A Broken Vow to Forever

The Big Change

PAULEEN

In the days that followed, nothing much changed except Colt became warmer towards us, unlike Dino.

I knew that Mom and Dad struggled to adjust with Dino. He wasn’t like other boys our age. Dino is only a year older than me, but over the past weeks, I got along better with Colt.

Colt is warm and thoughtful; it seems like everything positive about him is the opposite with Dino.

Mom and Dad decided to bring back some of the Astor family’s former employees to our household, so Dino and Colt wouldn’t have a hard time adjusting. We used to have only a few trusted staff in the mansion, but now there were more. And the seven-year-old me couldn’t be happier because I always wanted the house to be lively—I felt sad when it was quiet and empty.

Little by little, Dino started to speak, even if just a little, and he even began eating more regularly. I saw how happy Mom and Dad were when Dino started getting better.

But Dino remained cold and treated me as if I were just a figment of his imagination.

I often bugged him to play with me, but he ignored me.

Still, I didn’t give up. I knew that sooner or later, we’d become close, just like I was with Colt.

It was only later that I learned their parents had died in a fire.

Carlos and Diana Astor—Carlos was Dad’s best friend since middle school. Dad often told us that Dino was just like his father—cold.

Dino often had nightmares. I would wake up to the sound of Dino’s crying and screaming. I often saw Colt trying to calm him down while I watched from the side.

Mom and Dad were unaware of Dino’s nightmares because their room was in the right wing of the mansion, while we kids stayed in the left wing.

It's always been me, Colt and and Dino.

The death of Dino and Colt's parents was a huge loss, not only for the two brothers but also for my father.

I often saw Dad staring blankly, sometimes needing to drink scotch just to fall asleep. But Mom was always there, not just for Dad, but also for Dino and Colt.

Dad and Uncle Carlos were best friends—they came from rival companies in the country. For years, the Darlings and the Astors were known competitors. But Dad and Uncle Carlos broke that chain between the two families. Together, the Darlings and the Astors built an empire.

The Golden Imperials—not only renowned in the country but also in various parts of the world. Mainly because of their extravagant and sophisticated five-star hotels, top-tier malls, five-star restaurants, and bustling casinos. That’s why Uncle Carlos's death was also a significant blow to the Golden Imperials.

Dad had to work harder because he was now alone in running an empire that used to be managed by two men.

Over the years, Colt and Dino grew up with all the lessons Dad carried about the empire. He was shaping them to be just like their late father.

Over the years, both brothers grew warm and comfortable around Mom. Sometimes Colt was with Dad too. But I never saw Dino hanging around with Dad.

He was always by himself, even at school. He had friends like Larry Rothschild, Harold Blackwell, and Nathan Windsor, who were also Colt's friends. But Dino was always reserved and quiet.

Sometimes, he would let me include him in my games, but he wouldn’t participate.

Before, whenever I would eat snacks in the garden under the blossom tree where he often hung out, he would immediately leave. But now, he’s gotten used to it and just lets me stay by his side. Sometimes he talks to me, but only with two or three words like, "So annoying," "So clumsy," or "Get lost."

I’ve gotten used to it. That’s just how Dino Astor is. As long as he’s not pushing me away anymore.

And I guess, he got tired of avoiding me.

Yeah, the younger me was pretty silly for not catching the signs when someone didn’t like me.

That became the rhythm of the once quiet Darling mansion.

But everything changed, and I wished it hadn’t reached the point where I no longer saw him as just an older brother, but someone I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.