout some bullshit about how sorry you are, how you never meant to hurt me. Well, guess what, Dominico? I don’t want to hear it.”
“Why won’t you just let me apologize?” I ask. “I know I fucked up, Sofia. I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness. But this marriage… it’s happening whether we like it or not. Can’t we at least try to find a way to make it work?”
Sofia stares at me incredulously, her eyes wide with disbelief. “Make it work? Are you serious right now? You broke my heart, Dominico. You shattered my trust. And now you want me to play the doting fiancée with you just because our fathers say so?”
She shakes her head, her voice dripping with venom. “I'll marry you because I have no choice. But don't delude yourself into thinking this is anything more than a business arrangement. I will never forgive you for what you did, and I sure as hell will never love you again.”
I feel my annoyance morphing into anger, hot and sharp in my veins. Who the hell does she think she is, acting like she’s the only one who suffered? Like she’s the only one who’s had to deal with the fallout of our past?
“You know what, Sofia? You’re not exactly blameless in all of this,” I snap, my voice rising in frustration. “You knew what you were getting into when you started sneaking around with me. You knew the risks.”
She recoils as if I’ve slapped her, her eyes wide with shock and fury. “How dare you try to pin this on me? You’re the one who broke my heart, Dominico. You’re the one who left me behind without a second thought.”
“And you’re the one who’s refusing to even give me a chance to explain myself!” I shout, my hands balled into fists at my side, not caring whether someone can hear me. “You’re so wrapped up in your own pain that you can’t see past your own nose.”
Sofia learns over the railing, her voice dripping with venom, her blue eyes like ice chips. “Here’s a thought. Why don’t you just drop dead before our wedding day? That would suit me just fine.”
Her words hit me like a punch to the gut, knocking the air from my lungs. I stare at her in disbelief, my anger giving way to a dull, aching hurt. Is that really what she wants? For me to just… disappear?
Before I can respond, Sofia turns on her heel and stalks back into her room, slamming the doors behind her. I’m left standing there, my mind reeling.
I knew she was angry. I knew she resented me. But I never realized just how much she hates me.
As I make my way back to my car, I can feel my own resentment growing, rage coursing beneath my veins. Why should I be the only one trying to make amends? Why should I be the only one willing to put in the effort to make this marriage work?
If Sofia wants to cling to her hatred, to wallow in her pain… then fine. Let her. I’ll play the dutiful husband, the supportive partner. But I won’t let her break me. I won’t let her coldness, her cruelty, destroy the man I’ve worked so hard to become.
I have my own wounds to lick, my own demons to battle. And if Sofia isn’t willing to meet me halfway, then so be it.
I’ll survive this marriage. I’ll find a way to coexist with her, to build a life together, even if it’s not the one I once dreamed of.
But I won’t let her break me.
I won’t let her win.