A Reluctant Promise

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 hope.

But as time passed, year after year, those gifts never materialized. Eventually, she stopped waiting, letting her yearning fade into the background.

Now, seeing Camilla adorned with them, the truth became painfully clear—those treasures had always been meant for someone else.

Noticing her gaze, Camilla lifted the hem of her gown and gracefully approached, her lips forming a gentle smile.

“Dom, is this the woman you’ve been seeing these past few years? The one you promised to introduce me to?”

Her tone was warm but her words were laced with subtle condescension.

“She’s beautiful. No wonder she managed to capture the heart of our school’s most sought-after bachelor.”

So that was it—Camilla had asked to meet her. No wonder Dominic had uncharacteristically, brought her along that night.

Realizing his intentions, Valerie let out a quiet, bitter laugh, mocking herself for expecting otherwise.

A few of Dominic’s friends noticed the situation and sauntered over, their voices brimming with indignation as they spoke up for him.

“That’s right. Dom’s been nothing but devoted and obedient! Hopefully, some people will stop with these bizarre tests and start keeping their promises.

“These days, finding someone who truly cares is rare. When you have that, you hold on to it. Mess it up, and you’ll regret it for the rest of your life.”

The group voiced their support for Dominic assuming Valerie wouldn’t catch the veiled jabs.

She didn’t react, as they had expected, her face betraying no emotion. Instead, she casually found a seat and quietly played the part of the clueless, ornamental girlfriend.

All evening, Valerie stayed rooted in her seat, silently observing Dominic as he lingered beside Camilla.

The man who usually despised socializing now stood by Camilla’s side, chatting with her circle of affluent friends.

The man who showed no interest in anything remembered Camilla’s likes and dislikes, even stepping in to shield her from drinks she didn’t want.

The man who never got jealous in her presence now darkened with displeasure just because Camilla shook hands with another man.

In just a few short hours, Valerie witnessed what Dominic looked like when he cared for someone deeply, in a way he couldn’t hide.

After six years together, she finally saw how he acted when he was in love.

As the centerpiece of the evening, Camilla had her birthday song sung to her, and the crowd eagerly gathered to present her with gifts.

Dominic waited until the end to give his, producing the deed to an estate. Warmth softened his usually impassive expression as he spoke.

“Camilla, you once mentioned wanting a cozy home. So, I’m giving you this, hoping it will fulfill your dream.”

His friends immediately cheered and egged him on, their excitement spilling over into laughter and teasing.

“You wouldn’t believe it—every single room in that estate was designed by Dom himself. It took six years to finish the renovations!”

“I heard the garden in the back is filled with lavender and tulips. Now, whose favorite flowers could those possibly be?”

“A cozy home, if you ask me, needs a man of the house to truly feel warm and complete. Don’t you all agree?”

Camilla’s cheeks flushed crimson amid the teasing remarks. She clasped her hands together in a great show of preparing to make a wish. Only then did the laughter fade into silence.

In the quiet that followed, Valerie’s phone chimed with a few soft notifications.

It was a voice message from her father. She intended to convert it into text but accidentally hit play instead.

“Happy birthday, Valerie! It’s almost midnight. Did you have your cake yet?”

The attention previously fixed on Camilla shifted sharply to Valerie. Every pair of eyes was now filled with shock.

Even Dominic froze for a few seconds, turning to look at her with a faint frown on his face.

“Is it your birthday today, Valerie?”

Valerie’s face remained calm, devoid of emotion, as she gave a small, quiet nod.

In previous years, Dominic would at least ask about the date in advance and prepare a gift.

But this year, with Camilla’s birthday coinciding with hers, it was as if Valerie had completely slipped his mind—a fact that, in hindsight, didn’t seem surprising.

No one had anticipated such a coincidence. The room fell into an awkward silence, with everyone exchanging uneasy glances.

It was Camilla who eventually smoothed things over. She gently took Valerie’s hand and led her toward the cake, lighting a single candle herself.

“Well, since it’s such a lucky coincidence, let’s celebrate together. Make a wish, Valerie.”

Valerie didn’t refuse. She closed her eyes and made her wish in silence.

When she opened them again, Dominic, perhaps trying to dispel the lingering awkwardness, casually asked, “What did you wish for? Is there any gift you’d like?”

Valerie looked at him for a moment, her gaze calm yet distant. Then, in a steady voice, she answered.

“I wished that I’d get married this year.”