The Billionaire and Secret Vow

The night slowly descended over the city, covering the hustle and bustle with the glow of lights radiating from the towering buildings. Inside her luxurious apartment, Amelia sat on the sofa, a glass of untouched wine in her hand. Her head rested against the back of the sofa, eyes closed, and her mind drifted far away to an unknown place. 

She was still trying to return to her normal routine after everything that had happened, but it turned out to be not as easy as she had imagined. Opening her eyes, she glanced at her phone lying on the table. Countless times, she had wanted to type a message, but in the end, she always let the screen go dark again. 

Dominic King. 

Ever since they went back to their own lives, the man had constantly reached out to her—sending small gestures of attention and looking for chances to meet. But what was even stranger was that Amelia had done nothing in return. 

She let out a deep sigh before rising to her feet and walking toward the large window of her apartment. From up here, she could see the vast cityscape—bustling, full of life, and glowing with the headlights of moving vehicles, a reminder that the world was still in motion even at this hour. Yet inside, there was an emptiness she couldn't quite explain. 

DING! 

The sudden notification sound startled Amelia. She quickly reached for her phone, her heartbeat slightly quickening as she wondered who it was from. But as she read the message, it was not from the person she had hoped for. 

Caroline: Important meeting with a client from London tomorrow. Don't forget! 

Amelia ran a hand over her face in frustration. She felt foolish for expecting something else. But before she could put the phone down, the screen lit up again. This time, it wasn't a message. It was an incoming call. 

Dominic King. 

For a few seconds, Amelia simply stared at the screen, feeling something unfamiliar creeping into her chest. Her heartbeat quickened, and a faint smile formed on her lips. After a moment's hesitation, she swiped the green icon. 

"You finally called," she said, trying to sound casual. 

Dominic's voice was deep and slightly husky on the other end. "I know you're busy, but can you come outside for a bit?" 

Amelia frowned. "Outside? For what?" 

"I'm in front of your apartment." 

Her eyes widened in surprise. She quickly walked to the window, pulling the curtain aside just enough to peek below. Sure enough, standing next to a black car was the man who had occupied her thoughts for the past few days. 

Dominic King. 

Dressed in a black suit, he stood with one hand slipping his phone into his pocket while the other held an unlit cigarette. His gaze lifted, as if he knew she was watching him from above. 

For a moment, Amelia remained frozen, unmoving. Then, unable to suppress the small smile tugging at her lips, she grabbed her jacket and headed out. 

The night air was cool as Amelia stepped out of the apartment lobby. The city lights cast soft glows, creating long shadows along the quiet sidewalk. 

In front of his sleek black car, Dominic stood in a relaxed posture, his hands now tucked into his pockets. As Amelia approached, he lifted his head and watched her in silence. 

"I didn't think you'd actually come," Dominic said, his voice neutral, yet there was something in his tone that Amelia couldn't quite ignore. 

Crossing her arms over her chest, Amelia tried to mask the nervousness that had settled in ever since she answered his call. "If I didn't, I have no doubt you'd stand here all night. Or worse, you'd come straight up to my apartment." 

Dominic arched an eyebrow, the corner of his lips curving slightly. "Maybe." 

Amelia sighed, then glanced at the cigarette still unlit in his fingers. "What do you want to talk about? Don't tell me you're just here to make sure I'm still alive." 

Dominic chuckled softly, the sound deep and smooth. "And what if I am?" 

Amelia shot him a sharp look. "Dominic," she warned.

The man finally discarded his cigarette before even lighting it. With a relaxed stride, he approached Amelia, close enough that she could catch his familiar scent. 

"I just wanted to see you," he finally said. 

Something trembled inside Amelia's chest. The words Dominic spoke were simple, yet coming from Dominic King, they felt entirely different. 

"And now? You've seen me. Satisfied?" Amelia tried to joke to lighten the mood, but her heart told a different story. 

Dominic didn't respond right away. He simply observed her face with an unreadable expression, as if searching for something hidden. 

"Not yet," he said softly. 

Silence settled between them. The night felt calmer than usual. Only the distant hum of traffic could be heard—or perhaps it was because she was with the right person. 

Finally, Amelia sighed and shook her head slightly. "You're impossible to figure out, Dominic." 

The man gave a faint smile. "And you think too much." 

She held his gaze for a moment before looking up at the dark night sky. "I'm just trying to get back to my normal life. But it seems you won't let me, as if you're haunting my days." 

Dominic slipped one hand into his pocket. "Are you sure you still want a normal life?" 

Amelia turned back to him, her gaze sharper this time. "And you? What is it that you really want, Dominic?" 

Dominic held her stare for a long moment before finally answering in a low voice, "I'm still figuring that out." 

There was something unspoken between them—something that continued to linger, waiting to be acknowledged. But before Amelia could say anything, Dominic suddenly extended his hand. 

"Dinner?" 

Amelia hesitated for a moment before sighing. "Fine. But don't make me regret it." 

Dominic simply smiled, then opened the car door for her. And without them realizing, someone from afar was watching them in silence. 

The restaurant Dominic took her to wasn't overly extravagant, but it was exclusive enough with a serene atmosphere. The dim glow of the chandeliers created a warm ambiance, while the soft notes of jazz filled the air. 

Amelia sat across from Dominic, slowly swirling the glass of white wine in her hand. Her gaze occasionally landed on the man in front of her, who appeared relaxed yet held something unreadable in his eyes. 

"You still have dinner without actually eating, Amelia?" Dominic asked suddenly. 

Amelia raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?" she asked, confused. 

Dominic glanced at her plate, which was barely touched. "You always do this. You seem to enjoy the moment, but you never fully engage in it." 

Amelia sucked in a small breath, startled—not by his words, but by the way Dominic observed her so intently. 

"And you still watch people without a clear reason," she countered, trying to sound casual. 

Dominic smirked, leaning back in his chair. "Not without a reason." 

Their eyes met, and for a few seconds, everything around them seemed to fade away. Something unfamiliar stirred inside Amelia. Dominic always had a way of keeping her locked in place, making her wonder what was truly going through his mind. 

"Then what is your reason?" she asked softly. 

Dominic didn't answer immediately. He simply gazed at her with a rare gentleness—something rarely seen in Dominic King. Then, slowly, he reached out, letting the tip of his finger brush against the back of Amelia's hand resting on the table. The touch was light, almost imperceptible, yet enough to make her heartbeat quicken. 

"I just want to make sure you're really here," Dominic whispered. 

Amelia didn't know how to respond. She could pull her hand away, change the subject, or pretend nothing had happened. But she did none of those things. 

She let the touch linger. She kept her eyes on Dominic. 

And she let something inside her slowly unfold. 

The night air outside the restaurant felt cooler than usual. Amelia pulled her jacket a little tighter as she and Dominic walked side by side toward his car in the parking lot. There was no conversation for a few minutes, only the sound of their footsteps on the pavement, still damp from the afternoon rain. 

"You're awfully quiet," Dominic finally said, breaking the silence between them. 

Amelia glanced at him briefly before turning her gaze forward again. "And you don't seem to mind." 

Dominic gave a small smile, nodding as if to confirm her statement. As silence settled between them once more, they finally reached his car, parked beneath a streetlamp. 

Dominic opened the door for Amelia—something he rarely did for anyone. She raised an eyebrow. "Since when did you turn into a gentleman?" she teased. 

Dominic simply shrugged indifferently. "Maybe since I started dealing with a woman who can disappear without a trace for days." 

Amelia gave a faint smile, understanding the meaning behind his words. She stepped into the car after murmuring a quiet thank you. Dominic closed the door before walking to the driver's side and getting in. 

As the car moved through the city streets, still lively with activity, Amelia leaned against the window, watching the flickering lights outside. She could feel Dominic glancing at her a few times, but she chose to ignore it. 

"Do you feel … strange?" Dominic suddenly asked. 

Amelia turned to him, slightly confused by his question. "Strange how?"