Chapter 2

His oath struck my soul with terrifying force.

From that moment on, loving Gabriel Romano became something I could no longer control.

Truthfully, because of my looks, I had never lacked admirers. Men had always hovered around me, eager, persistent, sometimes exhausting.

Gabriel was no exception—except that from the very first time he saw me, he made it clear he wouldn’t give up until I was his.

I had been devastated by my first love.

Since then, I kept romance at arm’s length.

Too many boys circled me with the same intent—to conquer, to collect. Their attention made my skin crawl. Over time, resistance turned into aversion.

My friends used to tease me.

“Grace, you’re practically ascetic. What, are you planning to become a nun?”

I would laugh and tease back.

“Honestly? Becoming a nun sounds better than wasting my life on men.”

I said it with conviction—fully prepared to live alone.

And yet, I was the one who broke first.

Because Gabriel Romano was there when I was sick, when everyone else faded into the background.

Because when rejected men spread rumors about me—calling me cold, arrogant, untouchable—he was the one who rolled up his sleeves and confronted them head-on.

Because for me, he chose to learn German—awkward, harsh, unfamiliar—simply because it mattered to me.

My heart, long dormant, began to beat again.

I gave him a chance.

And after we became a couple, he truly kept his word.

He put me first in everything. Never let me feel neglected. Never hurt me—at least, not then.

People admired us.

To them, we were the kind of love story everyone secretly wished for—

from youth to vows, from campus hallways to wedding rings.

I believed it too.

That was why I accepted his proposal. Why I stepped willingly into a marriage I had once sworn I would never enter.

Then, I discovered the truth.

He had been hiding another woman from me.

In that instant, my belief that true love existed collapsed completely.

I thought I would scream. Fight. Demand answers.

Instead, I became calm.

Calm enough to stay by his side.

Calm enough to quietly detach, like easing myself off an addiction.

Calm enough to plan the rest of my life without him.

In three days, my new identity would be finalized.

And then I would leave Gabriel Romano for good—and begin again.

The day after dinner, he leaned drunkenly against my shoulder.

“Grace… let’s go home,” he murmured.

Behind us, Jack called out, amused.

“Gabriel, you’re leaving already? We’ve got another round. Everyone’s waiting.”

Gabriel didn’t even turn around. He stayed pressed against me, voice soft.

“No. My wife needs her medication. I’m taking her home.”

Jack clicked his tongue but didn’t push.

A second later, my phone vibrated twice.

I unlocked it.

It was a message from Ella Reed.

Grace Miller, want to play a game?

Guess—will Gabriel go home with you to make sure you take your meds…

or will he come out with me tonight?

Guess right and there’s a prize~

My gaze lingered on the screen.

When I stopped walking, Gabriel turned to look at me.

“What is it, Grace?”

I locked the phone and looked at him deliberately.

“Nothing. Just spam.”

At that exact moment, a ringtone rang from his pocket.

I looked at the glowing screen through the fabric.

I knew that ringtone.

Ella Reed’s.

He held my hand tightly with one hand while reaching into his pocket with the other, silencing the call.

I gently pushed him away and nodded toward his phone.

“You should answer it. It might be something urgent.”

He straightened, about to say he’d step aside to take it—

but I had already turned and walked toward the car where the driver was waiting.

Through the tinted window, I watched him answer the call.

His eyes lit up instantly.

Clear. Awake.

Not a trace of drunkenness remained.

I looked away, forcing down the ache rising in my chest.

I already knew the answer.

Tonight, Gabriel Romano wouldn’t be coming home with me.