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Chapter 22
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2024-12-25 18:28:05Related chapters
A Reluctant Promise Chapter 23
Dominic understood but chose to pretend otherwise. He couldn’t accept the reality that she had let go, and so he shook his head desperately, his face full of pain and despair. “I don’t understand, Valerie. Please don’t say things like that.” For the second time, she saw that same fragile, helpless expression on his face. She remembered the last time, on the day she discovered the truth. She had been dazed and confused as she helped a drunken Dominic back home. He had clung to her, calling out “Camilla” all night. By the time morning came, he had fallen asleep, and so had her heart—completely and irreversibly. It had only been a little over a month, but when she thought about it now, it felt so distant, as if it had happened in a past life. Time truly was the best medicine for healing wounds. Faced with his unreasonable attempts to cling to her, she remained calm, her heart untouched. She looked down quietly at his injured hand.“Denying it won’t change anything. It
Last Updated : 2024-12-25A Reluctant Promise Chapter 24
Dominic refused to listen to advice, insisting on standing in the rain downstairs, waiting for Valerie to change her mind. By noon, however, he could no longer hold on and collapsed in exhaustion. Samson took him to the hospital that very night. After an examination, the doctor confirmed that the wound had become infected and instructed Dominic to be sent to Elara City Hospital as soon as possible. Terrified, Samson was on the verge of collapsing himself as he frantically called the Parker family to explain the situation. By 3 a.m., with a high fever that showed no signs of abating, Dominic was on a plane bound for Elara. Before sunrise the next day, he was already in the operating room. After only an hour of surgery, the doctor emerged hurriedly, bringing devastating news. “The wound infection is severe. Despite medical advances, the only way to save his life is to amputate his right hand. If we could transfer him to a specialist overseas right now, there might still b
Last Updated : 2024-12-25A Reluctant Promise Chapter 25
Valerie and Tiberius chose to get married in late autumn.Dominic flew to Tarvos a day earlier. He spent the entire night alone in a hotel room. At 10 a.m. the next day, he changed into a formal suit and made his way to the wedding venue alone. The person assigned to collect the wedding gifts was from Tiberius’s side of the family and did not know him. Upon seeing him, they asked his name. Dominic didn’t give his name. Instead, he simply said that he was an ex-classmate sending a gift on behalf of their group and asked them to record him as such. After his brief introduction, Dominic reached into his pocket, pulled out a card, and, amidst the astonished glances of onlookers, calmly said, “Valerie knows. Please ensure she accepts this. It’s a small token from an ex-classmate wishing her happiness.” The wedding took place at a hotel nestled in the mountains. The venue was surrounded by a sea of pink roses, and the air buzzed with laughter and joy. Dominic casually found an e
Last Updated : 2024-12-25A Reluctant Promise Chapter 1
"Mom, Dad, I’ve decided to come home for the blind dates you mentioned. I’ll be back by the end of the month."In the early spring, with the lingering chill of winter in the air, Valerie Stonecutter pushed open the door while speaking softly into the phone. Her gentle voice drifted through the rain like a thread weaving through the mist. Pulling her collar tighter against the cold, she heard her parents breathe a sigh of relief on the other end."Val," her father began, his voice heavy with age. “Your mom and I haven’t been in good health these past few years. So now that you’ve made up your mind, that’s good. When you’re back, I’ll have your Aunt Laura arrange a few suitable candidates for you to meet."Hearing that her parents were already making arrangements for her future, Valerie’s gaze flickered, her emotions momentarily unsettled. After a few more words of small talk, she ended the call.She glanced around her home with a heavy heart, her thoughts tangled in a quiet storm.
Last Updated : 2024-12-25A Reluctant Promise Chapter 2
After burning everything, Valerie didn’t return to her apartment immediately. Instead, she sat on a bench outside for what felt like an eternity.By the time she returned, Dominic was already asleep. But his phone, resting on the bedside table, vibrated incessantly.She walked over to silence it but accidentally opened his WhatsApp messages.The screen flooded with chat logs between him and Camilla.[What a coincidence] one message read. [I didn’t expect to end up on your flight this time. The carefree rebel has become a calm and composed pilot! I’m impressed.]Dominic’s reply had been delayed, but it came nonetheless: [Do you really not know why I became a pilot?]Camilla responded with a playful sticker and replied: [Could it be… because of me? Just because I once said I liked boys in pilot uniforms?]Dominic’s reply consisted of a single word—a word sharp enough to shatter Valerie’s heart entirely.[Yes.]Her eyes reddened and tears slipped down her cheeks before she could
Last Updated : 2024-12-25A Reluctant Promise Chapter 3
When the car came to a halt, Dominic didn’t wait for Valerie and walked ahead into the venue. Following closely behind, Valerie stepped inside and immediately realized it was a birthday party. However, she was not the guest of honor. Standing in the spotlight at the center of the stage, surrounded by admirers, was Camilla. In an instant, Valerie understood that she was the true protagonist of this event. Draped in an exquisite haute couture gown, Camilla exuded elegance. A custom diamond necklace accentuated her long, graceful neck, while her pearl earrings glittered under the chandelier light. It was impossible to look away. Valerie’s gaze lingered on the jewelry for a long time. She knew the pieces all too well not because she had worn them but because they had been sitting in Dominic’s display case for ages. In her naivety, before she knew the truth, she had assumed those items were gifts he had prepared for her. For years, she had anticipated their arrival with quiet ho
Last Updated : 2024-12-25A Reluctant Promise Chapter 4
When the words left her lips, the entire hall fell silent. Camilla broke the stillness with a laugh. She turned toward Dominic, her voice light.“Well Dom, it seems your girlfriend is quite eager for you to fulfill her wish this year. You’d better hurry up. And when it happens, don’t forget to invite me to the wedding banquet.” Dominic’s stunned expression darkened as the weight of her words sank in. Valerie noticed his rising anger and instinctively moved to explain herself, but he cut her off sharply. “Do you think this is funny, Camilla? What will it take for you to stop? Do you really want to push me to my breaking point?” His accusations, tinged with anger, weren’t directed at Valerie. They were aimed squarely at Camilla. The frustration in his tone and the emotions flickering across his face—grief, indignation, and helplessness—made his feelings all too clear. He wasn’t angry about the moment. He was furious at Camilla’s feigned ignorance and the way she trampled o
Last Updated : 2024-12-25A Reluctant Promise Chapter 5
Dominic did not ask any further. He casually removed his coat and placed it on the sofa. His gaze fell on the cake on the table, and he paused, his eyes lingering there for a moment. “Yesterday, the birthday wish you made was...” he began hesitantly.Looking at the probing in his eyes, Valerie replied lightly, “Well, since no one knew it was my birthday, it was a bit awkward, so I just made a joke. I didn’t expect everyone to take it that way. Sorry about that.” Dominic sighed in relief. “So what was your real wish?” “I hoped for my mom and dad to have good health and for all their dreams to come true.” It was a simple and heartfelt wish. Dominic felt a soft tug at his heart. He reached out to lightly rub her nose with his hand and gave her a small smile. “You’re so filial. Your wish will surely come true.” Valerie agreed with the sentiment. She would find success in marriage. She would stay by her parents’ side and care for them until they grew old. For the next few
Last Updated : 2024-12-25
Latest chapter
A Reluctant Promise Chapter 25
Valerie and Tiberius chose to get married in late autumn.Dominic flew to Tarvos a day earlier. He spent the entire night alone in a hotel room. At 10 a.m. the next day, he changed into a formal suit and made his way to the wedding venue alone. The person assigned to collect the wedding gifts was from Tiberius’s side of the family and did not know him. Upon seeing him, they asked his name. Dominic didn’t give his name. Instead, he simply said that he was an ex-classmate sending a gift on behalf of their group and asked them to record him as such. After his brief introduction, Dominic reached into his pocket, pulled out a card, and, amidst the astonished glances of onlookers, calmly said, “Valerie knows. Please ensure she accepts this. It’s a small token from an ex-classmate wishing her happiness.” The wedding took place at a hotel nestled in the mountains. The venue was surrounded by a sea of pink roses, and the air buzzed with laughter and joy. Dominic casually found an e
A Reluctant Promise Chapter 24
Dominic refused to listen to advice, insisting on standing in the rain downstairs, waiting for Valerie to change her mind. By noon, however, he could no longer hold on and collapsed in exhaustion. Samson took him to the hospital that very night. After an examination, the doctor confirmed that the wound had become infected and instructed Dominic to be sent to Elara City Hospital as soon as possible. Terrified, Samson was on the verge of collapsing himself as he frantically called the Parker family to explain the situation. By 3 a.m., with a high fever that showed no signs of abating, Dominic was on a plane bound for Elara. Before sunrise the next day, he was already in the operating room. After only an hour of surgery, the doctor emerged hurriedly, bringing devastating news. “The wound infection is severe. Despite medical advances, the only way to save his life is to amputate his right hand. If we could transfer him to a specialist overseas right now, there might still b
A Reluctant Promise Chapter 23
Dominic understood but chose to pretend otherwise. He couldn’t accept the reality that she had let go, and so he shook his head desperately, his face full of pain and despair. “I don’t understand, Valerie. Please don’t say things like that.” For the second time, she saw that same fragile, helpless expression on his face. She remembered the last time, on the day she discovered the truth. She had been dazed and confused as she helped a drunken Dominic back home. He had clung to her, calling out “Camilla” all night. By the time morning came, he had fallen asleep, and so had her heart—completely and irreversibly. It had only been a little over a month, but when she thought about it now, it felt so distant, as if it had happened in a past life. Time truly was the best medicine for healing wounds. Faced with his unreasonable attempts to cling to her, she remained calm, her heart untouched. She looked down quietly at his injured hand.“Denying it won’t change anything. It
A Reluctant Promise Chapter 22
Valerie did not want to be endlessly entangled by Dominic, and a growing thought emerged in her mind: she needed to make things clear with him. She found a reason to send her parents home first, then, under the intense gaze that burned through her, she took the initiative to walk up to Dominic.“If you have something to say, you better say it now. I’ll give you ten minutes. Once you’re done, leave. Don’t show up in front of me again.”When Dominic saw her approach he thought he had grasped a sliver of hope but after hearing her words, he wasn’t so sure anymore.Still, no matter what it was, he just wanted to cling to it and never let go. Without wasting a moment, he poured his heart out to her.“Val, on your birthday, didn’t you say you wanted to get married? I know you said that to me. I just needed some time to think it through, and now I’ve made up my mind. I want to marry you. Will you give me another chance to build a life with you?”These were the words Valerie had longe
A Reluctant Promise Chapter 21
At eight o'clock in the evening, dark clouds gathered in the sky, heavy and ominous. The air was thick with the scent of dust and moisture, hinting at rain. Samson, burdened with dark circles under his eyes, glanced at the weather forecast and, with a weak voice, said, “Dom, the doctor said this afternoon that you need rest. It’s going to rain tonight. Just come back to the hotel with me and see Valerie tomorrow, alright?” Dominic's gaze remained fixed on the entrance as he answered in a hoarse voice, “If you’re tired, go rest. Don’t worry about me. I know my limits.” Samson felt a wave of helplessness come over him. His pleas fell on deaf ears, and knowing he couldn’t persuade Dominic, he gave up and headed to a nearby store to buy some food and rain gear. As soon as he stepped inside, Dominic caught sight of that familiar car entering his line of vision. Memories of that man from the other day came flooding back, and all his nerves tensed. His body radiated a powerful, inst
A Reluctant Promise Chapter 20
After her second interview, Valerie didn’t see Dominic and Samson outside, so she finally let out a sigh of relief. She looked at the setting sun on the horizon, hesitating between having a meal out or heading home. Just then, her phone pinged. [Finished your interview? How did it go?] It was Tiberius. She recalled the conversation, which had been relatively pleasant, and she felt confident about the outcome. She sent a cute dog meme in response. Not long after, he replied: [Since it went so smoothly, let’s celebrate. I’ll take you to dinner.] She instinctively wanted to refuse. However, remembering that he had given her a referral for her second interview, she felt obliged to accept. She deleted the initial response: [That’d be too much trouble for you] and replaced it with [I should treat you instead.] Then sent it without a second thought. [Then I’ll gladly accept. Where are you? I’ll come pick you up. Send me your address. Take a moment to think about what you’
A Reluctant Promise Chapter 19
Valerie didn’t feel sleepy until three in the morning. At ten the next day, the alarm she had set went off on time, pulling her out of her half-asleep state. She groggily got out of bed and realized her parents had already gone to work. The kitchen still held the warm aroma of breakfast. After washing up, Valerie ate her breakfast while looking at the two interviews she had scheduled for the afternoon. One was at 2 PM, and the other at 4:30 PM—both located within a half-hour's distance from her home. Having figured out the routes, she went back to her room, tidied up her things, and began preparing. At 1 PM, she grabbed her bag and went downstairs, only to find the two figures still waiting below. They looked as if they hadn’t slept all night. The moment he saw her, Dominic stood up and blocked her path. His voice was laced with exhaustion and desperation. “Val, can we talk?” Valerie looked at the time.“Sorry, I have things to do. I’m busy,” she said flatly.Rejected
A Reluctant Promise Chapter 18
After dinner, it was exactly six o’clock. Mrs. Stonecutter sat on the sofa, sipping her tea, while Valerie and her husband were in the kitchen washing dishes and tidying up. Mr. Stonecutter wiped the grease off the counter and glanced at Valerie, hesitating as if to say something. “Val, Callum asked me to ask you. What do you think of Tiberius?” Valerie paused for a second with her hands in the dishwater, squinting slightly as she began to consider the question. Tiberius? She recalled their first meeting four days ago—their mutual shyness and politeness—and then thought of their recent conversations, which had grown easier as they began discussing the past. It could be considered rapid progress, she thought. She nodded slowly, her voice laced with hesitation. “He’s…nice. Why did he ask?” “Why? Of course, because he likes you, my girl. He wants you to be Tiberius’s wife. He’s been hoping for you to return to Elara. “When he heard we were setting you up on blind dates,
A Reluctant Promise Chapter 17
Samson, who had been standing to the side, heard the words and instantly leaped to his feet, his face a mixture of shock and disbelief. “You’ve only been broken up with Dom for a few days, and you’re already going on blind dates? You—” Valerie took two steps back, creating some distance between herself and Dominic. She glanced at Samson, her voice calm and unbothered. “We’ve broken up. Whether I go on blind dates or not isn’t any of your concern.” Dominic stared at his outstretched hand, his throat working as though trying to swallow his emotions. He turned to face her, pain and sorrow evident in his eyes. “If you want to get married, shouldn’t I be the one you’re marrying?” A faint smile appeared on Valerie’s face. “Sorry. I’m the type of person who doesn’t go back to old relationships,” she said lightly. The words hit Dominic like a punch to the gut, and his face visibly darkened. Samson hadn’t expected to hear the words coming from her. He immediately took a stan
