All Chapters of From Vows to Vows Again: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

9 Chapters

Chapter 1

Marco stepped in, steam curling around him like some kind of dramatic entrance effect.The buzzcut only made his already sharp face sharper."I should be fasting today," he said, settling across from me in his all-white habit like some chill, holy hot priest.Then—he grabbed a slice of meat and popped it in his mouth.Broth clung to his lips. Distracting. Too distracting."Thought you were fasting?"He licked the corner slow, deliberate. "Fridays are for fasting. But I'd break any rule for you."I smiled. He remembered."Let's eat," I said, mixing a sauce just for him. Yeah, I felt lighter already.But I kept checking my phone.Paolo? Dead silent.This was supposed to be our third anniversary dinner. Instead, he was off playing house with his "childhood friend."I looked at the sauces—parsley green, pepper red, mustard fruit. Always picked the mild ones for him. He never even showed. That empty chair? A punchline.After dinner, Marco wiped his mouth, steady now. The rosary

Chapter 2

Paolo and I went way back.My parents died in a fire—trying to save top-level documents, the kind that actually mattered to the country. The whole Aragona line? Gone in one night.I was the only one kept hidden—and the only one who survived.From a powerful legacy to a girl with nothing but a name. Suddenly, everyone wanted to "take me in." So kind, so generous—please. They were just hoping to slap my name onto their family tree for some clout.All of them had that same greedy glint in their eyes.Except Paolo.Back then, he was this chubby little ball of sunshine, running up like an overexcited puppy."Grandpa, can we adopt Aurora?" he blurted, then turned to me all serious. "I can take care of you. Come live with us. I'll be your servant—forever!"I actually laughed. First time I'd ever heard someone volunteer to serve the person they were adopting.After dealing with scheming adults and bratty kids, the Riccis felt like the least awful option.So I picked them.Paolo kept

Chapter 3

I packed up and walked out, flowers in hand.At the Ricci cemetery I laid them on Grandpa Domenico's marble and breathed out a soft, final thing."Grandpa Domenico, I did what you asked. I paid back everything. From now on your grandson's your problem."Don't pull any strings—up there or down below. I'm done."Even if my dad begged me in a dream, I wouldn't come back."Before I could finish, a voice cut in behind me."You're really leaving my family?"I turned. Paolo stood under a tree, half-hidden in shadow."Yeah," I said. "Didn't you want a divorce too? Congrats. We're done. You're free. So am I."That last dinner—our supposed final bollito misto—had been his no-show. Whatever. I had gone to the Ricci estate, grabbed the papers, and filed them myself at the courthouse.What I hadn't expected was Patrizia calling Paolo, asking what happened.Paolo just stood there.I turned back to the grave, brushing dust off the marble. Grandpa Domenico had been family for over a decade

Chapter 4

I turned and slid into Marco's car without a word.I wasn't wasting another second on Paolo's excuses.Inside, Marco glanced over—careful, testing the water. "You really don't plan to give him another chance?"He'd changed out of his habit into a suit, but the rosary still looped his wrist like a quiet reminder of who he used to be.I grabbed his collar and yanked him close. "You WANT me to give him another chance?"His breath hitched. Eyes locked on mine, he managed, "I don't." Then softer, "Do you know how much I've missed you?"He pressed me into the corner until our skin touched. The driver, bless him, slid the partition up on cue.The car felt tiny. His arms tightened around my waist, shaking. "Can I kiss you?"That voice—once ice—cracked with need. Almost pathetic. Almost sweet."Marco." I tangled my fingers in his hair and kissed him hard.He went rigid, then melted against me like a dam breaking. He clung, greedy for every breath.Of course my phone chose that second

Chapter 5

After that day, I ditched my number and every trace of contact, slipping back into the life that had always been mine—the Aragona heiress.Two weeks later, Paolo went full drama king, blasting my photos everywhere and turning the internet into a manhunt for his "wife."He stood in front of the camera, all sad eyes and pretty-boy face, milking sympathy like a pro. And people ate it up:[Yeah, he's a jerk, but the way he cries for his wife? Kinda tragic.][Tagging Paolo's wife—girl, your man's out here weaponizing his jawline.][Honestly, I'd take him even if I had to share. No shame.]My head pounded. I knew exactly what game he was playing.He wanted pity—wanted me to come back and babysit his ruined ego.But whatever we had died the day he cheated.Still, his "sorry" tour only got louder. He wilted under the spotlight, begging for sympathy. He even dragged out every ex, claiming each one "reminded him of me.""Aurora, I know I was wrong. Punish me however you want. I just wa

Chapter 6

Three days later, Paolo cornered me at my doorstep.More obsessive than I'd even guessed. He'd hunted down my address, hopped a red-eye to Khelmark, and camped outside my place all night without sleep.When he finally saw me, he looked wrecked—dark circles, hollow eyes, dripping gloom."Aurora, didn't you say you loved me? Why won't you give me a chance?"He stood there, stubborn, like it was my fault.I frowned, gave him a once-over. "Come in." I pushed the door open.He didn't move. Just kept repeating the same line—why wouldn't I give him a chance.I stopped, steady. "What kind of chance are you after? Haven't I given you enough?"I remembered the first time he dragged a side chick home: I asked for loyalty. He ditched her. I cooked a whole table of food that night. Next week he was plastered on the front page with a model. I covered for him, kept apologizing, kept bending.For three years I refused every divorce he tossed at me like confetti. If that wasn't enough chances,

Chapter 7

That day, Paolo got dragged off by bodyguards, howling like a maniac, swearing he finally "got it."Marco didn't waste time.Barely three months later, the Riccis were at my door—begging.Patrizia sat across from me, gripping Grandpa Domenico's photo. She was a mess—tears, snot, the whole show."Aurora, I know we failed you. You helped us so many times. But for Domenico's sake... can't you show us some mercy? Just give us a way out."I glanced at the photo. Grandpa Domenico looked so real. Bet he never thought it'd end like this."If you wanna know what's happening to your family, go watch the cemetery footage. Out of respect for the past, I kept quiet."But Paolo said the only way he'd let me go was if the Ricci family burned."So believe me—me not destroying you myself? That's the only mercy you're getting."Her face went paper-white.Yeah. They'd already seen the video. She just didn't think Paolo would follow me to Khelmark and say something that insane.She left in piec

Chapter 8

I scrubbed to the end of the video. Paolo's dad stared into the camera, practically begging. "Aurora, Paolo gets it now. Please, stop being mad. Don't take it out on the rest of us."I powered off the screen. I'd heard enough.I already gave them a way out—just keep Paolo away from me, and I'd let them be. But no. They went with this sad, manipulative stunt, acting like they were the victims.Ding!Elevator doors slid open. I slipped my phone into my bag. Riccis? Not my problem anymore.I pushed open the hotel room door—and heard water running.Before I could move, Paolo stepped out of the bathroom—dripping wet, wrapped in nothing but a towel.His skin was raw, flushed red from scrubbing too hard. Water dripped down lean muscles, hair plastered to his forehead, working that pitiful, kicked-puppy look.Then he dropped to his knees."Aurora, I know I messed up. I just... I loved you too much and didn't know how to handle it. Please—give me another shot. I'm clean now. Really. I'

Chapter 9

That day, Paolo shuffled off, glancing back every couple steps.The night outside swallowed him, shadows sticking like regret.Marco didn't even blink at him—just walked right past, straight into the light, grinning as he pulled me in."Honey, let's have a wedding. Let everyone know we're done with goodbyes."He was glowing. I couldn't help but smile and nod. "Sure. Whatever you want."We started tossing out ideas, already picturing it.Behind us, Paolo staggered like our words were punching holes in him. Maybe they were. Either way, I couldn't be bothered.With Marco by my side, I wasn't leaving.We slipped into the room, shut the door, and lit one lamp in a city full of them.Outside, Paolo vanished into the night.***Paolo actually kept his word. He never showed up again.On my wedding day with Marco, a box arrived. Inside—a strand of gorgeous beads. No name, just a note:[Aurora, I never touched it. It's clean.]That was the last thing I ever got from him.Rumor was

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