All Chapters of Once Upon A Promise: Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

The next morning, Mario acted as if nothing had happened, keeping up the same loving routine.He tore the divorce papers apart and tossed them in the trash. He made me a heart-shaped breakfast, gently called me awake, and came home that night with my favorite cake.I sent him, one by one, the photos Carmilla had sent me the night before. The instant he saw them, he froze for a beat, then his face contorted."I'll print another copy of the divorce agreement. Sign it soon," I said.I shrugged the cake he'd handed me into the trash and turned to leave. He grabbed me from behind with a grip that wouldn't let go. I couldn't break free."Alessia, please don't divorce me. I'll deal with all of this. Trust me." I said nothing; numbness had already moved into me.…The next day, my father summoned me home. Mario insisted on coming along. When we walked in, Carmilla was kneeling on the floor, her back streaked with blood, her pale face stained with tears. My father stood nearby holdin

I said nothing, just slid an agreement across the table."If you truly feel indebted to me," I told Mario, "then give me the Lyndette continent medical-equipment company—this is the share-transfer document."He took it and, without hesitating, signed his name."Alessia, I can give you anything. I just want to make it right." He sounded earnest. I took the papers and, when I saw the signature on the last page, something inside me unclenched. If Mario had bothered to flip one more page, he would have seen what he had really signed: a divorce agreement.His guilt made him reach for more words, but his phone rang and cut him off. It was Carmilla. He glanced at me, suddenly guilty. "Alessia, there's an emergency at the company. I have to go. I'll be back later." He answered the call before I could reply and hurried away.He never came to see me before I was discharged. Instead, I watched a new photo on Facebook: Carmilla, smiling, Mario's back in the frame. The caption read: [Boo

Mario stepped forward and kicked Carmilla hard. They tangled quickly in a messy, animal scuffle.Then Carmilla's legs gave way, and a bright, shocking pool of blood spread across the floor. For a moment, the world narrowed to that bright red. Rationality crept back into Mario's face like returning daylight; he snatched her up and rushed her to the hospital.In the waiting room outside the operating theatre, he sat slumped on the bench, all fury draining from him until only a hard, cold logic remained. Arguing now would accomplish nothing. The Brasco family's entire network—every base, every shipment—was known to Alessia. If she opened her mouth and named names, everything would collapse. Lorenzo's loss alone would already ripple through the underworld; no one would dare do business with them. In a world that ate the weak, the Brasco empire could be picked clean.All Mario could do was beg Alessia's forgiveness and hope she wouldn't destroy them completely. He told himself the

Mario stood there like a victor, savoring the sight of his defeated opponent.But I met his gaze without fear, my eyes filled not with dread but with a quiet anticipation.I was waiting—waiting for the moment when the truth would come to light, to see whether Mario could still smile the way he did now."Everyone here must have seen the recent reports on illegal experimentation and falsified data," I said. "First of all, I despise such acts. I strongly condemn anyone involved in them. Next, I'll give you an answer you'll find satisfactory."I pressed play.The screen behind me flickered to life, revealing a familiar office and an even more familiar voice."Don Brasco, won't it be too—""Cut the nonsense," Mario's voice interrupted. "It's the fastest way to get results. I don't care how you do it—just make sure the drug is ready by the end of the year. I need a clean business to wash my name.""But if something goes wrong—""There won't be any accidents. And if there are… my wif