Three in the morning. Still no sound at the door.
I laughed at myself. I couldn't believe I'd still held out hope for him.
Four in the morning. My phone buzzed.
Even I didn't notice how desperately I grabbed for it.
But the screen didn't show an explanation for his absence. It showed a photo—intimate, unmistakable.
Dominic had his arm around a slender waist, fingers working at the clasp of her bra.
Suddenly I remembered our first time together.
He'd kissed my lips so tenderly, placed my palm over his heart, and whispered his promise.
"Mildred, my heart beats only for you. I will never betray you. You're the one I love most in this life."
Those words, once so full of devotion, now felt like a slap across my face.
They finally woke me up.
I dug out a phone number I'd sworn never to use again and typed a message.
"Uncle Raymond, I've changed my mind. I'm ready to come home and stay by Grandmother's side."
The reply came quickly. Just one word.
"Good."
Five years ago, my entire family opposed my marriage to Dominic Thorne.
My parents refused to let me marry a penniless nobody with no family background.